Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-21
DOWN TO lEUk.
Descent into the Wonderful Valley of the
Upper Rhone.
Especial Correspondence ]

| Especial Correspondencel
ROME, March 31.-The three boys with
whom l am travelling over Europe had
reached a little inn near the summit of the
Gemmi just in time to avoid furious storm,
which ragged well into the night We were
on foot and were right glad of the shelter af-
forded The next morning the sun rose
bright and clear, and the pure, bracing
mountain air gave renewed life with every
breath.
l called the boys, and they crawled slowly
put of bed, groaning over their stiffened
limbs consoled them by assurances that
the stiffness would pass off after they had
moved about little, and suggested that
while breakfast was preparing they should
come outside and look at the prospest.
A cry of adniration and wonder burst
from their lips as they stepped upon the plat
form.
Before us rose the Valois Alps, their snowy
SUBMITS crimsoned with the morning sun
beams The beautiful cone of the Breithorn,
behind it the mighty mass Of Mt. Rosa, and
nearer the sharp towering pyramid of the
MatterhoriI, marked with black spots show
ing places too steep for the snow to lie upon
them, and then the range stretched away to
| the westward as far as the eye could reach.
In the lowest part of the immense valley be-
tween we could here and there trace the
windings of the young Rhone, fresh from its
glacier source. Far below us we saw the far
famed baths of Leuk, nesting close to the
almost perpendicular wall of the Gemmi 1t
seemed as if n stone might be thrown from
where We stood among the houses.
care We going down thereF asked Fred
"Yes, was my answer.
"Whew!" exclaimed Harry Cant we
order some wings.'
After breakfast we started down this re-
markable path The south face of the
Gemmi is a sheer perpendicular for about
1900 feet, and then steep incline for LOCO
more. Swiss perseverance has cut along the
face of this granite cliff an excellent path five
feet in width, and Of moderate steepness. II
winds around like spiral, one turn at times
actually overhanging another, then zig zags
here and there, wherever foothold could be
obtained The turns and most exposed places
are protected by wall, and, perilous as the
descent seems, there Is no danger The walk
from the summit TO Leuk is about three miles
We made the descent safely, and / deter
mined to spend the day i'll Leuk that the
boys might see the baths. The hot mineral
springs of Leuk are famous for their me
dicinal properties and are largely used by
invalids. 1t is customary to remain in the
water several hours, and to avoid the tedium
of a solitary bath of that length, the patients,
dressed in long flannel robes, resort to a large
common tank, where the water is depth
sufficient to come about to the neck when
sitting. They have little floating tables,
upon which they play cards or chess, have a
book or cup of coffee, or anything else that
may help TO pass the time. Fred and Harry
were much interested in the novel sight, but
were not anxious to join the bathers
The day passes quickly at Leuk, for it is
so surrounded by steep mountains that in the
longest days of summer the sun sets at
O'Clock, and in the winter about 2. Fortu-
nately, at the time of our visit the moon was
nearly full, and in the evening we took a
most enjoyable stroll along the valley As
we turned backward We were in full view of
the great wall OF the Gemmi. which pre-
sented weird appearance in the moonlight
1t seemed scarcely possible that there could
be path TO its summit
The boys had forgotten the stiffness of the
morning, and as we returned to the hotel de-
clared a walking tour the height of pleasure,
or as Harry expressed it boss"
Z. W. LIE PEcHEUR.