The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-09-16
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.
Switzerland.

Switzerland.
Spccial Correspondence anderson haelhgencer.
t2.3O p. m. we board the railway
train at strasbourg bound for the Alpine
hills of Switzerland. Our journey up
through the valley of the Rhine..for few
hours was interesting and enjoyable, but
our longing to wind around the snow
capped mountains, made the extended
plain, though beautiful with a golden
harvest, tame and monotonous. But
soon after 5p. m. we notice that the
railway curves more frequently and our
locomotive breathes little stronger,
which is evidence to wheelman that she
is climbing up grade. The distant hills
creep up nearer and as their long shadows
shoot across the valley, We are reminded
that they are fast growing into mountains
We wait but few minutes and the great
hills meet and they are so high that We
cannot climb them. We look to see
which way to turn to avoid them, but
like an arrow we plunge right into the
bosom of huge mass Of earth and on we
fly until the tunnels mouth seems but
a Pickering lamp behind us. The light
of day breaks in upon the darkness, the
curtain rises, and Switzerland in all its
beauty is before US like q picture. We
reach Berne, the capitol, at $50, find a
hotel and retire. We rise early for we
wish to see all the city possible before
leaving at 1923. The Bear City, as it is
sometimes called, to Yankee is indeed
quite novelty. The peculiar shaped
houses, with their extended roofs and
odd chimneys, the arcades that run the
entire length of the streets, the bears on
the monuments, in the shop windows and
in almost every conceivable place where
a switzer can display his carving. The
costumes peculiar to this people assure
US that the countless pictures we have
seen and stories we have read are not all
myths, if the story of Tell does seem
unreasonable. We would be pleased to
write at length concerning this city, for
there are many things that we hayn't
even the space to mention that were of
great interest to us. We bid goodbye
to Berne and board the train for Lausan.
ne, and if there vas one place above
another that we enjoyed lnost it was this
part of the trip. The mountains in the
distance that buried their snowy heads
in the black clouds above seemed like
gigantic pillars supporting another world,
and as we draw nearer they grow higher
and higher until we seem of no more
Importance than grains of sand, and if
there is spot in the world where man
feels his littleness it's in the presence of
these mountains. Our train speeds on
and we enter the last tunnel before
reaching Lausanne, and it is so dark
we can almost feel it, only for moment,
for our train is now upon down grade
and we sweep along the mountain side
like the wind, and as the bright noouday
sun breaks in again, picture, if possible,
more beautiful than any we have yet seen
is before US.
Lake Geneva, with its bright blue
waters, is several hundred feet below us,
the mountain sides and valleys beyond
are covered with deep green meadows and
yellow harvest fields. The cities and
villages along the shores look like little
white spots in. the distance. It seemed
to us that there was nothing lacking to
make the picture complete. We arrive
at Lausanne at half.past one o'clock, and
take steamer for Geneva at three. The
weather was mild and delightful, SO that
the ride could not be otherwise than
pleasant. We reach Geneva before sun
set, just in time to see the department
rays tinge with golden hue the snowy
peaks of Mt. Blanc. We tarry here until
Monday, and during our stay visit many
places of interest that we will not take
the time to describe. We are delighted
with the city, and wouldn't mind, if our
purses were not SO lean, staying here q
month or SO, but our time as we'll as our
resources are limited, and We must hasten
on to Lucerne. At12 N. we are aboard
the train and on our way and at $50 We
arrive at the principal summer resort in
Switzerland. Weretire early, for we have
o long trip planned for the marrow.
Tuesday morning is dark and rainy, bad
for sight seeing in country like this,
but we must make the best of it, so we
are soon on the streets to see the city.
We first inquire the way to the Lion, one
of the chief attractions of Lucerne. It
is gigantic affair, 18 by % feet, carved
out of the solid rock in commemoration of
26 officers, 760 soldiers who fell fighting
in defense of the Royal Family of France.
The Lion is represented as wounded, and
defending the shield in death. The rain
ceases, and at 2 p. m. we take steamboat
ride over the lakes to Fluelen, stopping
at several places up on our way. We
walk back from Fluelen to Fell's Chapel
over the celebrated road; the Axenstrasse,
and take the boat from there to Lucerne,
arriving at eight o'clock. In the morn.
ing early, with alpenstock in hand, we
are off to climb the Riga. We take the
boat to Weggis, and then on foot we
Wend our way up the briddle path and
reach the summit in about three hours,
nearly six thousand feet above the level
OF the sea. We will not attempt de-
scription of the view from the Riga. 1t
more than pays for the trouble Of climb.
ing. The air is somewhat chilly, and we
make our stay short. We descend the