Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-10
NO Ill.
Dailu kennehtl Journal.
Continued.
NY TRIP TO EUROPE.
FREIBtRG.

Freihurg. Stzerland, Aug. S.--Yester!ay
| afternoon. soon after our return TO Lausanne
from Chillon. we entered the cars. and pro-
ceeded by rail TO Freiburg. Some of the
Swiss cars are a sort of compromise between
| the English and American fashion. They
are divided into compartments like the Eng
lish with seats facing each other. But there
| is a door between the compartments, rs there
is not in the English ears. To make room
| for the doors, there are hut three seats in
stead of four, on one side of the door,
and two on the other. This mode Of con-
struction has some advantages, but ON the
whole either the English or American stvle
| is preferable in most respects 10 the Swiss,
| We had a very agreeable ride through n fine
country, and reached our destination ut an
early hour.
Freiburg is place of about Ia. 900 inhab.
itants, and is the capital of canton of the
same name. 1t Is romantcally situated on
both banks of the river Sarine. and has many
fine stone buildings. The site on which il is
built is very uneven, some houses standing
high on the summit of the river banks, and
almost overhanging the river, whilst others
are built on terraces, the roofs of one tier
not rising above the level of the pavement
of another. The rear of one of the hotels
had wide balcony which looked down upon
panorama of dwellings, gardens. streets and
moving carriages and people far below. There
are two remarkable suspension bridges, one
across the river, l,5 feet high, and the other
spanning Il ravine or gorge 2S4 feet above the
valley beneath. The first is 800 feet long
and the other 700. Our party went over the
longest one. ard venturcd bravcly TO view the
prospect from its railing on each side; but
it must be confessed. that when loaded teams
came upon it, so slight was the construction
and so dizzy the height, were glad to
hasten off of the springng. swinging struc-
ture. This bridge is not quite equal in
height to the suspension bridge at Niagara
Falls but is about loo feet longer. The
other bridge we saw at a distance, and it
looked too slightly built for its immense
height.
The finest building in this city is the old
Gothic cathedral, which has n massive tower
or spre 2So feet high, said to he the tallest
in Switzerland. 1t has many curious and in
teresting carvings in stone. The interior is
highly decorated. recumbcnt statue or
eiligy of the Saviour in the tomb, of recent
construction, and in another part of the
church group of apostles and angels, with
the three Marics, surrounding the crucifcd
Saviour, all OF the finest white marble, and
of mastery workmanship, attracted our at
tention and excited our admiration
In this church is an organ with 300 pines.
one of them - feet long. and some consider
it the finest toned instrument in Europe. In
the evening. a concert was given to our par
ty on this famous organ, by NJ. VOgt, a dis
tinguished musician.
BERNE.
Aug s.-We left Freiburg this morning by
rail, and after a ride OF about two hours,
through beautiful agricultural country,
with fine farms and dwellings, and very prct-
ty villages on either hand we arrived nj
Berne, the political capital of Switzerland
Here we made a stop of several hours II is
a city of about 40, 900 inhabitants, with large
and splendid buildings of stone, its
streets wider than is the prevailing
fashion in Europe, its public squares
numerous and highly ornamented, and in the
middle of its streets many fountains constant
lv playing. These fountains usually have a
reservoir around them, elevated to conren-
lent height, at which we frequently saw wo-
men washing their clothes.
We visited the cathedral, which is an an
cient building well preserved. with a multi
tude Of spires and turrets built of stone. The
interior is attractive, and of tasteful con-
struction. II is occupied by the Protestants.
| In fact, Berne is a Protestant city. There
| are many other large and handsome church.
We were conducted into the National
| Council or Parliament House, a magnificent
structure surrounding three sides of q square.
built and adorned in the most elegant and ex
pensive. but not gaudy style Very few
public buildings in the United States can
compare with this in cost and finish. The
rooms where the two branches of the Nation
al Legislature bold their. sessions are much
more convenient and comfortable than th.
British House of Cenemens. Every member
has cushioned chair, with a desk in front OF
him. The Whole building is in fine taste.
and is adorned with numerous marble pillars
carved work and beautiful paintings
| AKCADEs.
| The shops in the principal streets for the
sale Of goods. unlike other cities we have
seen, have arcades extending in front of them
the whole length of the buildings, with doors
| and windows opening to the street, in which
goods of all kinds are displayed. Then there
is walk about ten feet wide, between the
side Of the arcade next tc the street, and the
inner shop doors, with show windows each
side Of the walk. The outside window is
used probably only in fine weather. 1t was
beautiful day, and as we passed through the
long arcades, the exhibition of every species
of merchandise was very curious and attrac-
tive. The spectator or purchaser is always
sheltered from sun and rain, and icing sur
rounded with beautiful things, is under very
strong temptation to buy.
| BEARS.
Bernc is the city of bears. The legend il.
that in the ages long ago, a certain duke who
was hunting killed bear on the site of the
present city, and hence gave it the name of
Berne. The canton bears the same name,
The citizens evidently pride themselves on the
origin Of their name, for there are bears
everywhere as you go about the streets, iron
bears, stone bears, wooden bears, and last,
not least. living bears. There are two huge
iron ones at the sides of public gate. The
living ones are kept in a pit, which we all
went to see. There were Just four, and NO
more, great, awkward, lazy animals, in . pit
some six feet deep, divided int two sections,
and walled up with masonry. five had been
anywhere but in Berne, where the bear Il IL