The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-21
Anasssssa gntelliaeater.
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
0ure,pondenoe ofthe Mselligeneer.

me 1dtue VI tuC Io"lto AtPo % oO biNS'
that the word Switzerland has becom
almost synonym for grand, majestic an'
beautiful mountain scenery; and yet w
must remember that all of Switzerland
is not devoted to snow. capped mountains
and seas Of ice, but that the Northern
portion of the country, comprising I
large share of its territorial extent: hai
no high mountains, but is occupied by
broad plains, low hills and fertile valleys
8ith thriving cities and villages AID
densely populated rural districts. The
government is Republican in form, the
twenty-five cantons, with population
of about three millions, being united
under o constitution. Although we
frequently hear of tho president of the
Swiss Republic" there is really no such
Office or officer in existence no chief
executive being elected by the people,
but the SO called "Presidenr being sim.
ply chosen by the legislative body to
preside over its deliberations. On war
footing, its army, in spite Of tho small
population, numbers over 100000 men,
while Swiss soldiers have for centuries
been found in the armies Of almost every
nation in Europe, they being among the
few faithful mercenaries known TO history.
Zurich, where we left our readers 10
our last letter, is one of the most flourish.
ing Of the Swiss cities, it's manufactures
OF silk and cotton being especially i'm
portant. 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 tho Uetli.
berg, 1865 feet above the lake and
about five miles from the city, more
extended prospect is gained.
Leaving Zurich, we pass the little lake
Iug, only nine miles in length by three
in breadth, and shortly after reach
Lucerne, walled town, situated Ut the
Western extremity Of lake Lncerne,
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 quaint, the roof of
the one nearest the lake being decorated
with more than $50 pictures, illustrating
the lives of the patron saints Of the place,
while tho otRer is ornamented in the
same manner with the "Dance of DEATH"
representing the grim messenger as
present in every employment and pleas
ure of life. The great attraction of the
town, however, is the Lion of Lucerne."
Thi' monument, which represents lion
piei ced by a spear and dying with its
paw upon the Bourbon shield, was
designed by Thorwaldsen, IN memory of
nearly 800 officers and men of the Swiss
guard, who fell in defending the Tuileries
at Paris, in 1892, and is cut into the
solid rock of the mountain a short dis.
tanco from the lake. 1t is one of the
graudest and most impressive works Of
the kind which ever cREie from the chisel
of the sculptor; and as memorial to
the fidelity and courage Of the Swiss SOL
dier In foreign lands, as 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 ia sometimes
called, by far the most beautiful of all
the charming lakes of Switzerland.
Deeply set among the green slopes of the
mountains, with their snowy peaks ris-
ing high in the distance, dotted here and
there with cultivated patches aud pictur-
esgue chalots, it is q gem of indescribable
!oyeliness. Ithas no islands ofinportance
but this deficiency Is more than compen.
sated for by the extreme irregularity of
Its shore line, its arms reaching out and
claspipg ;thel bases of the mountains In
every direction. From Lucerne, at tho
Western extremity, is a most delightful
sail OF about three hours. Many points
on the lake, as we'll IS throughout this
entire region, are associated with that
here of Swiss legend, iilllii5ssszss9Ts!i; iili5s,sszss and
although the modern historian may pro.
are dear to every Swiss heart and are
cherished with o Tenderness and pride
which speaks vol lnmes for their love of
country. We pass O massiye rock rising
from tie lake, bearing an isecrlption ie
honor of derrick Schiller, the Bard Of
Tell" little farther on q small chanel
mcrks The spot where Tsll ID said to have
leaped from Gessler's hoat. Two miles
from Flqelen ia AltoFf, where Tell psr.
formed histerrible feat OF archery, statues
of himself and con marking tho supposed
location Of the fearful test. Returning
from Fl1elen, We land at Yitznau, at the
foot OF the Rigi, and take the raiiWay5to
the summit.
The Rigt 10 not q aingle peak, but ID an
Irregular shaped mountain whose base Is
7 wasliGd or three sides by theJwaters os
sake Lucerne.! = Although q mere dwarf.
compared with come Of the giants of the
APPS, tits height being only about 5000
feetI !ts location 10 such as to give from
its summit what Is probably the finest
Il yteY In Switzerland. On ascending tho
Z. mountain, we found, although twas late
In June. snow storm in progress at the
: top, with about four inches of snow
i already fallen, and the fog 90 thick as to
rrsnder 1t impossible to- see more than o
. dozen yards in any direction. In fact,
the Rigi is celebrated almost "a much for
tits fogs as tor the view obtained in good
q weather, and many ora the lisappointa ed
tourists who make the ascent and return
In despair. Que of the unlucky ones,
years ago, left on the visitors' book the
following bit of inspiration .,I. ,. q
"Whoaver saw tho sun on Rigises2,, y
+. :NQhbeIer anw Il trise?n tlo'P ,fIEi ND
Tho man that says he saw them both, ~
Upon my soul, he lies. :, ED- 80 sl' 'a8
Thrett misty daysand miserable nights,
Upon this mountain we passed,
N9r saw tho sun, nor moon, nor stara;
.BSt nssty'misery:GTA1 ,YIIJJ
We hoped for better deys, however. and
after twenty-four hours Of not patient.
but se-ysimpatisnt Nsiting,y the clouds
lifted, the ntsta rolled sway yiand ne were
rewarded bg Ss s5ipg one aof the most mag.
nlfcent pnnoramas ever spread out to
the eye Of man. On the North, lust ut
the foot of the mountain, lies lake Zug,
bordered by low, hills, with,a broad plain
beyond stretching away toward the
Black Foreatin tho Flista6ce. EastSsh IA