Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-24

incredulity will find it difficult to efface
national image dear to Switzerland.
You will remember that when like
whirlwind the great Napoleon swept
over the Continent, Switzerland was
the early prey of his rapacity.
In 1915 the congress of Vienna separ-
ated her into twenty-five cantons, each
distinct and popularity sovereign. Hence
internal distraction ard petty jealousy,
the one toward the other. The different
cantons vary in their forms of govern
ment. Some are republics where all
classes are represented, while others are
aristocratic and are governed by the
upper crust. All are represented in
the general diet, which meets at Berne.
Three-fifths of Switzerland is protestant
and zealous, rigid adherants to the Cal
whistle creed. ard the remaining two
fifths largely Catholic. Where learning
is so diffused there are but few who pos
sess no creed, and this is one of the many
lessons Switzerland teaches US. Educa-
ton tends to increase mans convictions
of the truth and powers of christianity.
Mr.. LoriRg has referred truthfuly to
Switzerland: H.The peculiar feature
in the condition of the Swiss population,
the great charm of Switzerland next TO
its scenery, is the air of well-being, the
neatness, the sense of propriety imprint
ed on the people, their dwellings, their
plots of land. They have kind of
Robinson Crusoe industry about their
houses and their properties. They are
perpetually building, repairing, altering
and improving something about their
tenements. The spirit Of the proprietor
is not to be mistaken in all that one sees
in Switzerland Some cottages, for in
stance, are adorned with texts from the
scriptures, painted or burnt in the wood
in front of the door; others with the
pedigree Of the builder, or owner. These
show that the property has been some
times held two hundred years by the
same family. The modern taste of the
propriety shows itself in the new win
dows and in additions to the old pictur-
esque building, which, with its immense
projecting roof sheltering or shading all
of the little additions, looks like hen
with brood of chickens under her wings.
The vineyard husbandry is here altOgeth-
er a garden cultivation in which manual
labor unassisted by animal power, scarce
" even by the simplest mechanical con-
trivances, such as wheelbarrOws, har-
rows, or other assisting implements, to
the basket, hoe and spade. Hand labor
corn, and even common grain crops. IT
is not uncommon to find agricultural
villages without a horse, and all cultiva-
ton done by hand. In even the most
insignificant hamlets and villages there
will usually be found a post Office, a reg
ularly appointed Waterman by night,
public fountains, a market-place and a
fire signal The other circumstances
which strike the traveller is the appear
ance and condition of the females.
None of the woman are exempt from
field work, not even IN the families of
very substantial peasant prOprietors,
whose houses are furnished as well as
any country mansion with us. The hard
work, narrowing, is generally cone by
the men.
The binding of the vine on the poles
with the straw. which is done three
times in the course of its growth, the
making of hay, pruning the vine, twitch-
ing off its superfiuous leaves and tend
rils, these lengthy, yet necessary jobs,
form woman's work. But females both
in France and Switzerland. have a far
more important role in the family among
the lower and middle classes than with
us. The female although not exempt
from outdoor work, and even hard
work, undertakes the thinking and man.
aging department IN family affairs, and
the husband is but the executive officer
and they are generally superior in man.
ners, habits, tact, and intelligence to the
men.
We had talk on woman's rights in
Switzerland. Bring the unseXed Stan
tons and WoOdhulls to Swiss conditions
and all America would hear the doleful
cry of woman's wrongs. But passing
through Switzerland, coming in contact
with the polite people, seeing their
homes and their Institutions how can
/ one for an instant drive from oneself the
/ demonstrated fact that indeed ''Religion
is the handmade of enlightenment" but
we might examine closer and find that
it is Christianity which has been the
great conservatory of Swiss prosperity.
( Compare Spain and Switzerland and one
must needs make a distinction between
profession and practice, Popery and Cal
! vinism. J. II. D.