Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-12
Confined from first Page,
comfortable descending as the maxim would
imply.

~~~~~ss"ssss9
imply.
CHAxorxI.
Chamouni. or Chamonix, is derived from
ehaMps mxnis, fortified fields. Its stupen-
dous mountain walls on the north and
south constitute its Notifications. II is
green and lovely valley about two miles
vide, and Ii miles long. The Mont Blanc
range borders it on the south, and Mont
Brewer and the Aiguilles Rouges. (red
needles) on the north. The river Arve, ris.
ing amongst the glaciers of Mont Blanc,
flows through the valley. Cultivated and
fertile fields are seen on each side Of the
road; and whilst the surroundings are wild
and picturesque beyond description, with sky
piercing peaks covered with perpetual snow,
and on the slopes here and there immense
fields Of broken ice, the valley below is YER
dant, serene and sunny.
The village Of Chamouni pronounced
sham-o-ne, with the accent on the first and
last syllables) has about 1000 inhabitants.
II contains several large and elegant hotels,
few shops and dwellings, Catholic and an
English church. As yen approach the vii
lage, the landscape between the mountains
becomes more charming, the houses and out
buildings finer and handsOmer, and the "pen-
siOns" or summer boarding houses larger and
more numerous. We noticed several beauti-
full mountain cascades, one Of which was in
ferior only to that at Vernayaz.
MoST BLANC.
Arriving at the close Of long days ride,
We have ~ yet had but imperfect views of
this mountain Of mountains. 1t must be
studied and seen from various points to obtain
any correct knowledge Of it.
On each floor of our hotel, is a hall run
ming through the building, with rallied bal
comics at each end of the hall for mountain
views There Is a street on one side, and on
the other large open yard, with powerful
telescope for the use Of guests.
Mont Blanc il not tall snowy peak lifting
itself in solitary grandeur into the sky, but
the central dome of group of high mountains,
the submits Of which are all covered with
snow, except where the rocky cliffs are too
steep and smooth for snow to adhere to them.
The highest peak is about 10000 feet above
the sea level, or 10000 feet higher than
Mount Washington. To climb Mont Blanc,
requires days of time, several guides, sharp
pointed alpenstocks, and ropes to bind the
members Of the party to each other. You
must first climb the nearest ridge, then de-
scend into a deep valley, and then climb up
again, till you reach the summit. But this
was no part Of our programme.
We are fortunate in being here when the
weather is fine and the sky perfectly clear.
Not even cloud rests on the summit. About
o'clock last evening, the moon rose, and
with its silvery beams illuminated the snowy
surface of the mountain slopes and heights.
This morning the difference between sun
rise seen on the top of a mountain, and sun
rise in the valley at the foot Of Mont Blanc,
was very perceptibe. few days since, we
saw the sun rising on the summit of Right at
about half past 4. Here in the vale Of
Chamouni, it did not fully show itself till
past s o'clock. 1t began to kindle blaze
Of light on the opposite mountains much
earlier, but seemed to linger long before it
climbed up high enough to appear over Mont
Blanc. 1t reminded us Of the opening lines
Of COlcridge's sublime "hymn before sun
rise in the vale Of Chamouni'
"Hsst thou n charm to stay the morning star In his
steep course?
SO long he seems to pause on thy bold, awful head,
o, sovereign Blancl"
H. X r.