St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-10-13
The VOirOnS.
HAUTE SAvoIE, F.


A few miles from Geneva, on the
eastern side of the lake, Just over the
border, in France, is an isolated noun
tain. the Voirons, 5000 feet about the
level of the sea, half way between the
Jura and the Alps. The "HOteI de
| I rErmitdge," on the eastern side of the
mountain, in full view of Mt. Blanc,
is accessible by carriage road from
Bons St. Didier on the western and
BOige on the eastern side of the noun
tain. The neaTness to Geneva and to
lake, the pure air, the splendid views,
the numerous walks and excursions,
varying in time from five minutes to
two hours, and the proximity to pine
groves and beech woods, make this
mountain resort a most desirable place
in which to spend the summer months.
\ five minutes walk from the hotel
takes one to the "Pett Signal" from
which is obtained most beautiful
view of the city of Geneva and lake
Leman, with the fertile plain extend
ing from it to the foot of the NoirOns,
while the gray mountains of the Jura
form Il pleasing background. To the
south lies the SdleUe mountain, in form
like an enormous stranded whale, while
to the north, the lake and plain eX-
tend until tney are lost to sight i'll ii
misty blue. From this point of view
the path leads to the "Grdnd Signal"
where a much more extended panOra-
ma is obtained.
Besides that already described there
is an extensive view to the east, where
Mt. Blame is beheld in all its towering
grandeur. Other minor mountains,
such as the "Dent du midi" the ''Mt.
Mandit," the "MOle," and many others,
serve as attendants to this monarch of
the Alps, and when all these are lit by
the rays of the setting sun, it is a pict
ure truly sublime. The other evening
the sun went down in a mass of golden
clouds, cOlOring every peak and noun
tain with its fiery rays. A few mo-
ments later and all had become blu
ish gray, with the exception of Mt.
Blanc, which alone remained in sun
light, but soon it, too, like the rest,
became cold and gray as if touched by
the finger of death. AT sunrise the
scene is changed. Perfect silence
reigns on every side, with the exception
of the tinkling of the cOw-bells far
down the mountain side. All the
mountains are clearly outlined against
the deep blue sky, Il long dark cloud
stretches above where the sun is to
rise, while a few fleecy ones float be
low it. Suddenly, these become IA
coral pink, while the dark one turns
into brilliant red. Then Mt. Blanc
with its snowy sumit is reached by the
rays of the rising sun, and one by one
the many peaks regain the color which
was lost the night before. Suddenly Il
bright spot is seen just above one of
the mountains, and it soon increases to
a fiery globe, inundating the whole of
the Alps and the opposite Jura with
its rosy light, while the shadow of the
Voirons is thrown darkly on the plain
below. The rising mists gradually
cover this beautiful scene, and all for a
while becomes hazy and indistinct, and
one gladly returns to the comforts of
hot coffee and rolls at our hotel.
From the "Grand Signal" pleasant
but PERCEPTIONS path leads down to the
chapel and the ruins of an old monas-
terry near by. History relates that in
early centuries heathenism had estab-
lished its gods upon the Voirons, where
Jupiter and Venus delivered Oracles.
In the eleventh century the images of
these gods were destroyed by the
bishops of Geneva. Soon after, wild
! boar made its appearance on the noun
tain, which so terrified the people, that
they were easily led to believe that it
was the devil enraged at having his
kingdom invaded. At last courage
Gus young hunter decided to rid the
country of this furious beast, and gath
ering together few other hunters they
set out in search of him. Arriving
where the chapel now stands the boal
. dashed so suddenly upon him that he
had no time to defend himself, and he
was severely wounded. Lifting hi.
eyes to heaven, and calling to his aiC
the Virgin, he vowed that if she woulC
rid the mountain of this enemy ant
save his life, he would, upon this sam,
spot, erect a chapel and "A statue to he
honor. His prayer for the sparing o
his life being answered, he wished t.
81 fulfill his vow, but no one daring t.
venture upon the mountain to aid il
the building of the chapel, the bishol
of Geneva exercised the locality, TIN
boar disappeared, the monastery an,