The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-08-23
IN FOREIGN LANDS.

Lion of Lucerne"--A Beautiful Pano
rama-Sunrise from the Rigi-Brunis
Pass-The Capital of the Swiss Confseler
aticn and Other Cities of Note Described
From our own Correspondent.
The fame of the Swiss Alps is SO grea
that the word Switzerland has become ell
most a synonym for grand, majestic ant
beautiful mountain scenery; and yet W,
must remember that all of Switzerland i!
not devoted TO snow-c capped mountains ant
seas of ice, but that the northern portion
OF the country, comprising large share o.
its territorial extent, has no high noun
talns, but is occupied by broad plains, Low
bills and fertile valleys, with thriving cite,
and villages and densely populated rura
districts. The government is Republican
IN form, the twenty-five cantons, with {
population of about three millions beine
united under constitution. Although We
frequently hear of the /" President of the
1 Swiss Republic" there is really no such
office or officer in existence; no chief exec
utlve being elected by the people, but the SC
| NsAASS> ASCioO1ip UC1BS SlIuDly CHOSEN
by the legislative body to preside over its
deliberations. On war footing, its army,
in spite of the small population, numbers
over 100000 men. while Swiss soldiers have
for centuries been found in the armies al
most every nation in Europe, they being
among the few faithful mercenaries known
to history.
Zurich, where we left our readers III our
last letter, is one of the most fourishing of
the Swiss cities, its manufactures of silk
and cotton being especially important.
The lake at the foot of which it is located,
is twenty five miles long, and from the city
many beautiful views may be obtained.
! while from the Uetliberg, 1,565 feet above
the lake and about five miles from the city,
more extended prospect is gained.
| Leaving Zurich, we pass the little lake
zug, only nine miles i'll length by three in
| breadth, and shortly after reach Lueerne,
walled town, situated at the western ex-
trenity of lake Lucerne, whose outlet, the
Reuss river, clear, dark stream, flows
| through the city. Two of the four bridges
| which span the river are very old and quaint,
the roof of the one nearest the lake being
decorated with more than 1l55a pictures !ltr.s-
trating the lives of the patron saints of the
place, while the other is ornamented in the
same manner with the Dance of Death,n
representing grim messenger as present in
every employment and pleasure of
life. The great attraction of the town,
however, is the "Lion of Lucerne.'s This
monument, which represents lion pierced
by spear and dying with its paw upon the
Bourbon shield, was sissi igned by THorwaId-
sen, in memory of nearly 800 officers and
men of the swiss guard, who fell defending
the Tuileries at Paris, in 1892, and is cut
into the solid rock of the mountain short
distance from the lake. It is one of the
grandest and most impressive works Of the
kind which ever came from the chisei of the
sculptor, and as memorial to the fidelity
and courage of the Swiss soldier in foreign
lands, as we'll as for its artistic merits, 1t 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 charm
ing lakes of Switzerland. Deeply set among
the green slopes of the mountains, with
their snowy peaks rising high in the dis
tance, dotted here and there with cultivated
patches and picturesque chalets it is gem
of indescribable loveliness It has no is
land of Importance, but this deficiency is
moro than compensated for by the extreme
irregularity of its shore line, its arms reach
ing out and clasping the bases of the noun
tains in every direction. From Lucerne,
at the western extremity, to Flueien, at the
eastern extremity, is most delightful sail
of about three hours. Many points on the
lake, as we'll as throughout this entire re-
gion, are associated with that hero of Swiss
legend, William Tell, and although the
modern historian may pronounce Tell a
myth, these associations are dear to every
Swiss heart and are cherished with ten
derness and pride which speaks volumes
for their love of country. We pass massive
rock rising from the lake, bearing an in
scription in honor of 'fFrederick Schiller,
the Bard of Tell" A little farther ON
small chapel marks the spot where Tell is
said to have leaped from Gessler's boat.
Two miles from Fluelen is Altorf, where
Tell performed his terrible feat of archery,
statues of himself and son marking the
supposed location of the fearful test. Re-
turning from Fluelen, we land at .Vitznau,
at the foot of the Eigi, and take the rail-
way to the summit.
The Rigi, is not a single peak, but is an
irregular shaped mountain whose base is
washed on three sides by the water of lake
Lucerne. Although mere dwarf, COM
pared with some of the giants of the Alps,
its hight being only about 5000 feet-its
location is such as to give from its summit
what is probably the finest view in Svitzer-
land. On ascending the mountain, we
found, although it was late in June, snow
storm in progress at the top, with about
four inches of snow already fallen, and the
fog SO thick as to render it impossible to see
more than dozen yards in any direction.
In fact the Rigi, is celebrated almost as
much for its fogs for as the view obtained in
good weather, and many are the disap-
pointed tourists who make the ascent and
return in despair. One of the unlucky ones,
years ago, left on the visitors book the
following bit of inspiration:
whoever saw the sun on Bigi set
Whoever saw it rise?
The man that says he saw them both,
Inou nv soTII he 1ine