The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-23

when about Is years of age, saw a watch
for the first time. He examined it, tried
to make another like it, and succeeded
after repeated efforts. Thus an humble
peasant lad, by his example and persever-
ing genius. was the means of introducing
a source of wealth into his village that
has since extended over all the valleys OF
the Jura.
1t is difficult to assign any limit to the
Inventive Genius of Man.
Some notion may be formed of what it
can achieve, by visiting these mountains
The peasants, wishing to improve their
condition and decrease their labor, sought
and found in the depths of the earth an
immense addition to the productive power
of their lands. No phenomenon is more
marked on the chain of the Jura, than
that the water produced by rain and
est SUBMITS by which it descends in sub
terranean channels to the base of the
mountains, and forms springs or issues in
rivulets. The subterranean beds were
discovered after deep excavations had
been made, ingenious works were con-
structed to prevent the earth from filling
up the cavities, the channels were en-
larged at great expense, in short, mills
and machinery were erected by which
their labor was greatly abridged. Just
outside of Locle another wonderful illus
tration Is to be seen of the indomitable
determination of this mountain people to
win the victory over nature. The stream
which flowed through the town formed a
lake on its edge, which found an made
quate outlet, in high water periods, by
the rivulet that sunk into the bold noun
tain wall which here bulwarks the val
ley. The only deliverance from yearly
lnundatlons of the city was to pierce the
mountain with larger channel. This
the sturdy townspeople accomplished
and now 1t is brave spectacle, we'll wor-
thy of the journey, to look upon that
stream flowing beneath the giant noun
tain in bed made by human hands In
deed no more beautiful landscape exists
in Switzerland than this point in the dill
igence road to Locle, where you look
through the costly tunnels, excavated by
the government, at the smiling rural
scene beyond. Around about me the
snow, prophet of quick coming winter, is
lying, muffling with its white blanket the
whole mountain side. By my side is a
stone shaft telling of the recent death of
the adventurous chamois hunter who lost
his foothold on yonder treacherously
smooth cliff above Behind me and
through the tunnels and clefts of the
mountains the winds sweep roaring as
they go. Embosomed in rocks, and amid
the deepest solicitude, listen to the cries
of the birds of prey, and the rush of the
torrent, as it goes leaping down, until it
finds channel of restful flow in the
green and beautiful valley thousand
feet beneath. Although late in the year,
the far-stretching landscape is yet abun-
dainty green. The trees bear the rich
livery of autumn, and have put on all
their hammered glory or ever nature goes
trooping with every color flying into the
dismal winter. The vines glow with
purple hue, the hills are covered with
orchards from which Pomona has filled
her ruddy baskets, and the mountain
sides limit the vision, with their SUBMITS
clothed with the unfading verdure of the
pine. Never shall we forget our
Passage of the Jura by the Diligence.
We had thirty miles to go ere we reached
Verrleres. So having breakfasted in haste,
and favored by the rainy weather, we
gave ourselves up to all the enchantment
of the sylvan pictures which unfolded
themselves to our eyes during the day.
Over the mountain heads the nnists with
out which mountain scenery is incom-
plete) hung in heavy folds, and were
whirled by the winds, like hobgoblins of
air in and out of the ravines. Occasion
ally, isolated rocks rose before us crowned
with ancient frs, whose pyramidal reefs
are the refuge Of the eagles The picture
varied every instant when in the morn
ing we traversed deep valley, the shad-
ows of the mountains covered the greater
part of it, while the opposite heights
glowed with the snow, and were betimes
made still whittier by the sun-rays which
darted from beneath the threatening
clouds and pierced in luminous columns
the mass of dense vapors. Sometimes the
road lay along narrow parapets, raised
on and ounded by deep declivities, some
times it was elevated on lofty, natural
causeways, and now it was formed of
bridges thrown from rock to rock in order
to leave free passage for the wintry
torrents-further on it descended with a
gentle slope to the bottom of the valleys
then we followed the winding of streams
whose rapid waters dashed tumultuously