The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-05

a perpendicular rock rising from the
lake, which is inscribed in huge gilt let
ters in honor Of "Fredrick Schiller, the
Bard of Tell" a few minutes later the
steamer passes close by little building
called Tells chapel, erected on the spot
where it is said he sprang from Gessler's
boat
Two miles from Fluelen is the lit
tie village of Altorf, where Tell per-
formed his terrible feat Of archery
and defied Gessler. The familiar story
Of his shooting the apple from his sons
head is dear to every Swiss heart, and
is often illustrated ia ornamenting
houses, for have several times seen st
one corner Of a house the wooden figure
of boy with an apple on his head and
at the other a carved archer with drawn
cross-bow aiming at the apple.
At this end Of the lake we are in the
midst OF snow-eapped mountains and %
sight, nearly over our heads, a glacier is
working its way slowly, its lower end
dropping almost into the lake. Return
ing, we land at Vitznau, at the foot Of
Mt. Regi, where We take the railway up
| the mountain. The road is about four
miles IN length, and in this distance
makes an elevation Of nearly four thou
sand feet. In some places the elevation
is one foot in every four. It is con-
structed like the Mt. Washington rail-
way, with heavy eog-rail between the
two common rails, which connects with
a strong cOg-wheel on the main axle of
| the engine. The ascent takes about an
hour and a quarter. To my surprise, l
found in place OF the cheap and small
hotel which was on the summit five
/ years ago, two fine hotels, one costing
nearly 100000.
The Regi is nearly 5000 feet above
the level Of the sea, and about 4. 500 feet
above lake Lucerne, which washes its
| base. From the summit there is one
Of the finest and most extended views
/ to be seen from any place in Europe.
/ This magnificent panorama has a cir
conference Of nearly 300 miles, and in
cludes a range of snow-covered Alps
/ 40 miles long, thirteen lakes of differ
ent sizes, one so near that you certainly
can throw a stone into it from where
you stand, aud on one side broad plain
which stretches away into the Black For
est in the far distance. After enjoying
the wonderful view for a hour or more,
we retire early, as we are to be awak-
ened by the Alpine horn at $3.50 in the
morning to see the sun rise. At that
unseemly hour We hear a strange, sweet
sound ringing through the halls OF the
hotel which seems to say as we are yet
half asleep, "tra-da-tra-da-dui-da." In
few minutes a motley crowd OF
sleepy-eyed people are shivering in the
cold winds which sweep across the
summit aud looking anxiously toward
that quarter Of the heavens where it is
hoped the sun will soon appear. No
language can begin to describe the
beauty Of the scene as the daylight aud
then the rays Of the sun glance from
peak to peak Of the snOw-covered mount
, aims. 4 clear sunrise seen from Regi j:
one Of the few things which eau nevel
J be forgotten. The botanist of our party
found more than forty varieties Of flow
ers growing within a few rods Of tbs
hotel.
After breakfast we descend by way o
the inclined railway and take the boa
, for Alpnach, from which we go by car
riages over the Brunig Pass to Giess
! bach, on Lake Brienz. The carriag
r road over Brunig is a wonder Of engi
neering skill, and many times, as W
D looked ahead at the apparently impass
e ible mountains, it seemed as if the rOa
] must certainly come to an untimel
= end. The ascent is comparatively uniu
teresting, but the descent is very fine
beautiful views constantly breaking il
( upon us. At Giessbach we are ais
t pleasantly surprised to find very fin
D new hotel in place of an old one. Thi
: place, which consists of nothing but thi
r great hotel, Is visited entirely for th
= sake of the waterfall and its illuming
tiOn by night. It's six cascades al
, lighted by different colored Beings
r lights, which are burned back Of them
e This gives the appearance of a waterfa
:, Of different colored flame, and is cer
= tainly striking, however questionabl
e may be its taste. A ride of less tha
1 an hour brings US to Intertaken, vi
Il lsge Of hotels, the Saratoga of Switze
e land, which is most delightfully."- situate
Il on plain between two lakes, aud i
g full sight OF the snow-covered Jungfrar
8 II is the headquarters for excursions fnt
= the Oberland, and the point from whie
a trips are best made to the glacier
i Grindenwald and the little waterfall
f Staubbach, which makes an unbroke
! leap Of $50 feet, and falls in fine mist
3 the base Of the precipice.
n A ride Of three hours brings Us to q
IS quaint city Of Bern, which is said
" have preserved its characteristic featur
a better than any other Swiss tow
Along the principal streets the housu
IS are built on arches over ths sidewalE
d Bern is the capital of the Swiss confe,
of eraey, and contains the plain and incl
II pensive but convenient gOvernmei
: buildings. The session of the legisli
e tive body had just closed, and we ha
d the pleasure of only seeing the rooms
J. which it was held The President
the Republic receives the princely sa
a arv of S6Oo nar war The citv n,