New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-30

every grade Of society Is represented. The beauties
of the lake are beyond description. Even the i'm
passoned sanzas Of Byron who perhaps has done more
than any other writer to famiaTize his readers with
the peculiar ofthe scenery OF Switzerland fail to
convey an adequate idea It's magnifcence The lake
Is about 50 miles long, ana from mile and half to nine
miles broad while its sopnS banks arc covered with pic
turesoue villages beautiful groves and spreading vine
yards. We glide swiftly along. the deep blue waters
beneath rvang the hue OF the sky above, past
NyOn with its frownng castle past the beautiful chateau
aud grounds formerly owned by Joseph Bonaparte, but
the property of the Prince Napoleon past Lausanne
town that known tho Romans; past seysy, the
Of ROusseau's beautiful romance, till finally the
massive walls and towns OF the castle OF ChOn come
into vew and go ashore at pier near by There Is
sufficient Of natural beauty in the castle and Its surround
gs the attention of tho tourist. aud when
this added the historical associations of the place.
and the with which Of the best poetsO the
English language have Invested IT, is not the least
surprised at the numbers who daily visit It, The castle
stands upon rock about 60 feet from the shore and
reached by bridge The exact date of its erection is not
known with certainty though it is supposed to be about
the beginning Of tho ninth century. The first historical
mention that is made Of it refers 70 the incarceration
bOmalre, in the year $780, 1t improved by Count
Peter OF Savoy in the thirteenth century, since which
tune 1t has renamed nearly unchanged. AS we
cross the bridge which connects 1t with the
shore we met by old who offers his services
as guide, and in company with him we pass the en-,
trance having inscribed above the words placed theTe
by the Bernese 1913" May God bless all who come In
aud go out and crossing the castle yard enter the dun
ge0ns. The fret OF these IS the Sale de MedHahon
large vaulted compartment beyond which Is the SAFE
des ConddDes cell totally dark, in which those
condemned death passed the night previous to their
wall of which our conductor pointed the traces OF an
aperture, now closed through which tho bodies OF vic
nents we enter the in which the historical interest
of the place eenters II is the prison par excellence
sls In the wall upon the side next the LAKE, whe the
opposite side Is formed Of the solid rock Inc Iooi Is sup
ported by eight massive columns and 10 these IN former
time, the prisoners chained. IL was in TINS room
savoy for having assisted in the defense the republic
OF Geneva which the Duke had attacked. The guide
points ont the pillar and even the ring which Bonyard
was chained. aud cns attention 10 the stone floor
rreguay by the footsteps OF the prisoners upon
the same column, too, he shows the name of Byron,
which he claims TO be a veritabe autograph and which
Is one OF the most conspicuous OF hundfeds carved IN
the stone. There Is, Of course, room for doubt
as to whether the guido is correct in all
these particulars but this makes hut little difference
We stand in the where the patriot languished Tor
six long weary years. aud II matters little around which
particular column nc dragged his heavy chain. Here,
gave his eryd description Of the iengihoned days aud
weary nIghtthc hopes aud fears, the anxetes ana bit
ter dsappointments of the Prisoner OF Chillon and
he has connected his with the locality In manner
far enduring than letters craven In stone. 1t Is
have seemed rather six ages AS stand In the dim
light which the setting sun affords, we find that the prison
cat OF party of English lads and lassies" who are
visiting castle at the time, seems almost
prOtauatOn The other apartments are less interesting
and spend comparatively little time In their lnspec-
ton We visit tho Sale dc Justice, now armoTy. We
pass through the Chdtbre dc Torture where we see upon
post what the guide claims to be the marks OF the hot
irons with which the feet OF the unfortunate were
OtblietteS the Place OF the Forgotten" Here, an
small room, shown square aperture IN the hOOr
with steps apparently leading into the vault beneath
The victim was conducted to this spot by pretended
friend who assured him that, by descending Into the
vault he would mud way OF escape from tho castle.
But the steps suddenly end at short distance below the
floor; and the heart Of the unfortunate is beating
high in the hope OF being again restored TO home friends
and liberty, no Is suddenly precpitated upon the sharp
and tagged rocks below .. .-.... .,-. ..-.
Leaving the castle we take the train for Martgny
irving az 10 O'Clock In the evening This little Town.
situated in the angle of the RhOne valley IS tile starting
point visit the Great ST. Bernard
ChnOnx by the COL de Bdige Iete NOre passes. The
the station characteristic one. Hotel porers
coachmen clamOTOusy Offering their services guides
for the mountains already soliciting patronage Tor
themselves aud their equally useful companions, the
mules; tourists both gentlemen and ladies' In costumes
frequently remarkable for convenience as for the
fashion, anXiOusy looking after their baggage, aud
aud boys Offering all manner OF articles for
SALE from AlpensOck eight feet In length TO the deli
cate mOuBtnu flowers, Extricatng ourselves from the
town. We already among the Mountains that rear
their giant heads about Oh every side, and the clear
cool night air Is wonderfully uvigcrating We gain
hcte. where make preparations for early start IN
water, and, at the first sign Of dawn in the morning
throw the window wide open aud look eagerly out in the
anticipation Of seeing fine cascade Instead, however,
the cOmInOnest kind of pump supplying trough
the sUed linen Ot the hotel and the window goes down
with bang a hasty toilette Is made. hasty breakfast
eacn and before the shows his face the cold,
gray hills, we are on the road Tor ChanOniX-