Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-16
Dailp Kfnnebfl .5ournaI.
MY Trip to Europe.

Zs.-1he rain al yesterday ceased. and THIS
morning the fog coon dispersed, ard we had
warm sunny forenoon. We we're told, how
ever, that II would be cold on the top Of
Mount Right, and in fact, there we're appear
ances Of snow in the ravines near the sum
NIT Of Pilatus. We all prepared we'll as
We could for the anticipated frigid ternpera'
tare.
Al noon we embarked in a steamer at Lu-
cerne, and pursued our voyage on the lake
amidst the grand surrounding scenery 10 Wiz
nsu. little village and landing place a, the
foot Of Kighi. The rain Of the day before
was snow on the highest mountains Visible in
the distance, and they presented sublime
spectacle az they appeared rising above the
nearer peaks and cliffs on the margin Of the
lake. The mountain. in the immediate vi
entity Of the lake, NC passed along. as
sumedeyery conceiv able shape Of peaks, crags
and wooded heights. The near and distant
mountain scenery was exceedingly grand and
picturesque. This part Of Lake Lueei ne be-
ing ia the form of..an irregular cross, Lucerne
may be said to be at the head, and Vifzoau at
the foot Of the cross. Vitznau j. the tcrmi-
nus Of the principal railway up the Right
Ascent OF NORM RiGnI.
Soon after landing at the pretty little VII
Iagc, We prepared for the ascent of the noun
tain. Our party had car 10 ourselves, and
We were seated facing down the road. There
j. a locomotive TO each car, bot il is placed
in the rear, and pushes the car up the track.
The road winds around the side Of the noun
tain A. it asccnds, but keeps Lake Lueernc
In view a large part Of the way. IL passes
through one tunnel, and over several high
bridges. Some Of the precipices alongside Of
the track are probably 900 feet down, posi-
bly, 1000. The cars run in the same manner
~ the Mount Washington cars with cogs on
q middle rail, and not very fast. They are
open on the side. like the observation cars
that traverse Crawford Notch. The views
obtained rs you ascend the mountain are di-
versiHcd and beautiful. The height Of the
mountain il nearly 6 900 feet above the level
Of the sea, and only few hundred feet less
than the height of Mt. Washington, Right
is not hemmed in BY other high mountains,
as Mt. Washington H. but is nearly isolated.
Nor Is IL n vast wilderness Of forest trees.
crowned with pile Of barron rock like Mt.
Washington. The railway passes through a
belt Of forest soon after commencing the as
cent, but above this belt the surface il, 10 a
large extent, cleared and cultivated. Farm
houses are seen half way up the slope, and
pastures and smooth grass fields to the very
summit, intcrspersed with occasional groves.
cliffs and ravincs. Another railway ascends
the mountain from the village of Arthe on
Lake lug. and connects with the Nitznau
railway before il reaches the summit. There
are several hotels aud bathing houses on
al. 81. ,
est the summit, where we are to spend the
night, bears away the palm for size and cle
gance. II occupies several large and hand
some buildings, and accommodates Il great
number of guests.
Around it and above il. as well IA below
IL pasture land. where cow-bclis tinklc and
cattle and sheep are peacefully feeding
Stands for the sale of views curiositics and
toys abound in the vicinity. Looking of in
several directions, we see fields, pastures,
forests and villages, seemingly not very dis
tant. yet most of them are probably at least
1000 feet below Us. and miles away. Eight
diujnutive looking lakes, besides Lake Lu-
ccrnc, are in full view, and around these the
houses cluster, appearing from our point of
view us small as childrcns playhouses When
perfectly clear. several other lakes are Yisi-
BILE from Mount Right.
When we len Luceruc, it was supposed
that We might find snow on the Right. In
fact, snow fell on the summit yesterday, but
it has all disappeared. On the lake, and at
tho foot Of the mountain. the weather was
warm. but there was u sensible change in the
temperature when we were half way up, and
il Is quite cool ON the summit, though sunny.
visws FROM Mourn RIGui.
Towards the south. the snow covered
mountains of various heights. the famous
sky piercing peaks Of Switzerland. were
many of them visible TO the naked eve. though
distant The Jungfrau (young maiden. }
more than 1900 feet high, the Wetterhorn,
(the peak of tempests,) the Schreckhorn.
(the peak of terror each of nearly the
same height, the Munster Monk and many
others. Some of them appeared to be COW
cred with snow to great depth, others have
snow only In the ravines. This is considered
an exceptionally favorable day for our excur-
sion. although there is some mist in the val
lev, and fog lingering on the farthest peaks.
We regard ourselves As quite fortunate in
the weather, as many other parties ascend.
ing this mountaio have had nothing but rain
and fog to entertain them.
SuxsEr AND SUNSHINE.
Morning. July 20 We were gratifed last
night with an unusually clear sunset. There
was lust little haze in the west. but not
enough to prevent our beholding the sun in
It's gradual descent. until. about aquarter be-
fore eight il disappeared behind the distau,
horizon. 1t was sight to be seen but once
in a lifetime, and not soon to be forgotten. a
clear sunset from the top of Mount Right.
After sunset, the snowy peaks and ridges to
the south were more distinctly visible than
in the afternoon. But the crisp cold atnos-
pherc admouished us to retire early.
This morning. as my window faced towards
the cast. saw the first faint golden streaks
Of dawn at about 3 o'clock. TWAS starlight.
and the heavens were entirely free from
clouds. II was too early to rise. but | was
not in the mood to sleep. Looking out from
time to time. watched the increasing inii.
cations of approaching ia, light. Before four
o'clock. we were all summoned BY the weird
and peculiar music of veritahle Alpine
horn. and the still more peculiar singing
which the Swiss call '.iodelling, 10 arise and
so forth. Probably more than 500 people
assembled in the clear. cool. open sir, to
watch for the rising of the sun. Its path was
.'likc the shining light that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day" We could sec
little patches Of mist resting On portions OF
the lakes below, but the heavens were per-
fectly clear. At last at twenty minutes past
Ia - .,S ee.,s ., h.a We