The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-17


scene % guy one with their brilliant an.
tasteful costumes
We wandered about until the music had
stopped, the crowd had commenced TO di-
appear, and with it all the guilty Of move
ment and color. We remained until there
were left only the grey old palace, the dark
green trees and few stragglers, These
were our last impressions Of the Latin Quar-
ter. As soon rs there was nothing amusing
to hear or see, our appelites asserted them
selves and we were reminded that it was the
dinner hour. On our way TO the restaurant
we stopped at a cafe TO consult time table.
We found that we would have time TO eat
dinner comfortably, take cltc, say goodbye
to cur friends, and drive to the Care de ! Est
aud leave Paris at $40. We would dine in
France, take cafe au. lait the next morning in
Germany, breakfas, in Switzerland and din.
ner in Italy, and on the following morning
we should be in Venice. AT half past eight
we had our baggage checked, had found a
compartment where there was but one pas
senger, and after having spread our coats
and bundles about in such a way rs to make
it appear as if every seat was to be occupied,
were promenading the platform. We started
on time, and Paris was soon behind us. The
acquaintance Of our fellow passenger was
soon made. lie proved to be a Swiss artist
of considerable reputation, and although his
French differed somewhat from Partisan he
proved a most agreeable companion. He
knew the route and promised t. point out
places Of interest. lie was going As far as
NilaH, and advised US by all means to see
that city. We discussed the Salon, Daudet' :
" Iartaran des Alps" French painting and
Italian dialects until overcome by sleep, We
arranged ourselves in manner as to occupy
the ten seats of the compartment, bid good
night to our fellow passenger, and goodbye
to France
In the morning we were awakened on the
frontier Of Lorrain at AltMunster, and in
vted to step down and show our baggage to
the custom officials. We escaped with our
French cigarettes, deyoured sort Of New
Year cake and washed it down with glass
OF the national beverage, at the buffet of the
station, and remounted the train.
Lorran was, perhaps, the dreariest Of the
countries we passed through. 1t seemed to
be neither French nor German, but 1870 had
left it's mark upon it.
At Bale, where we crossed the Swiss Dor
der, we passed through the custom Office and
changed cars.
1t was not long before we commenced to
climb the hills; at about nine o'clock we saw
the first of the Alps and from this time the
grandeur of the scenery steadily increased
as we assembled
Lake Lucerne was the first object Of great
interest. 1t is good sized lake, with the mir.
ror-like surface mentioned in the guide
books, surround by mountains, some Of them
snow capped Its borders, as well as the
slopes of the mountains, were generously
sprinkled with Swiss cottages, with project
ing caves, and stones on the roofs to hold them
down. That is all. Our curiosity was salts
fed but we were not otherwise emOtioned.
In fact, as with most Swiss scenery, it is too
ultra picturesque, and we have all seen too
much of it in chromos to be greatly moved
10y it, 1t is of style of beauty which might
be termed wholesale.
After we had had certain amount of
jumping from one window to another to see
some new peak or cascade, and samming
them up and down at each tuHnel, ii became
wearisome, and we closed them and COM
menced to look for other distractions
There was one young lady in the car. She
was apparently alone, and there was single
seat in front of her, occupied by a small
basket At intervals, when the scenery was
least interesting, several pairs Of cyes-male
eyes-would be fixed upon this basket, but
it remained upon the seat Notwithstanding.
At length, when the young lady was strug
Cling with the window, one of us-one art
student-stepped up and assisted her, and
on receiving her thanks, picked up the bas-
ket, sat down and made some Insignificant
remark about the scenery, The young lady
was agreeable and laxative. In less time
than it takes to write it, he had elected the
information from her that this was her sec
ond voyage over the route; she wss Italian,
WAS travelling with her aunt across the aisle,
who was not only deaf bu, asleep, sine had
lived in Paris, was going to Milan and that
she liked Americans, and artists, and blondes.
What more he would have learned can be
but surmised, for at this point he was inter.
rupted by the other Of us, who entered first
into conversation with him and eventually
with the young lady, whose attention he
secured, as well as the seat and basket.
All this time we were rafting along, wind
ing our way around the SUBMITS Of the Alps.
The ascent is chiefly made in the valley of a
small torrent, which is not long enough to
permit of its being made in one continuous
grade up the valley, but can only be accom-