Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07
Correspondents Of TIE EVENING STAR

Correspondents Of THE EVENING STAR
HOTEL NATIONAL, LUCERNE, July ID.
Next to William Tell, no figure in Swiss his
tory stands forth more prominently or Is better
known TO the world at large than that Of Arnold
Won Winkelried. The first was the best type OF
the fearless, selfasserting freeman-the latter
the highest type of the noble selfsacrifcing
patriot. The historical events which brought
Tells name into prominence may be shrouded
somewhat with doubt; but no one has ever
essayed TO deny the verify Of the deed Of VIM
kelried to commemorate the five hundredth
anniversary OF which all Switzerland seemed to
have gathered at the pleasant but ancient ad-
iacent town Of Sempach, on the 9th inst. As
usual on such occasions In Switzerland, the
town assumed gala attire. Bunting and gar
lands gracefully festooned met the eye In every
read on buifdinss, and every lady about the
place wore the
PICTURESQUE COSTUME
of the locality. At sunrise already people were
everywhere astir; trains com menced depositing
load upon load OF visitors, wagons freighted
with gaily-dressed human beings arriving from
all quarters, and by z O'Clock. amid the ringing
of church bells aud booming of cannon, a large
procession preceded by a brass band, was NOV
Ing out of the town towards memorial chapel
situated at some distance on o knoll overlook.
ing the battlefield of Sempach.
Upon arrival at the chapel the whole assem-
bage, kneeling, repeated the usual battle pray,
report of the battle. A short but impressive
sermon was then delivered by an eminent
divine, who selected as text the words of st.
Paul: "l.et every man abide in the same call
Ing wherein he was called"
The preacher enumerated the many national
blessings which followed the struggle for tree
dom, pleading, In conclusion, for q faithful full
nllment of the nations caliing-the preServa-
ton of freedom by the maintenance of unity.
Mass was then said, and this concluded the re-
!igious part Of the exercises. Meanwhile, some
oOO oncers Of the Swiss army, in body, took
possession of q portion of the battlefield adjoln.
Ing a grand amphitheatrical auditorium, from
which arose a unique triple arrangement of re-
ceding stages or spacious platforms, with steps
along their entire front leading up from one tier
$4,000 people had gathered in and thanking the
vast auditorium. intent to hear the orators of
the day and witness the
GREAT DRAMATIC DISPLAY
that was to follow. The first orator. the Hon.
C. Temp, deputy speaker of the Swiss house of
representatives, with stentorian voice recited
how, in the summer Of 1886, the young, am
bilious and courageous Duke Leopold, of Aus
tria, had collected together an army Of his ad-
herents. numbering some 5000 well-armed
men, including body of no less than 100 finely
mounted and heavily armed mobiles With
these he purposed to bring into subsection and
punish for dislOyalty the inhabitants of the
canton Of Lucerne and adjacent territory. When
Sempach, the duke, however, encountered an
armed force OF 300 Swiss, headed by the in
trepid GundoldiDgen, posted On the edge of q
clearing skirting the brow of a hill. This body
OF men, When the Austrian host came in sight,
knelt, as was the custom of the Swiss before
engaging In battle, and reverently repeated
THE BATTLE PRAYER.