Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-28
CORRESPONDENCE.


 FAIR PLAY. CORRESPONDENCE. Interlaken, the Baden-Baden of Svvitzer- Iand-The KursaaI-Fourth OF July The Recent Earthquake-HoIv a Moun-
 tain Lost Its Head-The Ingenuity of | the Swfss-Lace MaIing-The Baths of Lenk-Waiting for the Grape Cure. INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND, July H.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Interlaken may be said to be the Baden Baden of Switzerland. It is beautifully sit uated on a little plain between the lakes in full view of the Jungfrau, whose snowy sum- init may be seen, when not above the clouds through a gap in the minor chain of Alps It is in the vicinity of numerous interesting sights and some of the most interesting ex- cursions in Switzerland. It is estimated that 100000 visitors arrive here during the season. It has about forty hotels, some of them of the largest capacity. Fine music is dis coursed three times day at the Kursaal, for which every visitor that arrives in the place is charged one-half franc per day. It has reading room at the Kursaal containing pa- pers from all parts of Europe. The Fourth of July was noticed here on Monday by a display of American flags at the hotels, and by the band of the Kursaal playing national airs
 The earthquake felt here on the 4th was the most severe that has happened in Switz- erland for many years. Sunday, the 4th, WAS a dull cloudy day here, which is always de- pressing in the mountains. The earthquake was felt in the Central and Pennine Alps at Bern Zurich, Andermatt on the lake of Lu- zerne in the Bernese oberland, in the cantons of Geneva and Wand and nearly all Switzer- Ior,1 TF1oa,@ o1 4of was in the Yalais in the neigh borhood of Virp and Brieg. In both these places the shock preceded and accompanied by aerial noises and underground detonations. The time of the occurrence of the first shock was 9:30 Q. m., and the second at 9:2O p. m. At first the people rushed from the church in dismay. Several houses were much shaken The walls in many instances were badly frac- tured. There was considerable destruction of crockery, and at Brieg the stone cross fell from 8 church into the road and crushed a child to death. At Bienne q woman was killed by an avalanche of tile from the roof of house At Lukeshead the shock was ac- companied by subterranean thunder. Further east in Geneva and Lausanne, the oscillation was only perceptible in the upper rooms. How vast must be the hidden power to shake these mountains
 An occurrence which may be partially or
 
 Switzerland has lately undergone is reported from Quarter, in the canton of St. Gall. A short time ago the people of the neighbor- hood noticed signs of uneasiness about the Schenebelberg. The summit of the noun tain appeared to be in very precarious po- stion, and it was feared that it might slip down and overwhelm an extensive wood in tho valley below. In anticipation of possible catastrophe great efforts were made to cut down and carry away as many trees as possi- ble. On Sunday, when fortunately no enc was in the wood, deafeningreport like the li1- ing of heavy artillery resounded through the valley and the mountain was hidden from view by a thick cloud of dust When dis persed the Schenebelberg was seen to be short CT by few metres, and the beautiful wood had disappeared beneath huge avalanche of stones and earth
 The hotels are open here but three and 6 half or four months in the year With the exception of the hotels the town is made up principally of shops where curiosities are sold. The Swiss are a very ingenious people, and they display great ingenuity in the manufacture of carved work, music box es, clocks, etc., which embraces about every article that can be thought of. The Swiss also excel in all kinds of embroidery work and the manufacture of lace Lace curtains are shown here worked entirely by hand. One would suppose it would require 0 score of generations to complete
 
 St. Gall. In visiting Latterbrunnen, vil- lage nine miles up the mountain valley, few days since, I passed several peasant girls working point lace by the roadside. The operator has a rounded frame before her, and the work is begun at the top of the frame. In making lace one and half inches wide count cd sixty-six spools or bobbins hanging down about the frame. The spools are manipu- lated by the operator with the greatest ra- pidity, and beautiful article is turned out, which is offered to the stranger for about one franc metre, which, reduced to English, is three feet and three inches for twenty cents. Then they have various cures, and first the baths of LeIk in the Valais. They are reached via Thur and the Gemini pass. These baths consist of several lodging houses, which are more than 4, 300 feet above sea level. These hot springs attract num- Der of visitors during the season, chiefly Swiss and German. The situation is 6 very one account of it's dreariness and the coldness of the climate. English and American people are generally satisfied after seeing the place, without waiting for the cure. The buildings have been several times swept away by avalanches, but a strong dike has been built behind the village to ward of the snow. The springs, to the number of ten fifteen, arise in and around the place. The chief spring bursts forth between the inn and the bath-house with Q temperature of 124 Fahrenheit. It is slightly cooled before
 
 one hour, but goes on increasing it daily until he remains in the water eight hours in day, four before breakfast and four after dinner The usual time for the cure is three weeks. To prevent the ennui of such an amphibious existence if passed in solitude has led to the practice of bathing in common. Along the partition dividing the baths runs a slight gal lery, into which any one is admitted, either to look one or to converse with the bathers. The stranger on entering will perceive group of twelve or fifteen heads emerg ing from the water, on the sur face of which float wooden tables holding coffee cups, newspapers, books and other aids to enable the bathers to pass the allotted time with as little trial to their pa- tience as possible. The patients o motley company of all ages, both sexes and various ranks. Delicate young ladies, burly friars, around the sides on benches below the water, and all are clad in woolen mantIes. It is not little amusing to see people sip ping their breakfasts while up to their chins n water. In one corner IS party at chess In another corner an apparently interesting ,ete-a-tete is going on while solitary sitter nay be seen reviving 8 nosegay of withered lowers in hot water. The tempera- ure IS preserved by a supply of fresh water constantly flowing in. Four hours in he bath are succeeded by one in bed, and many fair nymph in extreme neeligee, with tockingless feet and uncombed hair may be encountered crossing the space between the paths and the hotel From their condition ,ne would suppose they were driven out of loors by fire some threatening catastro- ,he, Then there is the goats' whey cure and he grape cure. The patient is put upon liet of goats milk after cheese has been made If the milk. This is called cure au petit ait. am nursing my complaints and wait ng for the grape cure. When that begins m ready for heroic treatment. L. B.