Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-25
Che family Circle.
Scenes in Switzerland.
The -4rgosy.

Surrounded by sublimty from their
birth, ever drinking in the inspiration of
grandeur, and reminded on every hand of
the weakness Of man and Of the Omnipo-
tence of the Creator, is it any wonder that
the Swiss should be as noble, as devout
and us generous As they are? Switzerland
is nearly all mountains and lakes. and
chalets, rs cottages are called. are built in
narrow passes two or three thousand feet
above the sea.
The mountain tops are ever covered
with snow The solid rocks are often
Jagged and pinnacled. The unceasing ac-
ton of cold and heat-the frost of night
and the suns rays by day-broke piece
after piece away until they became irreg-
ular The steep sides and the abrupt de
scents show where the terrible destructive
avalanches come from. The snow collects
rather it Ellls-upon the summit catching
in the crevices and lodging on the pro-
jectionS. The sun heat melts the snow
until its weight loosens its hold upon the
peak, or breaks the restraining rocks, and
Il tremendous mass of snow and stone goes
tumblng and crushing down until it is ar
rested by broader projections OF plunged
into the valley below.
1t is grand sight to see IN avalanche,
and ut noontime any day they are fire.
quent A faint rumbling noise is heard
in the valley, and looking up one sees a
white cataract Of snow pouring from some
dizzy height, bounding over one, two, or
more iutting rocks, and finally lodging in
some abyss, and. perhaps. it tears its way
down to the mountains base with the
speed of the wind, Frustrating trees.
sweeping a broad path. crushing in dwell
ings, and looSening huge bowleis which
follow in the wake and make the de>truc-
ton more complete and terrible.
High on the mountain side an avalanche
which, unchecked. could bury in ruins :,
whole villages looks but Il narrow band
of white. and its awful proportions and
power are not appreciated until its might
is demonstrated in the valley.
Snow melted by the sun and pressed
beneath the weight of the latter acccssions
forms the glaciers-those immense seas of
ice-carrying upon their froz, n pillows
great masses of rock wrenchcd from Dor
dering cliffs. The tens of thousands of
tons of snow upon the mountain tops,
aided alternately. by frost and warmth,
thrust, at times, the terminal, or end of
the glacier, far down into the green and
fertile valley, while from an icy cavern
flows u muddy stream. which is 4 mere
brook or river according to the size of the
glacier or the time of day. The smaller
glaciers. which rest upon the mountain
heights, pour forth clear streams of de
lightfully refreshing water.
The cities and villages of Switzerland
are located in valleys, and by the side of
some rivulet fed by mountain streams or
on the shore of some beautiful lake formed
by the rivuletS, and in these places the in
habitants earn 4 livelihood by making the
watches and jewclry so celebrated the
world over, and by manufacturing silk.
cloths, lacrS. etc. But the sturdy Swiss OF
history, they whose bravery has so often
saved their own and even other countries
from invaders, they who to-day maintain
the distinct characteristics of their noble
ancestors and caused their country to
shine as 4 guiding light upon a mountain
top to the other nations of the Old World
they, the intelligent, upright, conscen-
tiou>, Just peasants, belong not to the
towns. but dwell in such homes rs have
been pictured among the wild, grand
mountains and breathe pure invigorating
air removed from evil associations and in
iluences, their eyes, steps and mind di-
recled upward.-Il-D00r a'd ont.