Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-08
NO. So
lContinaed.1
NJ TRIP 70 EUROPE.

Lsecrae, IN S~sfserlaad, July ~. Lucsrnc
or Luxern is q city Of about 1900 inhahit-
ants. situated at the western extremity Of the
lax of the same name. and is the capital Of
the canton Of Luccrne. II is a popular place
of summer resort. and is full of fine hotels
with plenty of visitors.
Lake Luccrne, or Lake of the Four For.
est Cantons, is one of the most beautiful
sheets of water in Switzerland, and is sur
rounded by grand and lovely scenery. Mount
Righi pronounced Ree-gee) and Pilatus are
in full view from the shores Of the lake.
rila,us is nearly ZOO feet high, and is very
rocky. scanned with ravines, and bristling W ith
crags. II is about miles from the village.
across the lake 10 Pilatus. Righi is At
greater distance. Pilatus has a hotel near
its summit, but is not visited so frequently as
Righi, The river Rcuss passes out Of the
lake, and Iii, i,lcs the city. There is square
stone tower in the river, near the lake, for
merly used as lighthouse, (iuceyWa.) from
which the name is derived Of city, lake and
canton. The tower is now a depository Of
public archives.
OUR HorEL.
Our party is quartcred in large and cle-
giant hotel, not far from the lake, with fine
park and promenade between the hotel and
the lake, extending more than a mile along
the shore. The lake shore is walled up with
solid stone masonry. There are other hotels
as fine rs ours in the immediate vicinity.
Our rooms are very pleasant, though mostly
on the fifth floor. From my window, ! have
view of part of the lake and city. and Of
the frowning cliffs and rugged sides Of Mount
Pilatus. My room furniture is Of rosewood.
with a marble top wash stand. The noor is
of hard wood. In the halls, the floors are of
marble or concrete, full Of pebbles Of vari-
gated colors, the surface so smoothly polished
as to be slippery. The German and Swiss
beds are composed of a mattress, sheets,
blankets, large square pillows, and u light
feather bed. which they place on top Of all.
| suppose their fashion is TO sleep under the
feather bed, hut preferred to put it under
the sheets, or throw it of altogether. Al
though midsummer, the nights are not often
warm. The feather bed being light, is
very easily handled. For dinner
last evening. we had soup, salmon
with potatoes and gravy. roast beef with the
same. salad with boiled eggs, green peas all
alone but very paatable, pudding with jelly.
and field strawberries with sugar.
SApBArH IN LrcERSE.
The morning was wet, and the rain contin-
ued till afternoon. But as no one travels in
Europe without an umbrella in hand and
most of our ladies and several gentlemen hal
rubber mantes, about half of our party al
tended church in the forenoon. The service
was by Scotch Free Church clergyman,
The Scotch Free Church maintains Profess
tant services through the summer season at
several central places in Switzerland. Gu
riously enough, at Lucerne, there are Catho-
lie services in the same room occupied by
the Protcstants, but at different hour. 1t
is stone building, of medium size, with
oakcn scttees or benches, the backs being
about as inconvenient as could be invented,
upright, and with top rail projecting against
your person so rs to keep You in torment all
the time. The clergyman appeared to be an
earnest. clcar-headed and cultured man. His
subject was, our bodies and spirits being the
temples of the Holy Ghost. The discourse
was both practical and spiritual, and pro-
duced deep impression. In the afternoon
our party assembled together under the lead
ershp Of Rev. DR.. Steele Of Salem. and
studied the International sabbath school les
son for the day, with much interest In the
evening, the rain having ceased, some Of us
went again to the same church, and heard
sermon from the same preacher on the theme
of conservation Of soul. body and spirit to
the Lord. The sanctifying of our amusc-
ments, our homes. and our conversation,
amongst other matter, was inculcated with
much force and fervcncy. MANY of us thought
the Sabbath at Luccrne was not unprofitaby
spent
The curious old Scottish version of the
psalms was used in the services. The versi-
fication is rude, but intensely biblical. There
was, however, a collection of more modern
hymns for occasional use, and the first hymn
in the little book was that beautiful one of
II. +. Lyte, poor English curate, but rich
in faith. commencing
aAbide with me fast falls the even tide
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me sbide'
Luccrne, city and canton, is intensely Cath.
ollie. The Protestants are few in number
All the shops. so far as VIC observed, were
open. the same as ON week days. Carriages
in the streets. and steamboats, on the lake
were going most Of the time. Noise, racket
and gayety abounded. Such Is the sabbath
in continental Europe. Yet the bells ruDg nj
intervals, from carly morning, probably fol
some kind Of religious services.
The LCcERxE LION.
| July 2s. have been several times to SCI
this famous work Of art. The first time,
| walked out before breakfast. and found m,
way 10 it. II is on cross street, not very
7. far from the hotel. In the face Of perpen
/ dicular cliff OF free stone, perhaps $50 fee
/. in height, a niche is cut about 30 feet Ia
Z length, and so feet from the ground, and IL
I that niche is scuIptured the recumbent figure
of dying lion, % feet long and Of nobls
proportions. The design was by Tborwaldsen
the celebrated Danish sculptor, and the worl
is done in mastcrly manner. A broker
spear is seen piercing his side, and he grasp
the shield Of France with one huge paw
whilst the other hangs languidly over the edg
Of the cliff, as he lies in the agony of death
his countensncc expressive Of pain and ap
preaching dissolution. His very name Is
perfect work Of art. To my mind, this is th'
finest sculpture we have seen. The NOR,
you examine it, the more its beauty and ex
cellence impresses you. II il an emblamati'
work, commemorative Of the bravery and III,
sad fate Of Swiss soldiers who fell IN the de
fence Of Paris in 1892. They died in tn
conflict, but they achieved the victory. Tn