The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-08-02
The Castle of ChillOn.

Leaving Ouchy, the port OF Lausanne,
by one of the many steamers that ply over
the beautiful lake of Geneva, a ride of
half an hour brings US to the renowned
Castle of ChillOn. We have a full view
of the castle before we reach it. The
Alps, towering far into the clouds, form
the background; the lovely lake sur
rounds it. Montreux and Clarence (the
homes of Byron and Rosseau) are on its
one hand, and Villeneuve on the other,
while the castle itself rises grandly In
the midst with its massive towers and
turrets, forming picture truly beautiful.
But what contrast between this and the
horrible reality of its history. Near by
we see the ''little isle," mentioned by
Byron in his "PrisOner of ChillOn."
"And then there was little isle
Which in my very face did smile,
The only one in view;
A small, green isle, it seemed no more,
Scarce larger than my dungeon floor,
And in it there were three tall trees,
And DER it blew the mountain breeze,
And by 1t there were waters flowing,
And on it there were young flowers growing,
OF gentle breath and hue"
This description still holds good. The
castle is founded on large rock, which
tradition says rolled down from the noun
tain above, its dungeons being hewn out
from the solid rock below the surface OF
the water. Its only connection with the
shore is a w-bridge. The origin of
the castle is buried in obscurity, but men,
ton of it is found in history as early as
$50, A. D., since which time it has served
as fortress, a prison, residence for
royal families, and now is q storehouse
for the national arms. The castle, with
its six towers, surmounted by turrets con-
tanning many loopholes, is of the most
massive construction. The central tow
er, higher than the others, commands a
view of almost the entire lake and miles
of surrounding country. 1t was used as
watch tower, and still contains the alarm
bell rang in feudal times to summon the
inhabitants of the neighboring villages to
defend the castle. There are five other
towers smaller in size, but no less inter
esting, and thickly covered with ivy, and
altogether forming most attractive OBJ
ject, whether we regard it in its present
state, on account of its thrilling history,
or as having furnished the theme of an
immortal poem.
We enter the castle, and find young
woman in readiness to guide the visitor
around the castle, pointing out the places
of interest. OF course, We wish first to
see the dungeon where Bonnevard was
imprisoned for six long, weary years. We
went to see the rock worn away by his
constant tread; and where Byron carved
his name on pillar. So to that We go,
and cannot repress shudder rs we step
into the damp, dismal vault, and try to
imagine how it seemed when q prisoner
was chained to each of the seven columns
which support the dungeons. The vault
is two hundred feet long, and receives
but faint light from the narrow open
ings high up in the wall. 1t was in one
of these Sits that Byron supposed the
"lonely bird with azure wings" to have
sat and sung to the captive. The ring to
which his chain was attached is still in
its place; and here is the floor on which
he stood
"Worn ~ II the cold pavement were sod,
BY BOnnevard! May none these marks efiace
For they appeal from tyranny to Godr
In the next pillar we see Byrons name
carved deeply and boldly ia the hard
stone. The edges have been worn smooth
and round BY the many fingers which
daily touch 1t. In the same pillar are