The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-29

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bed. The German soon arrived, and We
SAW about three others who had ascended
the Breithorn and were sick.
The rest of our party were not sick, bul
VIC were all thoroughly sunburnt. We
sat about on the icy rocks and contem'
plated the great Matterhorn and The
Breithorn, and drank coffee tie most
miserable have ever tasted.
AT length our companion became well
enough to descend, and we were again
roped together for the tour down the
upper Theodule glacier. After few
hours we arrived at Zermatt about three
or four o'clock in the afternoon.
The next morning we walked down to
Visp in the Rhone valley, and went by
rail to Nlarligny.
From Martigny we went on foot to
Chamonix.
As we arrived at ChamoniX the Mt.
Blanc chain was hid from our view by
the clouds, but OH the following morning
they began to rise up from the valley
and We ascended "le Brevent," a
mountain just opposite Mt. Blanc on
the other side of The valley, from whose
summit the finest view of the Mt Blanc
chain is obtained. Upon the Breyent
(S,274 #. we found fresh snow. When
we had attained the summit, the clouds
had almost entirely disappeared and we
again had most magnificent view.
Toward the South and West the pano-
rama was extensive and embraced Grand
Paradis etc but The chief attraction was
the Mt Blanc range, just across the
narrow valley of Chamonix. 1t is diff,
cult to compare the rival vewa of the
Beruese Oberland from tue Faulhorn and
of the chain of Mt. Blanc from "le
Brcyent"; and the valleys of Grindel.
wald and Chamonix contest the palm for
charm. The scenery Of the MI. Blanc
range is, however, more pointed. The
serrated pinnacles (called in French
"aiguilles" meaning "ncedles") rise aloft
with Il fantastic charm which the view of
the Bernese Oberland does not possess.
The view of Mt. Blanc, with his snow
covered dome rising above all surrounding
mountains, was ye:y grand, uthardly so
impressive as that of the Matlcrborn,
near Zermalt. Mt. Blanc is the highest
of continuous chain Of high peaks,
closely connected, and has large dimen.
sions. His broad summit is graced with
snow. But not so with the Matterhorn.
It's slender, pyramidal spire, too steep for
the SHOWS to fud resting place, rises on
high in bare aud rugged magnificence
flonl field of glaciers. Thus standing
alone, isolated from surrounding moun.
tains, it is d monument of marvel.
From the Brevent the view eff Chamo-
nix in the valley and the glaciers of the
chain, especially the Glacier des Blossoms
and "Mer de Glace," is very lovely.
After descending from this mountain
we ascended "le Flegere," from which we
had fine view of the immense "AIer de
Glace." This view gives one an idea Of
its extent, but is rather too distant.
On the following morning we assembled
to the Montanvert, just abo:e the "Aer
de Gace."
Thesurvey of this ''sea of ice" from this
point is very extensive ard fine. This
great "sea" is several miles long and
over mile broad at the narrowest part.
The wave feature Of this great glacier is
best seen in crossing it. AS there are no
concealed creviccs at this poin', we
crossed without a guide. Upon the first
part Of the route steps are cut in the ice.
When upon the glacier, amid the frozen
waves of ice, it resembles "sea" and
hence its name. We descended OIL the
farther side by the ;nauvais pass" ("bad
p,ss"), where an ron railing has been
placed to assist the Traveller TO the Cha
peau. AT this point the frozen mass OF
the glacier descends over steep ledge of
rock into the valley, and from the resem.
blance is called The "FalI."
We had contemplated ascending Mt.
Blanc to the "Grands ds-Mulels" in the
afternoon, but rain made further visits
impossible. The "Grands- -NIulets" is the
hut where the tourists to the summit OF
Mt. Blanc spend the night about two
thirds of the way up. Upon the follow
ing day, we walked down TO Yernazez in
the Rhone valley where we visited the
great George du TRENT" BY means OF
wooden gallery fastened on the rocky
wall, just above the roaring torrent, one
goes far into this narrow gorge, bounded
by its perpendicular walls, several hun
dred feet high. 1t is similar to the gorge
at the "Grindelwad" glacier.
Nlonlreux, at the head of lake Geneva
is one of the most beautifully situated
towns on the lake, ard commands d
superior view Of the lake and the moun-
tains. The waters of this lake have Il
blue color instead of green, which the
other fine lakes of Switzerland have.
The castle Of Chillon is about 4 thirty
minutes walk from MonlreuX. 1t is situ
ated very beautifully upon rock rising
out of the water not far from the shore
with which it WAS connected by draw
bridge. The reader will remember
Byrou's "Pri>oner Of Chiilon," in which
he describes very finely the prison room.
of the ancient reformcrs aud prisoners o