The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-09-15
European Letter.

European Letter.
Regular Correspondence.
GENEVA. August 81, 1683.-With the
formal opening::of the mountain railway al
Territet Glion, near Montreux, at the east
ern end OF the Lake of Geneva, a new en-
cheering wonder is added to the world
II IS q marvellous work, even compai ed
with the sOmewhs, similar Rigl rack and
plnion line above Lucerne. The ascent OF
three hundred and tour metres can easily
be accomplished without the slightest dan
ger or fatigue to the passengers in seven
minutes times, disclosing from the summit
a magnificent panorama of Lake Leman
and the surrounding country After this
there Is no saying what apparently mac
cesslblc Alpine peak may not be turned
into highway by "A peaceful INVASION OF
working men armed with plckaxes and
shovels, and led by few daring and in
genious pioneers OF science MontrcuX is
situated about midway between Vevey on
the north and Filleneuye on the south
bank, and commands an uninterrupted view
of the broadest part Of the lake to where it
turns southwark past Yvoire and Nyon to
the narrower cut leading to Geneva. Up
to the steep and terrible incline, along the
ledge of many sheer precipice, the new
railway climbs with ease 10 the eminencc
where land and water are seen stretching
from the valley Of the Rhone to far beyond
Lausanne and the verdant slopes of Mount
Joral. Here, in delicious climate, yield
ing a priceless wealth OF fruit and flowers,
come, in summer and winter, host Of
Invalids ard holiday tourists IN search OF
health and recreation, to tread in the foot.
steps of Byron, and gaze on the towers OF
that famous castle and on the gloomy
dungeon walls which the poet, In error,
couples with the name of BOnivard, the So
called prisoner of ChillOn.' To these the
new "funIcular" railway should prove an
inestimable boon, afIording them most of
the material advantages of the old style Of
climbing, minus the labor and a major
part of the expense. Thousands of tourists
from all parts of the earth, notably from
Great Britain and America, visit Switzer-
land every year without making accents on
foot Zermatt Is quite near enough to the
Matterhorn for them. They are content to
acquire a knowledge of the highest point
of the Jungfrau while strolllng among the
top shops of the Interlaken, and they carry
away from Lucerne such an intimate
knowledge of the peak of Pilatus as may
be obtained from the deck of a steamer
Nor are they to be blamed for that on any
account. Folks who 60 abroad to recuDer-
ate exhausted mental energies, to regain
temporarily lapsed physical vigor, or for
the sake of change from tanner pleasures
of the overcrowded centres Of civilization,
are not necessarily called on TO emulate
the efforts of the chamols, or Of the plctur.
esque Swiss sportmen, who more often
hunt than kill that noble though difficult
quarry. Let 1t be granted that the strong
man armed" with a stout staff, wearing q
thick pair Of nailed shoes, and carrying a
convenient pack, has ahundred advantages
over his fellow tourists by rail or along
beaten roads. Time is his slave and he 10
Times master! He laughs at trains and
scorns at steamboats,. Fashionable hotels
have no charms for him, charm they never
so extensively. Tonight he will sleep in
a cattle chalet half way up the mountain
side, tomorrow break bread and share the
wine of the country with the rugged land
lord of a rough inn on the outskirts Of a
forest, or in the middle of an obscure
village, possibly not set down IN the map.
To him, and to him alone among holiday
travellers, it is given to see the natives as
they are, unspoilea by contact with the
personally conducted" tourist. In those
remote hooks and corners yet fingers the
spirit OF the legend of Tell, and there folk
lore passes current for history The
churches are often no better than barns,
the houses no better than hits; the fare is
rough and the sleeping accommodations
anything but elaborate. The simple vii
layers have, however, not yet learned the
cry of Give! Givem which
is more than can be said for the harples of
Swiss civilization at almost equally COM
tortless carsvansaries, called by courtesy
hotels. All travellers have not,
as it happens, rude health and boundless
energy. Some must loll on cushions,
while others go afoot. One set of tourists
chooses TO scale an Alp roped to one an.
other and to guides; Others, perforce, must
be content with an easy ascent up u steep
hill by pneumatic railway, and for these
the new Territet.Glion line Will, doubtless,
prove boon.
The safest and surest remedy for all kinds
Of coughs, colds, Group, whooping- cough,
Influenza, etc, N. II. Downs Vegetable Bal
samic Elixir. G. Gehring, druggist.
While the east is burning up with
drought, Texas Is afflicted with excessive