, 1873-12-14
SWITZERLAND.
chamounix ..- Mont Blanc -~- Coleridqe's
Hymn-.-The Mer de Glaoe.
The Simpion and the Hospice Of
St. Bernard.

ms oIt11Pio0 ana tne 7oSpice OF
St. Bernard.
Correspondence of 7'he Chicago tribune.
LANE MAoa1oRE, italy, Oct. Is, 1879.
On tho goth of September, with an Episcopal
Clergyman, wlioHo wifo Ia tho daughter Of one Of
Ohicago's oldest ctl2ons md oarly aottlors, wo
started from Lausanne for Chamounix. Wo Ind
boon waiting several days for flno weather, and,
after the storm Which Delayed us, ITO woro
blessed witha wecl Of absolutely cloudlosB weath-
er,-days as Charming US ono Of our brightest,
cloarcst days at homo in October; and I am
suro no country in tho world can boast OF finer
days than those Of our American autumn. We
stopped tho first night opposite the Gorge do
Tricns. to visit this gorge and tho
FALLH OF sALLENcnE.
Tho falls aro beautiful, but the gorge is =
wonder. A rapid mountain-torront rushea
through high mountain. Thd granite rocks,
by some tremendous convnlBion Of Naturo, have
boon torn asuuder from baao to Hummit,
and tho stream comes rushing, foaming,
roaring, over its rugged pathway, creating rnp-
ids, falls, and cascades Of every variety Of form.
This streasn ia nt tic bottom Of deop clIas1n !;
80 doep that tho rays Of tho Hln neyor tlul their
way to tho bottom; and thu chasn, or gorge.
il only yile enough for tho stream, Over
the stream, and fur abovo 1t, mud yet hundreds,
and in Home places thousAnda. Of feet down III
tho cfaAm, has boon suspended by wiros, fast
encd into tho rocks, foot-brldgo, or scnfold-
ing, along which you WALK for hnlf-nailo iuto
tho heart OF tho mountain, atoadying yourself
with your hnnla against tho rocks, Hometimes
on one eido and sometimes on tic other. From
this bridge thus suspended, you look down to
the torrent, aud up, fur up, to the Sky. when the
rocks do not meet over your hoad and shut out
tho light.
The next morning wo started for Chamounix
~ way Of Martiyny aud tho Toto Noir. Aftor
leaving tho path that leads to tho Great st. Ber-
uard, wo commenced rapidly to ascend, md
speut ak or eight houra In climbing, by gigsng
paths, ono mountain pass after another, until
ne roachea md passed around tho Tete Noir,
md then
+ith all lis majesty, burst upon uH, and, for tho
last four hours Of our journey, ho toworod UP
before ua, without cloud, or oyeu O wsp Of
gapor, to interrupt our viow. There ho stood
For hours, with his mnjestio dome covered with
khe eternal snow, cutting tho clear blue sky as
sharply as tho wlito sails Of a slip, when tho
sun sliues full upon it. To the right rose tho
sharp aud pointed piunaclcH Of the Mg1liles
Rougcs and the rosy light on these make 4
granite needles. that literally pierced tho sky,
suggested their namo. Amid aceno8 Of un-
oqualed 1nniesty and grandeur, We passed on
towards Mont Blanc, but We never seemed to
approach any nearer to it.. Tho valleys wore
sometimes us wild, dreary, and sombre
as tho dark shadows Of unc!ad rocks
rising thousands Of faot on each side
Of our path and mountain torrents
rushing down their Bides conld render them;
and at others thore would be green valley,
with fruit-treos and vines on its sunny sido,
Swiss cottages, tho sweet smell of naw-,nown
hay, and the gontlo tinkling Of bells on tho cows
aud goats, Az tho aninRls cropped the rich
grass along the hill-ada. Now aud then wecould
near
THE ALPINE HORN
ec1loing up the vaoys, al the llords1nan signaled
his herd or his associates. The meadows and
pastures Of these yalloys vera covered with tho
greatest proflsion Of tie most lovely aowers
sometimes tho mendo"s were 80 full OF tho blue
crocus, now blooming the second timo this eea-
son, that it would be difficult to place your foot
upon, tho green turf without crushing them.
Blue-bellB, violots, aud heath, and the most
beautiful forms, wero growing in the Ercateat
pr0fugiou aud Mxuriance. We passed ut almost
every ha!f-milo tho way-siie cross. tue ahrine
Tho cr1lcsix, to suggest or stimulate the ,devo-
theso varied accnos we passed on until evening
creep up tic sides Of tho noun
sains, and tile rosy anl purple light lngor
On their summits and ut sunset we arrlvod at
Chamounlx, directly under the shadows OF Mont
Blanc, aud at luis very feet,
The next morning early threw my windows
open; it was quite light, but Mont Blnno waH bo-
swoen mo aud tho sun, and I waited long before
he roso above tho clear, pure snow OF the suin-
nit ln.,r SynitnI t1lHt rera1ln1 fha
GRAND HYMN OF uoLER1DoE,
written in this valley. while waiting for the sun.
Apostrophizing Mont Blanc, lie exclaims.
Has. thou charm to stay the morning star
In his steep courso7 So long he seemB to pause
On thy bold. awful head, oil sovereign Dlanol
It was Sunday morning, and read this SUBJ
limo hymn, worthy OF tho scene In which 1t was
writtoE. Lot INC quote few more limos,
70 living 6owvra that skirt tlIo eternal frosti
~ wild goAs sporting round the eage'a 'nextt
1e eae1cs, pAynlAtes Of the mountain stormat
" lightuigs, the dread arrows Of the cloudss
" egns aud wonders ct the elements
UtteF forth God, and ill the bills With praise.
Thou too hoar mount! with thy sky.polnsing peaks,
Oft from whose fcet tho avalanche unleard
Shoots downward glltteriug through the purs serene
Thou kiugly spirit tAroned among tho kills,
Thou dfead ambassador from earth to heaYo1,
srest Hierarcl toll thou the silent Sky,
And tell the atars, aud tel yon rising sun.
1t was the Sabbath, and wo all gathered in tho
Join in humble Worship to the Grcat Being
rhosa sublime creations woro around us. Wo
Rero strangers from many far-oT lauda,
but tho little room was full Nearly
Ill Joined in tho responses md in tho hymns,
tnd 1t was very pleasant in this, wild valley to
aear tho sorvico to which We wofa accustomed
1t home,
On Monday morning TO all mot Mt IN carly
hour around tho breaifast-tablo and congratu-
ated each othor tint no l1ad bright aud cloud
pHB day Tor our excursion to tho
MEn DE 0LACE.
Our party had beeu increased by two Interest,"
ing clergymen: one from Wisconsin, aud the
,ther from massachusetts. Thoy wero OF differ
ng denominations Of Christians; but, meeting
lmong the Alps, had liked each other 20 well
hat thoy wore making the tour Of the mountains
ngetller, on foot. At 8 o'clock tho mnleH wero
It tho door, and with each guido. We started
lp the mountains. At first We passed some
green pastures and then through forests OF
olne ana FIR, fragrant with tho grateful amoll OF
syergroens. Tho olear, bracng utr OF tho noun
%J7f,,