The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-01-27
WAITS WAITED WESTWARD FROM
OVER THE WAVE
SIERRE. Switzerland.

dark and beautiful valley OF the Trent;
far above us lowered the stately pine
FORESTS, above whose topmost peaks the
bold head of the mountains rose bathed
in the morning sun and although 1t was
after eight O clock it would still be some
time before the sun would penetrate this
beautiful vale We seemed to be walk
ing through the valley. so thick were
the trees, yet the roar of the liver tar,
far below reminded US We were 1000 feet
up the mountain side. On emerging from
the woods we entered valley and pass
ed Swiss village, with saw mill, the
logs being foated down the steep hills on
the stream of Gravitation, and sawed at
the rate of the long meter Goxolegy. The
man will set the saw and then go OUT In
the hay field and works, while the log
trudges slowly on. On reaching the
summit of the next mountain, Cal de
Frent, one of the finest landscape views
[ have ever seen lay before us. We were
surrounded by meadows and fruit trees;
little further the dark foliage OF
chestnut hourishes, just beyond winch the
tapering spires and white houses OF
Martigny show, and still further on lay
the valley of the Rhone extending as far
as Sion. spread out like vast mass
bounded by the lofty snow-capped peaks
of the St. Gottard. All these things
can be mentioned, but to place them
before the eye Of the reader as they
there lay stretched out before us this
morning, is an impossibility. We stop
ped at Martigny for dinner, and then
came up the valley, passing the Iodine
Baths Of Saxon, then two picturesque
old castles on high SUBMITS. We halted
at Sion to merely glance at her castles.
Tourbillon Majonia and Valera. these
old towers and rumbling walls, looking as
if another winter would demolish them.
have stood sentri oyer this beautiful val
ley for thousand years We reached
this place about six o'clock and have
taken up our quarters at the hotel Bel
leview, once castle; the doors are very
small and the walls nearly three feet
thick. The boys all received letters from
home at NJ, (my friends have all forgot
ten me | guess, as | get no maiD, and
while they were answering them [ took
stroll The old delapidated medieval
buildings, the luxuriant vegetation that
crowns the eminences and the great va
riety of wild flowers that grow in the val
ley and the picturesque old castles, are
combined to make my walk most pleas
ant one, so my friends ~ don't slight
me so very much IN not writing. The
ever-varying costumes Of the women
are very noticeable in these mountainous
countries here the women wear high
crowned black hat, open at the top, with
deeply huted sides. which rests upon hair
glistening with Ornamental combs or
bodkins of silver. As |, Wearled, was
returning TO lny room met Elder l. and
Mr.. c., who wished me to join them in
walk, and we started up the valley to a
watch-tower and ruins Of al1 ela castle,
and there sat down for csyat. Presently
the mountains Of tie east basat to glow
with a peculiar light that ceHtrasted
strongly with the dark shaoows tfss5 sur
rounded us. The rising moon slowly
climbed distant peak, then shone dorxs
upon the beautiful valley, lighting up the
rugged masonry around US, shedding
with her silvery beams the same joyful
smile upon the ruined and scattered walls
as when they resounded to the bacehanal-
ians of their fuddled Lord or knight. We
fingered long upon this enchanted mount;
then descended and after stroll through
the strange old town have returned to
the hotel where have spent the past
hour writing you this hasty review of
our days doings.
Truly Yours,
j. D. G..