Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1888-05-11

irregular line Of Alpine peaks that define
themselves in peerless white against the
lambent blue, and then to rest the eyes
upon the varied landscape that spreads
itself all about you, down, down, thou
sands of feet, as if it were series of toy
pictures such as you could arrange at
will out of boxes of blocks you might
buy at Charley Meyers, was an expert
ence never to be forgotten, and which
can only be repeated at the same place
and under the same circumstances.
Seven lakes-miniature lakes, they
looked, as recall them-were within
view. nesting themselves in the little
narrow wales that are the conspicuous
and unique feature of Swiss landscape.
Over there is the lake ON the banks of
which the battle of Margarten, the Their
mopyla of Switzerland. was fought.
There 1000 of the hardy mountaineers
successfully withstood the assaults of
more than 100000 Austrians. To the
right was Lake Zug, where the landslide
had occurred but few days before, and
through strong glass the ruins of the
QUAY could be plainly seen. Off in the
far distance Lake Sembach could be dis
cerned, with its story of Winkelreid's
heroism. Immediately at your feet
stretched the Lake of the Four Cantons,
with it's Tell chapel and the Ealf dozen
clustering villages and towns that line its
banks. and. larger and prouder than all,
Llzerne itself, which looks forward with
hopeful anticipation, by means of the
completion of projected railway. to the
time when it will command the position
of the first city of Switzerland in the
plans of all tourists.
But not alone the Rigi. Luzerne has
another attraction. The place wherein
the lion of Luzerne is to be seen is about
the last stranger would look for it.
There are no indications of its where
abouts and so far as could observe no
directions that would aid in its discovery.
/ started out after dinner to find it. and
walked about as understood the hotel
: porter to direct. Finally, l asked a
small boy standing in a garden near the
street, and by dint of much hard work
made him understand what l wanted.
He waved his hand in the direction. and
that gesture followed until found the
spot. II seems to lie in Il grotto at the
DeicA Ol ii tlt'LcIl SlNN'I ttiNiS. tiitN
from the monument. and shut it out
7 from the public. Tho impression is that
you are going through an alley into
back yard where, in the face of the
sandstone rock that rises about $50 feet,
the lion is cut. In front of it is q mean,
dirty, little circular pool possibly forty
i or fifty feet in diameter, about and IL
q which duck and her small family
: ouacked and played at will. Al
old fellow seeing visitor to the
: lion. and possibly scenting few cen
:, times, turned Oh the water for few
S minutes. and the jet rose to the height O
e fifty or sixty feet, with no other appreci
{. able effect than to disturb both the poo
and the goslings. There arc q half dozcl
: benches in front of the fountain on whicl
4 you can sit and look at TEorwaldscn 'sgrca
conception. while back Of these henche
are numerous shops in which all manne
of trinkcts and views are sold. and II
X one of which is shown the model OF tn
q lion made by the Danish sculptor, an
=. from which the carving was done.
. Despite the apparently mean and IN
u pertinent surroundings. the lion is yet
ii lion. No work OF art have yet seen S
x impresses me as the lion of Luzerne an
IT the lions of Landseer, at the foot OF tn
Nelson column in London. went bac
again and again to sit in silent admir-;
ton of the wounded and dying anim'
that so herocally represents the spirit
j. the Helvctan guards that do for kns
queen and duty. The more locked. I'll
-, more the wonder of the conception grew
~ There is an expression of majesty.
5 strength of leonine courage. and "
l. such a suggestion of weakness and ag'
R. - .,,ot the ;n,rnlse is to ca''ess and
n possible sootle a1e dying beast. In the SIN
y pie accessories Of shield and tlcur de ly
- living just outside the protection of Il
massive paw, the whole history of Il
fearful sacrifice is wri1ten--hcroic. d
voted. but futile. Today l have visite
the room in which the Swiss guards we
butchercd ut Versailles. and from whit
Marie .tntoinctte fled on that fearf
Ic night with her husband. o:.ly at last
end their days on the guillotine: and
l. the fury. and terror, and hlooSlshed
II that time were rehearsed. the sculpture
10 lion of Thorwaldsen. with all this histo
,e in its face, was ever before me. II
l. lion of Luzerne is one of the few, Il
e. immortal things.-Switzerland Cor. l
re dianapolis Journal