, 1873-12-13
SWITZERLAND.
Chamourix --- Mont Blanc s.. Coferldge's
Hymn---Tho Mer de Glace.


Correspondence u The Ch'cn4o Tribune.
LAIR MAun1onr, fsa'y, oas. i5, l873.
On tho 2Oth OF soptombor, With m Eplscopnl
clergyman, whose wife s tho daughter Of one of
Chicago'a Oldest oiti2ens aud oarly nattlors, wo
Btartod from Lausanne for Ohamounix. We Ind
been waiting soserni tnys for fine weather., and.
aftor the storm which delayed us, wo wcrc
beascd wltha week Of absolutely oloudleas wcall1-
cr,-dass as charming as ono OF our brightoat,
cloareak days at homo In OctoIor; mud l am
sure no country IN tho world can boast Of finer
days than those Of our American autumn. Wo
stopped the first night opposite tho Gorge de
Trient, to visit this gorge and tho
FALLs OF sALLESc1lE.
THO falls ore beautiful, but the gorge is n
wonder. i rapid rnountaiu-torrent rushea
through high mountain. Tho granite rocks,
BIZ some tremendous conrule'on Of Nature, have
boon torn asuu1er from baso to snmmit,
and tho Btraam comes r1lshing fontning,
roaring, over ita rugged pathway, creating rap-
!ls falls, and cascades OF oyery variety Of form.
This stream Is at tho bottom Of = dcop olias1n; ;
80 deep that the rays Of tho SUI mover find their
say to tho bottom; and tbs chasm, or gorge.
Is only wido enough for tho stream. Over
the stream, and far above 1t, aud yet hundreds,
and In BONO ptacca thousands, Of feet down in
Tho clasm, has boon suspended, by wires, fast-
ened into tho rocks, a foot-bridgo, or aoafold-
ing, along which you natk for q halt-mila into
tho heart Of tho mountain, stoalying yourself
With your hands against tho rocks. sometimes
on one eido and sometimes on the other. From
this bridge thus suspended, you look down to
the torront, md up, far up, to tho sky, whom tho
rocks do not meet oyor your head aud shut out
the light.
Tie next morning We started for Cl,amounix
by way Of Martigny and the Tote Eoir. Aftor
leuying the path that 1ea1s to tito Great st. Der-
nard, wo commenced rapidly to ascend, and
spent six or oight hours in climbing, BY zigzag
paths. one mountain pass after anothor, until
wo reached mud passed around tho Tate Noir,
aud then
MONT BLANC,
nith all his majesty, burst upon uB, and, for tho
last four hours Of our Journey, he lowered up
before us. without d cloud, or oven wisp OF
vapor, to interrupt our Wow. There ho stood
for hours, with hiH majestic dome covered with
the eternal snow, cutting the clear blue sky us
sharply as tho whito sails Of ship. whom the
sun shines full upon it. To the right roeo tho
aharp anu pointed ptnnaoes Of tho Aiguillos
Rougea aud the roay light on thoao naked
granite nocdles. TINT literally pierced tho Sly,
suggested their name. Amid Bconcs Of t,n-
sQualad majesty and grandeur, NO passed. on
towards h1ont Blanc. but NO never seemed to
lpproach any nearer to it. Tho valleys woro
,ometimea as wild, dreary, and sou,bro
10 tho dark shadows Of unclad rocks
Using thousands Of feet on each side
IT our path aud mountain torrents
uuhiug down their sides could render thom !;
and At othcrs tholo would bo O green valley,
Tlth fruit-treoa and vines on ita sunny sido,
Swins cottages, the sweet smell Of new-mown
ANY, and the gentle inklfng Of bella on tho cows
and goats, as tue animals cropped the rich
grass along the hillside. Nowand then we could
aoRr
TIE A1r1NE HORN
eeloing up the valleys, us tho lerdsman signale1
ais hcrd or llta nsaociatea. The meaaowB and
grentest profusion Of tho most lovely flowers !;
sometimes the meadows were 40 full OF tho blno
:rocuB, new blooming tho second tino this Rea-
aon, that it would bo difficult to place your foot
npon the green turf without crushing them.
Dlue-bells, violots, and heath, and the mort
beautiful ferna, werc growing In the greatest
profusion and luxurianco. We passed at almost
every half-mils the way-side cross the SHRINE,
tho crucifx, to suggest or stimulate tho devo-
iou Of the herds1nau aud tho traveller. Amidst
:reep up tho RisleB Of tho noun
aauB, mud tile rosy and purple light linEor
OH their summits, aud ~ sunset we arrived at
Chamounl1, directly under the shadows Of Mont
Blanc, md at hs worry toet.
TIC ue1t morning early I throw my Windows
upen it was quite light, but Mont BIanc WAS be-
,ween me and tile sun, and waited long before
ac roBo above tho c1ear, pure SNOW OF the sum-
nit 80 long waited that recalled tho
GRAND HYMN OF ooLER1D0E
written in this valley. whlo waiting for the sun.
Apostrophizing Mont Blame, he oxclai1ns:
uast thou chur,n to stay tho morning star
lu lis steop courso2 So long ho seems to rause
,n thy bold, awful head, oil aoy'roisn Dlanol
It was Sunday morning, and read this sub-
lime hymn, worthy Of lie scouo in which It Was
writer. Let mo quote fow moro liuoB:
Ye living flowers that skirt the eternal frost,
10 wild goats sporting round Tic eagles ncst!
y eagles. plsyn.asos Of the mountain storms!
~ lgltntngs, the dread ARROWS Of the c!ondsi
y sens and wonders M ~ q the ,'lt1a elements
liter '0f'n o'a' Ana LII 'Ao A'1' Will pfA'S''
rbou loo ,,o.r mount with thv s1sv.no,nttng nears
3ft from waose fcet the avalanche unhearI e'
shoots downward gtterug through Tho pure serone,
Ehou kAngsy spirit .Asoned among tho hills,
thou dTeaa a,npaassaor 4 from Earth to heaven,
ssa, ~ esarsh M 'el taou ta tne @ hiea afa; gky,
kbG