St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-10-17

among vineyards, pear orchards, and
chestnut groves, it leads upward and
zigzagward, along the brink of gorges
hundreds of feet deep, under overhang-
ing precipices, through ravines where
there is natural room only for narrow
torrent, till at length gray boulders and
jagged cliffs crowned by needle-like
pinnacles fill the spaces on either hand
to the very sky. At TRENT, half way,
a little beyond the summit of the pass,
we meet great company of outward
bound pilgrims, some in carriages as
we are, some on mules, and some with
staff in hand on foot. Here we all dine,
or try to, on thin soup, bread that Ie-
minded us of Won Tromp's Dutch
cheeses which, when round shot were
exhausted, he used for cannon balls,
and beef that had evidently grown
tough and sinewy by long roaming on
the mountains. The potatoes were
tender and nourishing and would have
filled the eyes of a native Irishman.
But this was an exceptional experience,
since most Swiss hotels are well kept.
A little farther on we come to a large
square stone post which marks the
boundary between Switzerland and Sa-
vOy. We are now in Italy. For proof
notice but few rods ahead shrine of
the Virgin Mary. We have them now
every mile or two. Soon between the
dark buttresses on the right and left
heaves in sight the broad white shoul-
der of Mont Blanc and then his fresh
capped head, shortly after a score of
lesser summits-most of them with
sharp needle points, in French aiguil-
leS,-then bend round steep descent
and below us lies the river Arve and
the vale of Chamouny. This valley is
remarkable and famous not merely be-
cause it is the nearest carriage approach
to Mont Blanc. 1t is fifteen miles
long, two to four wide, as green in this
middle of September as ever you saw
June meadow, and entirely enclosed
by very lofty and PERCEPTIONS noun
tains. Seven distinct glaciers flow in
to it from the Mont Blanc range on the
southeast, five of these are clearly Wis
IDLE from the bottom of the valley, and
the bases of four of them are within
two hours walk from the highway.
Sept. Is. Yesterday morning at
breakfast we met an Englishman and
his wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Singer, who had
on the three days previous ascended to
the summit of Mont Blanc from the
italian side and descended to Chamou-
ny. On the first day they reach the
hut, a little more than halfway up,
where the night is usually spent by
those who ascend. The next morning
and delayed the start, hence it Was
about p. m. when they reached the
summit. Then the sky was perfectly
clear and the prospect fine. They hop
ed by rapid descending to reach the
midway hut at the foot of the Grand
Mulets on the north side before entire
darkness came on. But in little more
than half an hour after, when they had
just gained the top of the Grand Plateau
above the Mulets, there came upon
them furious and binding storm of
sleet and snow. They wandered about
for an hour or two, endeavOring to keep
warm, and hoping that the storm would
cease early enough for them to reach
some shelter. This hope failing, they
tried to dig themselves a shelter under
the old snow. But this, too, they could
not do. There was no alternative but
to remain where theys were, and re-
main standing and tramping, the three
guides and husband sheltering Mrs. S.
from the wind as best they could, till
the morning dawned, and here, only
about 1000 feet below the summit, 10,
600 feet above Chamouny, though ex-
ceedingly weary from the hard climb
ing of the two preceding days, and
though their wine froze solid and theil
fingers were so benumbed that not one
of the party could open basket con.
tanning a little chicken, the only foOC
left, they weathered the night, and OF
Saturday at noon reached ChamounN
in safety. Mr.. Singer had one hant
quite badly frOst-bitten, but, excep
that their faces were somewhat swollen
none of the rest of the party received
any injury, and Mrs. S. was at tabl,
with the rest of the guests of the hote
for all the meals on Sunday, as if moth
ing unusual had happened. Their pre-
servation under the circumstance
, seemed almost miraculous. Only few
years ago party of eleven persons
overtaken by a similar storm on tn
same side of this mountain all perished
: Mont Blanc is rarely ascended by la
dies, especially on the south side wher
it is steepest. We were told that
: Miss Brevoort of New York and two O
three English ladies had ascended,-
and ascending these highest peaks
2 always by walking-all the highe
5 mountains of Switzerland, and that tn
: American lady had declared her inter
e tion to surmount the Himalayas. Br
+. this sort of work cannot be done b
t either man or woman without bot
= good health, good nerve, and carefl
e training. Mrs. Singer had walked
Switzerland seven summers and ha
f made two or three trials of Mont BIan