National Republican., 1873-12-12
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
GENEVA ANDLAKE LEMEN DESCRIBED.

GENEVA ANDLAKE Z BEMEN DESCRIBED.
Correspondence of tho Repsbiican.1
GENEVA, Noveniber n, Iva.
Very much has been said Of the beauty Of
Lake Lemen. voitaire speaks Of II with enthu.
siasmi Byron, who spent some time on It's shores,
has described its various beauties, and, though u
may be rlvailed by Lake Constance and zur'ck,
think one well repaid by delaying q day on
their Journey and making an excursion Of this
beautiful lake II is shaped as o haltmoon cx.
tending over hity.hve miles, and by tho steamer
winkbrled you can travel the whole oxtent Of
the lake and return in q single day.
Leaving Gevere we have fine Wow Of tho two
range 8 OF mountains on either slde-the snow
capped peaks Of Mont Blanc in the far distance;
enough to cause one TO button their coats little
closer about the throat-the atmosphere clear,
se hs asc II &c sfsS sSaa TS hs lake
waters Of which are clear and of such beautiful
blues the mountain peaks extending far up to the
scene. Along the shore, or on the mountain sides,
sheltered from the wind, but always so situated
as to enjoy the warmth Of the sun, rayi,,
las, and magnificent hotels; In fact, at
are moi merely four square walls Of six and seven
stories high, hut Of artistic shape, pleasant bal.
comics, Venetian awnings o. every window, me
terraces Of flowers and shrubbery, fountains play.
Ing, and during the season the larger ones employ
band for the pleasure Of the guests. We see
houses arc flower gardens themselves, for at every
point where plant can grow they are placed.
We see the bright scarlet geranlum, the tea rose,
the oleandcr IN tull bloom, the trailing vines, the
leaves Of which are Just beginning to turn, some
Of beautiful and varlcgatcd shsics Of green,
many Of golden yellow. others OF amber or brown,
NIL seem fresh, us 1t WERE yet for here there has
been no intcuso heat to withcr the vines or check
their growth. md the utmost care seems to have
been displRyc, during til" ru,irr season TO make
the surroundings uf Their picturcs,Iuc villas and
hotels pleasant aud inviting to luok upon. The
hFst town worthy Of note along the borders oi the
lukcls
LAUSANNE.
It occupies a commanding position on the ter.
for travellers In summer. The old part OF the town
s not very prcposscssing; the streets are narrow,
elevated portion we hnd the streets level, we'll
constructed, fine hotels numerous villas, shops
which quite aston.ih y9n by Tue beauty ana VS,"S ow
Of Mount Blanc through an opening In the range.
At the right Of the town is It's cathedral: IL II
Gothic ealhce, uasslyely, though simply, con.
structed. 1t was built in 12S5 to 1915. aud is re.
markablc principally for Its symmetry OF proper;
tlon. Here, also, we find several museums named
Tor their different founders, blind asylum, q
"humcr insttutlon," and several installations Of
learning which have high reputation and, IN.
decd, Throughout switzerland great attention IL
paid to learning, and ut many places, such as
Bern and Zurick. In particular. there are colleges
which already rival the German institutions IN
Sery S % one 1t Of Inc mos, chnrminr,y situated VII
lpges on the lake. II is well sheltered from the
mountain Beze, and is now much patroniEed by
strangers, who during the winter wish to avoid
the expense ot large cities.
"Thc Bcsc," as It Is called, Is the name given TO
severe gale from the mountains, which priyails
here during the fall and winter months, lasting
twoand three days Business L. Mt that time almost
entirely suspended, streets deserted, chimneys
are demolished. trees uprootcd, and. some years
ago, II don't know how many, hut long enough
age to permit the people to believe the truth Of
their own story.) II " said cnrrinRe, horses and
lake and drowned. This may have been cSag-
gcrated; but certainly, since have been here, we
have had some very high winds Ht Geneva, and ut
one time Il was impossible to cross the bridges on
foot. But the boat docs not linger for US at any
Of thcse charming villages along the Lake. We
kruiS, whore iigs, rancgrLnHtCs aud lRurels
grow nnd huuf.sh in open air; also MontrcauN.
where IL the celebrated grape cure for eonsump'
tvts, and reach
cmLLLoS
about noon. Here we disenhark and take small
rUw.hOnt tho hORtmnn of which. recognizing our
accent, quickly runs up the American flag to
gladden. our cytsl for the famous castle Of thilon
BYRON has made this place historical hy his sad
description Of the castle, ts surroundings and the
history OF lts PRISONER. nnd every visitor who has
every read the poem feels an interest TO visit t.
The castle or prison Is small, consisting OF six
towers Of no considerable height, hut the walls Of
which are, In some places, slx to eight feet in
thickness. II is constructed Of granite, built upon
a point OF high land extending into the lake, the
foundation OF which Is seven hundred feet below,
surrounded by water, and connected to the main
land hy q raw-bridge. 1t Is now used ms an
arsenal and military storc-housc. but the interior
remains the same as In the days Of its horrors and
wc.arc shown the rack by which prisoners were
drawn limb from limb to force some secret cOnics-
sion; the bcd,tr) an incline plane hewn from the
solid rock, upon which those condemned TO death
were obliged to lie the night before execution,
and before them the gallows permanently erected,
constant reminderor Of their inevitable late; also
the well an open, glaes in the castle, now pro
ssendins four or fIe .ti. Was rrecipiin,ed to the
depth Of hN6dreds Of feet, never to rise morc and
lastly, We descended TO the dungeons. There we
st.nel to the rapidly told tales OF toriurcs, and
pointed ont the pillar to which Bonivnrd was
chained for six years, and deep curvature
in the stone pavement Is pereeptible worn
lake through the small turrcted window, look
upon the "lOney isle, the only spot visible from
his pillar, and then wander through the gloomy
cells until feeling Of supersttlous horror crceps
over one, and we hasten above fearing almost
that the ghost Of some departed spirit might np-
sn% return ny he Steamer ,o GenevS
as here We can take the cars to Snnsannc, and
from there to almost any point In Switzerland; I.
and grand, but 1t is very sad to notice
THE POVERTY WHICH PREVAILS AMONG THE room
who dwell in these mountain passes. The wan,
plnchcd expression Of their faces; the poor beg.
rlng haf.cad children you meet MI tell the sad
tale. The women of this country labor hard and
long; from carly morn TIL late at night we see
not working with the modern convenienecs which
SO tighten toll. In plowlng or furrowng the
ground-snd at this season in digging the vcgc-
tables for the long winters use-thcyusc roughly
constructed implement. which rescEblcs nearly
bnr Of iron, curved at the end and shaped into two
points. This piece of iron the women use dcx-
ferrous as our young ladies the croquct malict ]
have seen women tand It Is hard to look upon
harc-hoaded, bare:limbed and generally bare
footed harnesscd beside a cow to q cumbersome
dray, or carrying upon their backs huge panicrs
Of vegetables, or large stacks Of hay weighing
several hundreds Of pounds, II one could Rt all
which having noticed these poor hard.worked
women, who all their lives long have known no
| lighter employment, have l seen men, their hus-
bands, perhaps, lying full length upon the ground
smoking and ] presume experimenting only
these labors. oh ye women, who In America take
the platform, disRracirg yourselves and your sex,
| abusing your fathers and your husbands, the
makers Of the laws Of your country with cry for
your rights. come here to Switzerland or to Ger.
many. Look upon your sisters; contrast your
| homes with theirs, your labors with theirs and
| your husbands and be thankful that you were
born in America, where education is universal
where woman is respected as to her worth,
where you can breathe free, ride, visit or labor
without this watchiul suspicion always or contln'
| ned bIllllC,