The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-01-30

perature of I2u0. At one place | noticed
large family or mess trough, into which
pipe conducted the water, heated by
the invisible fire, and here were gathered
quite a company washing their dinner
dishes. This must be quite an economy
In fuel | then started down the left
bank of the Dole by frequented and
shaded lath to the Ladders. Here at
the foot Of a lofty precipice are stationed
eight ladders, pinned to the side of the
solid rock which leads up to the steep
cliff. [ was told there was quite vii
lage up there, with these ladders their
only communication with the valley
below, up this steep, unsteady way, men,
women and children, day and night. and
often heavily laden, are constantly pas
sing. This has given TO these highlanders
quite a different costume than the rest
of the Swiss women, wearing attires
nearly the same as the men, with the
exception Of an overskirt " hich is often
Topped up 30 the back, much like coat
or boys blouse Now comes the most
difficult part of this letter, description
OF the ''Gemmi Pass" We left Luken-
baden at 5 clock, the sun, however,
having already disappeared from the
town. We were directed to go toward
the walls of the vast amphitheatre that
surrounded the little village. There
barren walls 1000 feet high seemed to
present rather formidable front for our
little band We think we have became
quite efficient in Alpine feats. but this
looked rather too formidable, yet We
journeyed on up to the very last mo
ment and until you reach the foot of the
precipice it is scarcely possible to dis
cover the way out or to tell whittier the
road goes, or how it can be carried up
vertical surface of rock. 1t is mere
shelf, in some parts groove cut in the
face of its huge cliff, just wide enough
for man to pass. and at the turns OF
the zigzags you constantly oVerhang
depth of nearly 500 feet. This was con-
strscted in 1876 and is one Of the most
remarkable of Alpine routes. True, yet
what poor idea this gives of this won
derful read. Women are often blind
folded that they may not see the fearful
precipices. This is the only way to get
to Lukenbaden from the north, unless
you make the slight detour of two hun
dred miles by Berne, Tribery, etc. We
reached the summit at 7 o'clock, juss In
time to catch another glimpse of she
sun we had seen set two hours betese.
What magnificent view as we look
ed off on the different landscapes. You
der rises lofty group of mountains to-
ward the east, they are the MIschabef
horner; little more southward towers
the mighty Wiesserhorn, and still farth-
er to the right the pyramid Of the Met
terhorn and the Deut-Blanche. Down
yon giddy height lies the Bottles we
have left then down the valley of the
Dole. The church of linden peeps
through the foliage of the dark forest,
and still farther she Rhone valley, and
the Alps and valleys beyond. Can there
be anything more lovely? The weather
all day has been pressively warm, mid
SUNK er in these villages but mid-wlnter
in these heights. We put on our over
coats and then could not keep warm,
and had to come on to the hotel. where
we are quite crowded but everything is
SO elegant and neat we can go to bed and
rest, and we need 1T for we have been
fifteen hours on the soad to-day, and |
have spent still another hour writing
this long letter, whsn [ should have
been In he'd More anon.
j. D. 9.