Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-10-09
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IisnrylNattsr.an,. FarawaII . swIsssrand.

] am going away from Switzerland, |
and, though not altogether 10th Ia "a. l |
90 with u kind ofloolling back. There
is much here 10 think about. There is
also much to love- The swiss are by no (
means an imaginative ora heroic pee
pie. They are serious, dali and slow.
They rarely ,augh or sing They take
nothing for granted, But they ara
frugal, honest, pious and brave.
| wandered six weeks among the
mountains, and have sojourneda month
in this lakeside chalet, upon the out
skirts OF a populous city, and have yet
to encounter a barefooted child or an
intoxicated woman. Crime is almost a
stranger in Switzerland State rights
and Home Rule are unchallenged and
universal. The canton is a complete
and perfect republlc. Society is an ab-
solute democracy. A few old families
about Berne. living upon the memory
of departed wealth and glory, seek TO
fly from it, and shut themselves in
stone walls, but the people and the law
pursue their way with steady strides
and equal footsteps, and fendalism is
forced to look on and submit to the in
eyitable. The Angel of Freedom,
driven to these fistness, made an early
and Il final stand, and said to the forces
OF Tyranny and Prerogative, on both
sides OF the Alps: $50 far shalt thou
20 no farther" Five hundred years
have put their seal upon that dictum
and to-day all parties in Europe respect
it.
] leave Lake Leman as the grapes are
purpling and signs OF busy lite appear
about the wine-presses. A softer tint
has come into the yellow sunshine.
All nature is aglow with autumn Pic
lures. am going to Paris; but ], mean
to take the long path through Germany
and break the fall somewhat. ~. ~.
~
Ii | should ever be driven from my
own country / should unhes.atingly
select some spot upon this beautiful in
land sea for a home. l can not help
thinking there must have been some
good in Voltaire that he was happy
here; but, from the days OF old Ludlow,
the regicide, to, this present time CT
banishmed Princes and impecunious
nobility, self-exiled, the Heaven-sent
peace Of Lake Leman has spread its
tender wings for hearts that were
weary and heavy laden. The loving,
the gentle and yet the daring soul OF
Downward; the cold, stern heart of
Calvin; the turbid spirit of a Byron; the
romapticism of Rousseau and a De
Stael--even the hot blood and vulgar
ambition OF Napoleon-7found some-
thing here to elevate and to subdue
something to chasten and to soothe,
som s.hing to bring man TO his knees in
the presence and the majesty of his
God. The people are fitted to the scene;
simple, unaffected, plain; no ostenta-
tion, and no frivolity. Happy they are
| am sure, and able, the humblesS Of
them, to give lessons in wisdom and
virtue.
But ell things must end, even lolling
upon the grass of Alpine hills and catch
ing trout in Alpine streams, and, when
you next hear from me, shall have
ceased to be rustic philosopher and
have exchanged my Alpenstock for
silk umbrella and my summer blouse
for Prince Albert; the smell OF the
asphalt, and not the scent of wild flow
ers, begins already to SuHuse the sense;
and, end, in place OF the sweet light Of
heaven, which reigns supreme upo
these lair heights, | discern in the dis
,ance the electric flare and glare Of the
boUlevards. hate Paris, and have an
affection for Switzerland, and yet am
going to Paris.