Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-12
NO SS'
Dailu kennetrr Journal.
tContinued.l
My Trip to Europe.

Wy ATAR 10 ElUrOkDes
Chamouni. Aug. 3.--Yesterday morning We
left Vernayaz in light carriages each containing
three or four persons, besides the driver, and
drawn by two horses. My companions were
two preachers of the gospel, and an Ohio gen.
tleman, all intelligent and genial men. Our
journey was over mountain road called the
Tets Noir (Black Head) pass. We began
by ascending the mountain side by xigxag de-
tours, travelling miles to get forward little
way, sometimes in sunshine and sometimes
in shade. The country here is not so bare Of
trees along side of the road as in the other
valleys we have traversej The day proved
to be very hot, and the occasional shade oil
the trees was quite grateful. Most of the
gentlemen, and several of the ladies, walked
more or less. climbing up byshort foot paths,
whilst the carriages diverged to the right and
left, and turned sharp corners. after a long
travel to reach them. The road has been
made within few years, and passes through
wild region, and not very fertile one.
men and women at work in the hay field.
One of our ladies took hold Of a scythe,
which u Swiss woman was using, and tried
her hand at moving, but it was not perfect
success. The scythes used in this country
are shorter. wider and heavier than Yankee
scythes, resembling nearly what we call stub
scythes In one of these valleys we inquired
as to wages of laborcrs, and found il to be
about 40 cents day.
A WALK Thar Took.
Imagine your humble servant coat off and
deposited in the carriage, wearing a blue
checked shirt, with black hat swathcd in a
white handkerchief with colored tourist
glasses over his eyes, and n light umbrella
for walking stick, tramping along up stony
foot paths by short cuts. whilst the Wagons
made their long detours this way and that;
and you have picture of what actually took
place. Being pretty good walker, unluck-
lily got so far ahead Of the other pedestrians
as to lose sight of them as well as the car
riages. After walking and climbing some
time, I naturally began. to be little uncer-
tain whether ! might not miss the way.
met Swiss men, women and children, but
could not make them understand my qucs-
tions, nor could ! interpret their answers
So trampcd on in the heat and dust an hour
or more, until reached the summit Of the
divide between V,rnayaz and Chamouni.
Here found small wayside inn. A Ger
man family party partaking Of refresh
ments in the best room, and their driver un-
derstood enough English to assure me that
was on the right path, and that our party was
far behind. The best resting place in the
common room was long wooden bench and
I nal f.,t Iuh L..
ward our carriages arrived. and l rcjoined
the party.
THE DESCENT.
Now we began to descend BY a very steep.
zigzag road, which required skillful driving
and steady nerves. At the foot of the first
declivity was a dirty looking village with
narrow, crooked streets. Soon after we
came in view of the Tricnt glacier, resemb-
ling the Rhone and viescl, glaciers which we
have seen. From this one proceeds the TRENT
river, which, after rushing and foaming sew
eral miles by the side Of our road, enters
gorge in the mountain and issues out ut
Vernayaz on the other side, where we saw it
the day before. The entrance on the TRENT
side is not so striking as the gorge ut Yer
nayaz. But as we proceeded on our journey
the mountain scenery becomes more and
more grand and imposing.
At the picturesque little village of Tricnt,
hemmed in amongst mountain heights, we
stopped for rest and represhment. We had
an excellent lunch. with plentiful dessert
Of wild Strawberries, and a most refreshing
supply of pure cold water.
THE TErE Nom
is a frowning mountain cliff crowned with
frs and other cvergreens, whose dark foliage
gives the name to the mountain and to the
pass.
We left TRENT about two O'Clock, and
continued the descent until we reached, at
about eight o'clock in the evening, the VIII
lage of Chamouni. The distance from
Vernayaz, as the bee flies, is not more than
fifteen miles: but. with our turns and douI,-
lings, we were all day on the road, and
probably at an average speed not exceeding
three miles an hour. 1t was, however, very
enjoyable though fatiguing ride. The road
went down, down, further and further, and
the mountains on either hand rose higher and
higher. Bare, rugged cliffs stood up perpcn-
dicularly on one or both sides of the way,
with often but narrow valley between. II
would be tedious to give the names of the
peaks. One had French name signifying
Red Needles, the summit being of reddish
stone, with numerous sharp points at the top.
Another was called Green Needles. Each of
these is about IL, 900 feet high. Another tall
peak takes the shape of a church spire of vast
size, and highly ornamented by the hand Of
the great Architect.
An hour or two before we reached Cha
mount. our party got the first glimpses of
Mont Blanc, which created great enthusi-
asm. We passed on our way two immense
glaciers, called La Tour and Argentiere, high
up on the sides of mountains each filling the
chasm between two tall peaks; and we had
them both in view fof an hour or more
The BoRbEK LAND.
We we're travelling out Of Switzerland into
Savoy, for Glamour; and Mont Blanc are
in Savoy. Since the war between Italy and
Austria, in which the lafe Emperor Of France
took sides with Italy, Savoy has been annexed
to France. 1t was formerly independent, but
in the lapse of years. has been tossed about
from nation to nation by the fortunes Of war.
Whilst drawing nigh to the line, we passed
through a narrow rocky valley, walled in by
mountains, and looking barren and unpro-
ductive. Huge pyramids of b0ulders marked
the border line between the two nations.
Just before we entered the vale Of Chamouni,
our road led down . long hill ~ steep and
dangerous that all the passengers had to be-
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