The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-09-13

(5,824 feet and from there wnnt 10 cross the
Hook Jock (0,OOi feet) 10 the Italian scenery
and climate Of Merau. | don't know how !
shall stand crossing the glaciers, but reckon
] can do II Us ysll as the next one, at least
that is the assumption, undertake il in spite
Of my weak ankle.
Nerau, fyroi, august 10TH, Is75.-Well,
here really am at the southern terminus OF
my tramp, safe from tho regions Of snow and
''gletchers," and reposing for few hours in
the Italian climate Of beautiful Merau. Per-
haps you never heard much Of Merau? Meth
er had /, until crossing the Atlantic / stum-
bled over the Merauer novels Of Paule Heyse,
since that time have fairly longei to see
Merau. Ny wish is granted now, and already
can say love the place. II is great place
OF resort forinvalids, consumptives especially;
the season is from September until May, by
and by will tell you more about it,
On the 18th, after n good sleep at Fend,
although had not the courage to deliberately
intend the thing before hand, was taken
with the ambition to ascend the "Kreuz
Spitz, peak Of the 0etzthaler group, which
is some II 300 feet (English) high. Don't
you wonder at my undertaking TO carry my
weak ankle, or rather letting it carry me, up
eleven thousand feet? However, there was
phAtl VI ttii Nv ithhf uil kOllk up anu 4
thought / had as good a chance as some Of
them. Two guides carried our provisions and
wrappngs the tourists, all in thick clothing,
mostly with shawls, and supplied with long
Alpenstocks, alpine sticks, were a motley
crowd. Among them was "Count and his
forester" from Coburg, several students, a
lawyer, and others whose genius ! could not
make out as to myself, | was called Mr..
American. We left Fend at $50 A. NJ, tell
you it was bitter cold, and after marching and
climbing almost steadily until half.past eleven
we reached the summit of the "Kreuz Spitz. -
Oh what have seen Could | only send
you photographs of everything that met my
eyes! have been among the glaciers, and
have seen where the rivers break from their
caves, and begin their long ocean-ward way.
All around the "Kreuz Spite" these glaciers,
perfect frozen rivers, that nevertheless have
slow motion, are ranged almost like an
amphitheatre, and above them still rise the
rocky peaks all covered with snow, except
where the dark-brown rock is too PERCEPTIONS
to give 1t a resting place. The view from the
Spitz is glorious; il is one maze of snow and
ice all around, the brilliancy of those snow
fields under the August sun, is almost toe
much for unarmed eyes. We had hit upon q
lovely day only from some very distant val
leys few clouds were rising, everything else
was clear as bell, there literally seemed nc
end to the ranges and ranges of snow covered
peaks. Not pdiley could be seen, we were
too high for that; everything was glaciers
and fields of snow. And above us the deer
blue of the sky seemed yerging on black,
never saw anything like it. Spite Of cold fee
and the lively breeze, we remained on oul
lofty peak fully an hour, making away will
our wine and other provender. The guide
know every peak in sight and can call it b,
name, so that by referring TO our maps WI
cold form an idea of the immense view befor,
us. We could see into Germany, Switzerland
and Italy. Then came the descent. / haC
anticipated great difficulty from this, as ia
as myself was concerned, but it went off Jolly
| The greater part of the way lies through loos,
stones and rocks, this was hard work, but j
one can manage the Alpenstock properly it i
not so bad. But the fun came in where W,
had to cross large fields offreshly fallen snow
these had been terrible to come through OF
our way up, but we were repaid BY the spor
of going down. We all followed our leader
example; he took short run then dropped
down suddenly into sitting position, anc
away he went down the now-coyered hill
with the speed of an arrow, all on a sled o
natures providing, aud the tailors. Som,
of us came down a little mixed up. Tn
Count, from some fatal bunder in his con
struction, couldn't sail straight, and wen
down sideways, and finished up in n snow
drift, where his follower, the forester, rushe,
into him. But the ''rutschingn (sliding) wa
the feature of the day. We reached Fen,
pretty tired, but immensely pleased with GU
trip, at p NJ, and Immediately went t,
work demolishing hearty dinner. Now
must close. want to 20 TO Botzen this even
ing. Next time will tell you how got owe
the ''Hock Jocks glaciers and arrived il
the valleys of the South. A six hours wall
brings one from eternal snow into vineyards
You can form some idea of how far south L
walked when tell you that tomorrow mus
cross the Breuncr Pass to get back to Nh
mich. Good bye,
In haste, Yours, +. ID,