The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-13
rEiE OLD COUNTRY
a beautiful letter fxom
Switzerland.

Switzerland.
[We are indebted TO Mrs. 8. T. Post for the
ten BY an old East Tsnnessesn, Mrs.. Clara Tad
lOCk.-EDS.l
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND,
Dec. 18th, 1885.
From this land of snow and ice I
send my friends Christmas Greet.
ing-hoping it will not be frozen on
the way.
A few days ago we were IN the
French Capital, and doing our duty
as sight-seers. Before that we had
been wandering around In Ireland,
Scotland and England, climbing
the rocks of the Giants Causeway
gazing on the far distant peak of
Ben LOmOnd and the beautiful his.
toric city Of Edinburgh from the
top of "Arthur's seat" and ponder.
ing on the glOries and wonders Of
the past in the hushed silence and
holy light of many an old cathe-
dral. At Abbotsford and at Mel
rose we paused in reverent remem-
brance of the master to whom their
lights and shadows were so dear,
and felt in the quiet eventide the
shadow of a presence, as a sigh
seemed to rustic the autumn leaves.
By the resting place of Shakes
peare we stood thinking Of the gen.
ius which had given tone to the
thought of nations, and held a mir.
ror to expose the faults and frail-
ties of the world to its own eyes.
And we looked at his chair, so long
empty, and the table on which he
often had leaned in thought as he
wove the web Of fancy In glowing
colors, yet ever with the hand OF
truth. So we have had before US
in this old world the lesson of NOR.
tality, or rather, I should say, Of
Immortality; for, who could believe
that the great soul which inhabited
the ashes, over which we sigh
could have passed to nothingness.
We were much pleased with
Brussels, and had it been spring in.
stead of winter, would have re.
mained for a season.
The work of restoration in all the
old buildings is almost constantly
kept up, indeed some are so restor.
ed that they would not know them.
selves. think Shakespeare would
pass by his own house-though II
he were "restored," his ideas might
also be changed.
MARsEILLEs, FRANCE, DEC. 13.
This seems like a sudden transi
ton. 1t was. We concluded Il
emigrate to a place where the snow
would only be poetlcally referred
to-merely hinted at, as it were, b.
orange-bldoms and lilies. Alas
around us here snow is lying on th'
mountains, and there is ice arount
the fountains, and does not refer Il
it POLITICALLY at all, and this wind i
enough to blow ones ideas ava,
into space. think we shall go t.
Hyeres, and if that does not dc
somewhere near the desert of Sa
hara. After all the snow was yer,
light and melted away in the sun
hut we came on here to Hyere'
This is a beautiful place, with tn
mountains standing like sentinel
around,
"Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sum-"
with the palm trees waving in tn
gentle sea breeze that comes frOr
the cleaning bay and the blu
Mediterranean beyond; with tn
gardens golden with ripening oran
ges, and orchards Of olives, wher
the peasants are busily engage
harvesting the fruit. There ar
long walks to old Notifications an
churches, or drives over the smoOt
roads for the pleasure seeker or tn
invalid, and wealth of restorin
sunshine for all. 1t is a summer
land where the birds sing all tn
year.
Dear friends, time and space car
not affect the regard have for yO'
and with kindest wishes ! bid 70
adieu.