Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-02
FROM SWITZERLAND.

The Bath. Of Leak-The Beautiful Valley
Of the Dala-English aud America
Tourists "Doing SwitzerIand,'-Robu
En2lishmen and English Wsmen-rhey
Think Nothing Of a Sixteen Mile Walk
Interesting Description Of the Baths-A
Five.Hours Bath with Spectaters-Ro.
mantle Road Up the DaIa-The Wheel
Horse "vot Wouldn't go''-Trip to the
6emmi Pass.
Correspondence OF the Starl
BATHS OF LBUK, SWITZERLAND, August Ia,
1eS9.-Since the early times of the sixteenth
century, when old Matthew Schiner, Arch.
bishop Of Sion, came to bathe his rheum ltic
limbs in the he ,lIng waters Of Leuk, have the
hot springs Of this locality been known for
Their wonderful health giving qualities.
Twelve fountains Of living water pour forth
their continuous currents to the sprface of the
ground, steaming hot-eausing the thoughtful
traveller to recall the old story Of the Dutch.
man, who on stopping In his journey to water
his horses cried out in dismay to his son,
"Drive on, Hans, drive on; He'll is not far from
dis placer
But most assuredly in this beautiful valley
does one look In vain for any other reminder OF
the regions of darkness, for Iature has here
performed some Of her noblest works. and
directs the soul OF man heayenwards by eyery
aspect she presents.
The snow capped peak of the Torrent-horn,
standing guard at the head Of the valley, i'm
ages in its brilliant purity the sanctity of the
heaven ii seems almost to reach: the mighty
cliffs suggest the eternity which alone can out-
last them; the misty waterfalls VIII ich recent
rains have caused to spring from every crag
on the mountainside to baptize the fields be.
meath into newness Of life, speak OF the cleans
ing which comes no: of water, but of the Spirit;
while the blooming valleys, rich with cora
and wine, tell of the loving care of Hum
through whose ordering il is that seed tIre
and harvest, summer and winter fail not in
their benefcent gifts to man.
So beautiful is this valley of the Dala a trib.
utary Of the Rhone, that while many vet come
hither tor the baths, more are attract by the
Wild scenery Of the place and OF the Gemml
Pass, Immediately beyond. Hencs at this sea.
SON the little hamlet OF Leukerbad is nightly
filled with tourists from all the countries or
Europe with good representation from
America, earnestly engaged in "doing" Swift.
zerlane.
We are tarryIng here to. day on account of the
rain. Not so party of stout English people
who entered our hotel at p. m, draggled aud
beat 1, but merry CROUCH from their walk OF
sixt en- miles over the pass, which they had
bravod d In spite of the storm.
ID ",
with his dan ghter, each about SIX feet high,
come in from such a walk looking as though
they could easily repeat it on the morrow, (as
they doubtle IS will
But / must tell you, as 1 Intended
something about the baths. Imagine a
pool OF steamlng water thirty feet square
IN which twenty or more ladies and gen.
fepen, robed in grey flannel, have i'm
Tc -sed themselves up TO their chins, each
18th little floating stand near, on which are
to be leen coffee, tea, books, chess.men Sc,
according to the tastes of individuals, In these
great tanks, with the water at its natural tenn
rerature of LA degrees Fahrenheit, the bather.
remain from two to five hours daily-specta.
tors being admitted free of charge. need not
assure you the sight is amusing. From the
enormous head Of an over-fed equity old gentle.
man to the pale, pinched face of a rheumatic
young girl, nearly every possible variety OF
human countenance was presented in the baths
as saw them to-day; and as nothing appears
above water but the head and fins, 1 could NOT
help being reminded OF the walrusses and sea
lions, which one always sees in the Arctic re-
gions.
The approach TO Leukerbad from Sierre, the
present terminus ofthe Rhone railroad, is most
romantic. A fine road with numberIess turn
ings winds up the valley Of the Dala, reyes'.
ing at every mile views most grand and pic.
turesQue.
Our journey hither was enlivened by the
wonderful activity Of one Of our wheel horses,
whoat every touch OF the whip would kick most
vigorously, now strlding the pole and now one
Of the traces. No harm came, however, OF his
gyIanons beyond the temporary disturbance
of the nerves OF an Irish lady in the coupe.
Tomorrow morning we start up the Gemmi
Pass, when we hope for some splendid views.
Mules, porters and pedestrians are admitted.
but no carriages.
More anon ofmy six weeks vacation in Eu
rope. Yours faithfully, q.