The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-08-29

southern shore that We saw "Mont
Blanc 60 out" First the snowy sum-
mits were all ruddy; then the parting
rays of the sun painted them pinkish
hue. At last q purple mantle was
thrown about them, and they seemed to
recede further and further until hardly
an outline remained of them. There was
not passenger upon the boat who did
not seem Impressed with the wonderful
beauty OF the scene. Even the careful
pilot turned his thoughts from the helm
to look upon . picture he had seldom
witnessed before.
That same evening We saw Geneva
and its Leman in q soft moonlight.
The lights were bright along the streets
by the lake and upon the bridges /; the
musicians were sending out the sweetest
melody across the water; hundreds of
pedestrians were on tho promenade, en-
joying the fine air and brilliant scene.
There was so much enchantment in all
this that we kept our eyes and ears
open until long after midnight.
From Geneva to Berne we rode in
cars which were very much like our
American Railroad coaches. To ride in
them was the next thing to seeing an
American flag IN foreign land. 1t
brought before Us q panoramic view OF
dusty roads, consequential conductors,
insolent brakeman, slow time, etc. Yet
We were glad to be reminded of these
again, even after travelling 80 comforta-
bly, and systematically all over tho con-
tinent.
We caught but amomentary glimpse Of
tho pretty town Of.Lusanne. Standing
high and dark against the sky appeared
the towers of the old cathedral where,
in 1886, Calvin, Farel and Viret met in
their "great disputation." lausanne is
noted for its schools, which are in very
high repute. Leaving the lake at its
corner we obtained q last,
satisfactory view of its blue
waters, as they slept lazily and placidly
that fne summer morning.
We found Tribourg . billy, curiously
old town. Life is too short
to spend much time there. Its people
are slow, sleepy and dull. No wonder
Fribourg's wonderful organ has to be
used occasionally to wake up the inhab-
itants. Fribourg's towers and battle
ments and quaint houses present quite
an attractive scene as You approach the
town.
The journey as far as Berne was made
through fine open country, Astounding
with charming landscapes. Many were
the pleasant looking farm houses, and
some of them not unlike those of our
own land.
We staid one day at Berne, and during
the "a hours made very thorough can.
vas of the capitol of all the cantons.
The city is pleasantly located, occupying
an elevated position and being nearly
BY the river Aar. To pro-
nounce tho name of the principal street
it Is necessary for a person to get up
early in the morning and put in the
whole day at it. Hero it is, with not .
letter eliminated. and as pure in its
and construction as when it
came from the lips of the honest burgher
Who invented 1t. "G-e.r.e.c-h-t-l-g-k.e-i-
We'll, along this street of a
molodious and sweetly- flowing name, we
We managed, after sew.
oral trials, to witness the curious exhibi-
ton at the noted clock tower, which
tax es place when the clock strikes and
which every tourist is expected to see.
Here is the programme: cat three
before tho hour q cock crows
and flaps his wings; presently some
bears march in procession round an old
man, and the cock crows again. Then
q fool strikes the hours on Q bell with
whilst tho old MAI checks off
tho strokes with his sceptre, and turns
his hour glass. A bear mods approval,
and final bout of cock Growing ends
the performance.
Bears are as prominent on the city
arms of Rerne as the lions on the Vene-
tan shield. You soc bears everywhere.
They are in statuary At the fountains.
In the wood carving shops they serve
as match boxes, pipes and cigar holders.
In female fancy work the bear has to be
worked first. The peace and dignity
of Borne depend upon 1t. With all the
stone bears and,wooden bears and::wool-
en- bears and molasscs candy bears and
bears, several live bears
support their heraldic dignity, and put
in their time biting feas, at the expense
of the state, at the bear pits. People 60
to sec them because 1t is the fashion.
We had scen bears before, and yet went
to see these, just because they had won
renown and We're little more aristo-
cratic than the bears We were use to.
1t was Tuesday when We were at
Berne and it was one Of the best marked
days. We had a splendid opportunity
to see tho Swiss peasantry, who "were
in, in force" Their costumes we're
strange, and so were their ways,
vehicles, and even their produce.
Our guide book contains these words:
"There is a Roman Catholic church in
Bernie" At Venice it was: "There is
a Protestant church in Venice" 1t Was
about the same in Rome and other Ital.