Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-13

became thoroughly hStOunuou, az my
inability to suppress my EXPLANATIONS
ofjoy. Picture, if you can, passing
through a romantic ravine, walled up
on either side by mountains so high
that from the carriage window it
Seemed utterly impossible to sec the
summit, and like a fearful dream these
passed into oblivion, and before US is
a thriving village picturesquely situa
ted in a green dale, when the line sud,
denly turns and after passing through
four successive tunnels we obtain a
striking view Of the rich plains Of
B%ierne' With the whole Of the Alpine
chain from the mountains Of Untes.
walden to Mont Blanc in the distance.
The train now skirts the northwestern
bank Of the Lake Of Bierne' connec>
ted with tue Lake of Neuchstel' by
the river Zihl. On the isle Of St.
Peters" is the inn which Rousseau
occupied in 1865 after his expulsion
from Motiers,F rarers. His room is
preserved in the same condition as
when he occupied it, aud the
walls, Of course, are covered
with thousands of names.
We now quit the Lake of Bierne aud
beyond a tunnel the train skirts the
slope of the mountains and affords a
charming view of the Lake Neufcha-
tel. The city OF Neufchatel is built
on a slope Of the Jura, rising in the
form OF an amphitheater from the
lake. From 1888 to 1907 the former
principality OF Neuichatel belonged
SUCCESSFULLY to the Chalons-0 Orange
family, to the Counts Of Freiburg aud
Hochburg, and to the house Of Or.
leans. Longueville. In 1906 Napoleon
created Marshall Berthier Prince Of
Neufchatel, but in 1914 the principals
ity was restored to Prussia. Its con-
nection with Prussia was fnally dis
solved by a treaty signed st Paris on
the 18th Of May, 1851. The college
on the lake contains a valuable natu-
raj history collection, founded by
Agassiz and COnlon. The picture
gallery consists chiefly Of moiernSWiss
works. We have no time for contem-
platiou, but swiftly enough are ratified
down with a superb panorama. ems
bracing the whole ohain Of the Laroy
Alps before Us, Exquisite sunsets
are frequently witnessed from these
hills. About $50 pm. we reached
Lausanne, where We took a steamboat
for 3 sail across the Lake Of Geneva.
The route along the north bank is
preferable to that on the south, as it
affords q more extensive view of the
Alps. The Lake Of Geneva differs in
its deep blue color from the other
Swiss lakes, which are of
q greenish blue. This blue tint
is sscribed to the presence Of iodine.
The graceful lateen sail used here,and
rarely seen except on the Mediterra-
mean, has a very picturesque appear
anee. The banks are dotted with the
sweet and wild chestnut, the walnut,
the magnolia and the cedar Of Leba-
non. AT particular spots, especially
where the bed Of the lake is narrow,
the water rises several feet vithou5
any apparent cause, remains at this
height for % minutes az most and then
subsidies to its original level. This
phenomenon is attributed to unusual
atmospheric pressure on the surface
of the water. Water spouts also occur
occasionally. Voltaire and Goethe
wrote of the lake, and Rousseau made
it the scene ofhis impassioned romance
the "Nourelle Heloise." Byron de-
scribed its beauties in his exquisite
.stangas, and Alexander Dumas COM
pared it with the Bay of Naples. The
OF Chillar, with its massive
walls and towers, stands on an isolated
rock twenty-five yards from the bank.
1t was quite time for the sun TO disap.
pear as we were passing this romantic
spot, where Byron so loved to write,
and could but recall his Prisoner OF
Many authors Of beautiful
have invested this castle with
much OF the same interest. A fine
effect was produced by the beams OF
he setting sun, streaming through
he narrow loop holes into the sombre
'recincts where can be read the names
VI Victor Hugo, Byron, Eugene Sne,
md George Sands. Since 1898 it has
,een used as a military arsenal.
Taking a farewell glimpse Of Mont
Blanc in the distance, we babe fare.
veil to this beautiful picture and at 6
In. we we're safely landed at Geneva.
from this point will write you later.
Mpu IL |