The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-29


I Editorial Correspondence Baltimore Americana
LrcERSE, August 20.-Wc were iortu-
nate In having so fine and clear day 10
enjoy the view from Rhigi, as to-day Is
regular Swiss day, the rain having COM
mcuced TO fall at sunrise, and still continues
20 cast gloom over lake and mountain.
The boats for Rhigi this morning leave the
wharf empty, whilst yesterday there was
difficulty 10 obtain seats on any oil them.
Rbigi Is dull and stupid place thus
morning, but there is no knowing now
soon the clouds may be dispelled, ana the
sun shine out bright again. From our
window at the head OF the lake even the
mountains on the lake shore are invisioie,
and Rhigi, which oyertops everything III
the sunshine, Is blotted out entirely from
our vision.
SWISS HOTELS.
II has been said that Switzerland is ma
ton Of hotelkeepers, as II has more notes
to the square mile than any other country
in the world. 1t, however, must be al
mitted that they are kept by those VINO
tborouphly understand their business as
we have never been in one that was not
decidedly good. The traveller in Switzer-
land might safely give orders TO the porter
10 take him to hotel, without naming
his preference, with the assurance that he
would fall into good hands, both as to
table and accommodations. Nothing can
be more satisfactory than Swiss
bed, and nowhere in Europe is the
cooking, or the table, or the service better.
We did not know there was such hotel in
existence as the Hotel du Cygne (Swan)
when we arrived here, and found our way
into il by accident, but we have voted 1t to
be decidedly the best hotel, so far IA COM
fort and the table are concerned, that we
have been in during our journey. Its not
rs fashionable as some OF its more preten-
tjous ncighbors, but the view OF the lake
from its windows is among the very best
"a Lucerne. In our trips on the lake we
have been astonished at the number OF
hotels on its banks or perched high up
ON the mountain sides. Some OF them are
very large, and there are but few that are
NOT capable of accommodating at least fifty
guests. So, also, on all the mountain roads
md interior towns there are numerous
hotels, and many very tine-looking ones.
They are for the accommodation OF the
mountain-climbers and explorers as well
as OF the Nimrods who seek the little
mountain lakes for PASTORAL enioyments.
Then there are lines of diligences running
daily over all these mountain roads, with
hungry travellers TO feed every hour in the
day during the summer season. The null
sip!icity of hotels and the throngs OF tour
lists require an army OF attendants and pro-
viders, and il may be safely said that 4
very large portion OF the population are,
directly or indirectly, engaged in the hotel
business.
TELLS CHAPEL.
One Of the points Of interest on Lake
l,ucerne which every tourist feels cOn-
strained to visit is the little chapel OF Will
liam Tell, near Flullen, at the upper end OF
the lake, and TelPs Platte, a small, rocky
shelf on which it is said that the Swiss pa
triot leaped from the boat OF Gessler and
made his escape, after he had shot the ap-
pie from the head of his son. Above the
ledge Of rock is little chapel, called Tells
chapel. which was erected about twenty
years after his death. 1t contains some pic
lures and rough frescoes illustrating the
hero's history. On the Friday after Assem-
sion-Day this little chapel is the scene OF a
national demonstration, mass being per-
formed and patriotic sermon delivered in
presence Of large number OF people as
sembled for the occasion from all parts Of
the Swiss republic. On account OF the at
tempt made by some historical investiga-
tors TO prove that Tell and his history is a
romance. the demonstrations OF late years
have been more enthusiastic than ever, as
the mass of the people revere the memory
of Tell and resent any attempt to blot hi,
name out OF Swiss history. At Burglen,
near Altdorf, there is also a chapel
marking the birthplace OF Tell, and ;
bridge where Tell died in trying to sayt
\ drowning child is shown. At Altdor
there is a colossal plaster statue Of Tell
ana fountain, the former marking the pc
sition OF the chlld, and the latter OF til,
father in the celebrated trial OF skill di
rerted by the tyrant Gessler. IL will b.
remembered that, according TO the legen'
which these - literary fellows" as the lat
Zach. Chandler would say, have declared t
be mythical, Gessler had elevated his Ia
In the market-place and ordered all passers
by TO make obeisance. For refusing Tell wa
ordered to show his famed skill in archery
He was successful, but Gessler saw secon
arrow, which Tell had secreted. o
being questioned, the bold archer sal
it was for Gessler's heart. Tell was thel
for his audacity, taken prisoner and hui
ried away i'm Gessler's boat towards b
castle at Kussnacht. A tempest aros
and none but Tell could steer; he seize
the opportunity, sprang ashore at what
known as Tells Platte, intercepted Gessl'
at Kussnacht, and killed him. The fir
book which preached this startling here,
was publicly burned by the hangman
Attdorf, which is said TO have been Tell
birthplace. The alleged cross-bOw Of II
a. prasarya1 ot tha yntlSa,tp, af Zurich
LAKE TOWNS.
A trip on Lake Lucerne is very interes
ing-so extensively are the banks pop
lated and so numerous are the towns locat,
along its banks; but for beauty Lake u
rich Is far superior. The mountains
Lake Lucerne are more steep and imp
sing, towering in awful grandeur six
seven thousand feet above the level OF &
lake. The general width Of the lake Is n
over mile and half. Its windmgs al
turnings among the mountains are at rig
angles; and at times it is matter
conjecture as to the course the boat wor
take next. Ii is seldom that the coul
can be discerned half mile abe.
The boat appears all the time as II shut
in basin with no outlet, and as il driyi
on to the rocks. At all the points VIII,
the hotels are located-as Is the case
Fluellan-tbey are the terminus OF lines
dilligencles coming through the mou
tains. The boats passing up and down
lake stop at all the towns and land or Ia
of passengers, great many OF whom Ia
the circuit Of the lake, stopping for tin
At eacn. The occupants Of these lake hot.
are generally mountan-clmbers, who sta
out in the morning with knapsack "A
aIpenstock In hand to visit some not,
point Of interest. These are principal
English or Germans, though some Amer
cans also have the mOuntain-climbir
mania, but soon tire Of it.
SWISS sHAMPOON