The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-09


many beautiful views may be obtained
while from thc Uetlberg, ,565 feet above
the lake and about five miles from the city,
a more extended prospect is gained.
Leaving Zurich, we pass the little lake
Zug, only nine miles in length by three in
breadth, and shortly after reach Lucerne, a
walled town, situated at the western ex
tremity OF lake Lucerne, whose outlet, the
Reuss river, a clear, dark stream, flows
through the city. Two Of the four bridges
which span the river are very old and
being decorated with more than $50 pic
lures, illustrating the lives Of the patron
saints Of the place, while the other is orna-
m ented in the same manner with the
"Dance of DEATH" representing the grim
messengers Jas present in every employment
and pleasure Of life. The great attraction
of the town, however, is the "Lion of Lu-
cerne" THIS monument, which represents
a lion pierced by a spear and dying with
its paw upon the Bourbon shield, was de-
signed by Thorwaldsen. ! memory Of
nearly 500 officers and men Of the Swiss
guard, who fell in defending the Tuileries
at Paris, in 1872, and is cut INTO the solid
rock Of the mountain short distance from
the lake. II is one Of the grandest and
most impressive works of the kind which
ever came from the chisel of the sculptor;
and as a memorial TO the fidelity and cour-
well as for its artistic merits, it is justly
pointed to with pride by the citizens of the
city.
Lake Lucerne, or the "Lake of the Four
Forest Cantons," as it is sometimes called,
is by far the most beautiful of all the
charming lakes of Switzerland. Deeply
set among the green slopes of the noun
tains, with their snowy peaks rising high
in the distance, dotted here and there with
cultivated patches and picturesque chalets,
it is gem Of indescribabe lovelinoss. 1t
has no islands of importance, but this de-
fciency is more than compensated for by
the extreme irregularity of its shore line,
its arms reaching out and clasping the
bases of the mountains in every direction.
| From Lucerne, at the western extremity, to
| Fluelcn, a the eastern extremity, is a most
delightful sail of about three hours. Many
points on the lake, as well as throughout
this entire region, are associated with that
hero Of Swiss legend William Tell; and al
though the modern historian NAV pro-
nounce Tell myth, these associations are
dear to every Swiss heart and are cherished
with tenderness and pride which speaks
volumes for their love o. country. We
pass massive rock rising from the lake
bearing ar inscription in honor Of "Frede-
rick Schiller, the Bard of Tell" A little
farther on a small chapel marks the spot
where Tell is said to haYo leaped from
Gessers boat. Two miles from Fluelen i;
Altorr, where Tell performed his terrible
feat of archery, statues OF himself and son
marking the supposed location of the fear
ful test. Return ing from Fluelen, we land
at Vltznau, at the foot Of the Rigi and take
the railway to the summit.
The Rigi is not single peak, but is an
| irregular shaped mountain whose base is
washed on three sides by the waters o.
Lake Lucerne. Although mere dwarf
compared with some of the giants OF the
Alps, (its hight being only about 6,U0C
leet) Its location is such as to give from its
summit what is probably the finest view in
Switzerland, On ascending tho mountain
we found, although it was late in June, g
snow storm in progress at the top, with
about four inches Of snow already fallen
and the fog so thick as to render it impos.
sible to see moro than dozen yards in ans
direction In fact the Rigi is celebrated
almost as much for its fogs as for the view
obtained in good weather, and many are
the disappointed tourists who make the as
cent and return in despair. One of the un
lucky ones, years ago, left on the visitors
book the following bit of inspiration:
| W
Whoever saw it rise?
The man who says he saw them both,
Upon my soul, he lies.
Three misty days and miserable nights,
Upon this mountain we passed,
Nor saw we the sun, nor moon, nor stars;
But misty misery"
, We hoped for better days, however, an
! off to- sNfp ~ f,ot
very impatient waiting, the clouds lifted
} the mlsts rolled away and we were reward
; ed by seeing one OF the most magnlticer
pauoramas ever spread out to the eye {
man. On the north, just at the foot of III
6 mountain, lies lake Zug, bordered by lo'
hills, with broad plain beyond stretchin
, away toward the Black Forest in the di
tance. Eastward the low peaks of IL
| Rigi are seen, with an occasional gimp.
of the lakes Lowerz and Lucerne, with
background OF forest, mountain and vale.
Farther south another part of the "Fore
u Sea" is visible with the precpitnns peal
u of the Bernese Alps, the peerless Jungflat
y the mighty FlnsIeraarhoTn, the WetterhoI
= aud many of lesser note, holding big
e their mautles of dazzling white, man
It miles away. The city OF Lucerne and al
IS other portion of the lake appears in Il
l. west, and just south of the city rises Il
+ storm crowned head of Mount Platu
n where the legends say the spirit of Ponti
p PLATE, IN despair at haYing permitted Il
r death of Christ took refuge. The westel
Ie horizon is bounded by the dark blue
II the Jura range, and wherever the e.
turns it is capuyated by new and appnreu
ly greater attractions. Three hundr
miles OF mountain, PLAIN, forest and vale
with thirteen lakes, are included with
the range Of vision.
A sunrise from tho Rigi is regarded
one of the most wonderful spectacles