The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-24
Letter from Henry HudnalI, Esq, Now
I'm EurOpo.

Mean temperature, 193.
Letter from Henry HudnaII, Esq, Now
I'm Europe.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispath.l
INTERLACHES, July 8, 1878.
After having enjoyed the glorious views
from the Rigi, and contemplated the gloomy
grandeur of Mont Piatus, casting its SOM
bre shadows over Lucerne. this quiet valley
affords delightful relief to the weary trav-
eller. 1t is the Happy Valley OF Rasselas,
surrounded by all the charms OF the Bernese
Oberland, and affords an attractive rendez-
yous to tourists from all parts OF the world,
to admire the lovely scenery, or to partici-
nate in the pleasures OF gay and agreea-
BILE society. The crowd OF visitors is often
80 great that the numerous hotels are barely
sufficient for their accommodation.
Interlachen is situated 1,725 feet above
the sea, in a charming plain between the
lakes Of Brienz and Thun, and is shut out
from the rude world by mountains OK pro-
digiolS height, among which the Jungfrau
is the most conspicuous. Yesterday, on
nv arrival, she appeared in dishabille OF
clouds, but this morning beheld her in her
naked beauty, save with veil OF yestal
snow.
The town itself Is but little more than a
place OF hotels and restaurants, but it has
antiquities and many noticeable points OF
interest. The river Aar, with its swift
flowing, ultra-marine blue water, rushes
through the town from Lake Brienz to Lake
Thun, atfording immense motive-power to
two saw-mills. In one portion OF the river
I saw number Of domestic aquatic fowls
floating about, among which was that TGrG
auis In terris, black swan.
&c fyoy >lont tofi n
called the H6heweg, which forms, with the
new avenue, one Of the most pleasant pro-
menades in Switzerland, and runs parallel
with many of the hotels and boarding
houses, or pensions, as they call them in
| Europe.
| 1t would require volume 10 describe the
delightful walks and interesting excursions
which Interlachen and its neighborhood at
fords. On the upper edge Of the town,
near the end OF the H6heweg, is the con-
vent OF Interlachen, founded in 1130 A. D.
by Seilger OF Oberhofen. 1t was the resi-
dence OF fifty monks OF the Order OF st.
Augustine, and was as celebrated for Its
riches rs for the lad use to which they were
applied. The monastery is now used rs
hospital, and the choir Of the ancient church
is converted into chapel for the English
service; the Roman Catholic chapel, the
Scotch Free and the Protestant French
church adioin it. The grandeur and beauty
of the walnut-trees which surround this
pile OF buildings cannot fail to attract at
tention. Some OF these trees are said to
be upwards Of three hundred years old.
Back OF the village is lofty and almost
precipitous mountain more than 1000 feet
high, from which an unfortunate youth
from England, who lies buried in the parish
cemetery, fell while attempting to climb the
perilous height 1t was in 1929, and may
have suggested to Mr.. Longfellow his poem
Of Excelsior: On the opposite side OF the val
| lev is a rocky, wooded hill called the jung
frau blick:, surmounted by the finest look
ing hotel in the neighborhood, from the
terraces Of which an admirable prospect may
be had uf the valley, with its two lakes, and
the Jungfrau. The woods around are laid
off in shady walks, grottoes, avenues, and
rustic seats, forming a paradise for roman
tic couples. "
The ruins OF the castle OF Unspunnen,
situated on a small hill, proudly overlooks
the plain. History neither records the pc
riod of its foundation nor the time when it
the beautiful lady of the manor, and of her
young lover, the Knight Of Wadiswyl. Ira
| dition saith that this is the tower from which
4 Sister Anne watched the road and saw no.
thing but the grass growing and the water
running. Here Blue Beard buried his wives
alive to give place to more favored ones, and
where the huge dog descendants of which
may be seen to-day in 1nterlachen) guarded
the treasures hid in the ruins. The dun
geon is still seen where fifty brave warriors
from Hassli, after their defeat before Un-
spunnep, in 1880, spent four years OF mise
rabe imprisonment.
J.: Opposite Benigen, at the foot of Lake
Brienz, where the short railroad with its
tWo.story cars now commences, is the
ruined castle of Ringgenburg with its ro-
mantle surroundings. 1t is said to have been
built in the twelfth century. The lords OF
Ringgenburg were valiant warriors. and it
is told how Cuno of Rinegenburs distin-
spished himself at the battle OF Laupen in
! 1889 at the head OF 800 men OF lnterlachen
fxnd HASH. You will observe that every na-
ton with any history or tradition has It's
300 warriors. But all the lords OF Rlnggen-
| burg were not like Cuno; for one OF his
successors, one Petermann, was so disliked
that his rebellious yassals seized him one
fine morning on the little lake called Fau-
] lensee, where he was fishing, and conduct-
| ing him beyond the Brtinig, RACED his
castle to the ground, where it is lying
covered with moss and litchen to-day.
On the neighboring lake Of Thun is the
srotto Of St. Beat. It was formerly the
habitation of the pious hermit whose name
lit bears, and who converted the pagans
around by means OF numerous miracles.
| He died, it is said, at the beginning OF the
second century, at the age OF ninety. The
| views both from the grotto and the village
OF St. Beatenberg are magnificent. On the
| right bank of the rivulet which flows out OF
the grotto is charming cascade. But the
grandest OF all the cascades in this vicinity
| is the Giessbach, one OF the most celebrated
in Switzerland. Pictures OF it are nume-
rous in America. az it is fayorite with ar
fists. The hotel, perched high up on the
side OF the mountain, adYertises that 1t IL
Eliminates this cascade t.tonts soirs-eysry
night. Illuminating cascades Is fayorite
amusement here.
The hotel portion Of Interlachen is mod
ern and fresh; there are portions OF the
town which wear the looks of 5hoar' am
tiquity. In Mayence ]. saw remains OF Ro-
man towers which were built by Drusus !;
but in Interlaehens have seen a house
which T think must have been constructed
by Adam.
Hereafter may give you a sketch Of the
courts and lawyers haunts in London as 1
saw them fortnight ago. d. !,
tsI want, and will have, wife without a
failing,o was theErsHlark Of a young man
who had three seasons experience OF life.
His sister, with only countfy girls phi
losophy, remarked: ssHsThen you'll never
;marry, because, shonid you lind suehia Wo-
man, she il be sure to want husband OF the