Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-05
A LADY's TRAVELS.
From Cincinnati Through Europe
and Algeria Without an
In swltEerIand--visit 20 the FAM
tly Of The Late Professor
Agassiz--Swiss Scenery
and People.



don. a point in our journey which we
had looked forward to with great in
terest, for here we had an invitation
= to visit the family Of the late Professor
Agassiz, who reside at Montagny, a
beautiful Swiss village for miles from
Yverdon. Arriving there we were
met By Madame Fontannaz, a niece of
Professor Agassiz, who gave us a well
come cordial as it was earnest. We
were driven to their home at Mon
tagny. where another welcome awaited
us from Madame Wagnon, the sister Of
Professor Agassiz.
The family consists of the two,
mother and daughter. Earnestly de.
voted TO each other. Of that kindly
nature that was one of the chief traits
Of the worlds great naturalist, be-
loved by all their friends, and with
hearts full Of love for humanity and
for all living things, | could easily see
how natures noblemano should
come of such a family. Madame
Wasnon is an elderly lady, sweetly
venerable in appearance. Her eoun-
tenance is as pure and clear as that of
a child. Her heart oYerfows with
real goodness, aud she has a kind word
for all that understand human Ian.
guage, and a sweet look and gentle
touch for all the rest Of animal crea-
ton. She has spent her whole lite in
the mountain district Of Switzerland,
and speaks only French, but she
il a most entertaining talker, and
when the theme is her brother, she is
as eloquent as his most enthusiastic
American sdmirer could possibly be
The father of Professor Agassiz and
Madame WagnOn was a minister at
Concise, 4 village but a few miles DIS
tanE Here the great naturalist was
born. Madame relates in a most en-
pertaining manner many Of the sdSen-
lures of their childhood days, when
the love Of nature. which led him on
TO a fame that was world wide, was
beginning TO show itself in young
AgassiE. She says he began his career
as a naturalist by securing the noun
tains and valleys Of Switzerland ioT
specimens, which he studied with an
ardor that was increased with every
step he advanced in knowledge Of the
science he loved. She was frequently
his companion 10 these excursions,
and relates that on one occasion they
had been very successful.
Their baskets we're filed with shells,
snails. insects. reptiles OF all kinds.
and they were journeying homegard
when her brother found a snake
about two feet long, which he was anx-
ious to take. How was it to be done,
as they had no place for it? Then he
thought Of a plan, and, taking OF heI
hat, eoiled the snake inside Of it, aud
placing it upon her head, pressed il
down and tied the strings tightly
With the snake thus nicely
Gagged she walked home an.
harmed. and both Of them de.
lighted with discovering SO convenient
a method of carrying the reptile. Al
one time when Professor Agassiz wa'
making his explorations of the gla'
ciers, he narrowly escaped death. HI
was let down BY long ropes, and had
a signal wire to notify the men when t
draw him up For some cause they die
not obey the signal and he wa allowed
to fall in a c%reviee, and when brought
up was badly bruised and almost in.
sensible.
Madame FOntannaze possesses 10 al
eminent degree the traits which MAKE
her mother so lOvable, and which
we're so noticeable in the life and char.
acter Of her uncle. She lived severa
years in this country, and her husband
aud children lie buried in Brooklyn
She has a great admiration for every
thing American, and talks with en-
thusiasm OF the friends she made
while residing on this side Of the At
lantic. Their home is a charming one.
II is the big house Of a village COM
posed mostly Of working people, and
is as conspicuous for its beauty
as its inmates for their culture and
hospitality. 1t Is furnished With taste
and convenience, but with a solidity
and beauty characteristic Of the coun.
try. A part Of the furniture once
belonged to Maria Antoinette. and
was used By that unfortunate Queer
in the days when her glory was at il
highest
While We we're here the farmer
drove the cattle TO the mountains
This is an occasion Of great pomp
Every spring the cattle drive take
place, and the cattle remain on tn
mountains for grazing till fall, whe
they are again brought TO the valleys
The spring drive is made an occasio
Of much fun for the farmers. Th
cattle are decorated with flowers, bell
Of all kinds are hung to them, some Q
large as water buckets. aud the pre-
cession is as wonderful for the varie
music Of tbs bells as for the appeal
ance 0 fthe cattle and the drivers.
said to Madame:
Isn't it cruel to hang those hoay
bells on the coWs2"
"0h no." said she; the bells are nj
heavy, and the cattle are as proud
the drivers. They fairly dance vii
delight in spring, when the bells a
hung on, for they know the drive
the mountain is to take place"
Our rides were always enliyened
the sparkling conversation Of o
hosts. Madame Wagnon was our fr
quent companion. She is fullof ane
dotes, and like her daughter, tho
oushly enjoys a joke, and when an
thing especially pleasing occurred b
eyes would sparkle with delight. /
one time | noticed Madame take
snail from the wall. She regarded
with as much pleasure as a cant
and putting it in her hands said, rs
here" Then she recited a little vel
in French, which ended with tell
the snail to put out it horns-and 0
they came. Then she said anoth
verse ending with now put out 70
other horns, and out they came, mu
to u amusement. Then she CO
tinued to recite, telling him to draw
his horns, and they were drawn
Madame laughingly explained to
that the warmth Of her hand caus
the horns to be extended, and the 81
cess Of the poem depended up
knowing at what time to recite it.
little touch caused them to be dral
in when the verses telling the snH
that II must be done were reaehC
Snailq ara vary nlenfv In Switzs