The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-23
CORRESP NOE.
Letter from Switzerland.
OCTOBER 9th, 1881

OClObEh u I'LL, 1OOl.s
Messrs. Editors,-It is impossible to
visit without emotion the picturesque
valleys and lofty mountains in Switzer-
land, the only country in Europe whose
inhabitants have preserved the simplicity
of patriarchal manners. In point of ro-
mantle and beautiful scenery this land is
without rival. Creation, doubtless, was
not pronounced "good" until these noun
tains were hurled by Almighty power
into the light of heaven all snow capped,
and these valleys were cleft and clothed
with their wonderful, almost supernatural
verdure. Methinks God himself must
have smiled with satisfaction when His
conception of the picturesque-sublim
in nature-stood a completed fact We
can scarce suppress our extravaganza,
though our journey in Switzerland must
be restricted, by the lateness of the season,
to regions deemed in the guide itineraries
the least wonderful. For special reasons
we have selected
Neufchatel as our First Objective
Point.
This modern commercial town bears in
the ancient documents the name of
Novum-Castrum, and appears to have
been originally fortress erected by the
Romans to defend themselves against the
Helvetic nation. 1t is built in a circular
form on the banks of the lake of the same
name. 1t is adorned with four principal
streets, and the large castle, transformed
into government buildings. Washed by
the waters of the lake on one side, and
backed by hills covered with vineyards
on the other, it may be designated as a
city of considerable beauty. 1t has been
unparalleled, however, in the history of
its misfortunes Sacked by Emperor
Conrad the Second in 1888; burned by
Henry, Bishop of Basle, in 1249; almost
wholly consumed by a conAagration in
dation in 1879; and lastly, partially de-
stroyed by fire in 17l4, it is a marvel
that Neufchatel has not succumbed under
the experience of its many great calam-
tiles. Its rescue from such frequent and
complete ruin speaks volumes for the
pluck and industry of its inhabitants.
From Neufchatel we assembled by train
Loole, the Highest City of the Noun
tains,
and with Chaux de Fonds, the chief centre
at this time of watch manufacture in
Switzerland. We pass up by very steep
gradient through a grazing region which
bears at every step token of prosperity.
On the right is smiling valley along
which, though but small in extent, twenty
seven villages are scattered. Chaux de
Fonds, a city of $4,000 inhabitants, is
wholly place Of watch manufactures,
and has wrested from Geneva the suprem-
acy SO long enjoyed by it in this depart
ment. 1t is a mistake for Americans to
suppose that the Swiss do not employ
machinery in watch manipulation. There
are no purely handmade watches at this
date in these great centres of production.
The factories, however, of the Swiss are
usually small and are embraced under
the home roof This feature gives the
house architecture a peculiar feature
There are no small dwellings in this por-
ton of Switzerland. All of large pro-
portions, built Of stone in most substan-
tial manner, and neatly painted. The
wooden houses and immense projecting
roofs are unknown. The villages and
towns are as massively constructed as the
finest streets of our American cities. The
rich manufacturer and his family live
under the same roof with the factory and
the workmen. So large a population
could not possibly live in so small an
area of mountain country, however fer
tile, but for this extraordinary activity
In the manipulation Of gold, silver, and
steel for watches, and the different articles
OF cutlery. Yet this art Of the watch
maker, in which almost the whole popu-
lation is engaged, appears to have been
unknown before the 18th century. About
1'OO, John Richards, a mountaineer,