Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-30
What the American Cyclers Saw
Among Them.
4 Fine Description Of John Calvin's Old
Home.
4 Visit to The Famous Castle Of Chillon,
.-.0ther Interesting Matters.
Especial 10 the kennebec Journal. |
MpHnxs. SwrznRl,Np, July Is. iss,

been written descriptive of its niagnihceni
| scenery, yet We are quite prepared TO assert
| the truth of even the most extravagant praise
that has been bestowed upoa IL. Such grand
combinations of mountains and valleys, snow
and ice, forests and cliffs, lakes and rivers.
| are nowhere else 10 be seen. The entire
party is enthusiastic over the unsurpassed
views; II really seems more as though We
were travelling in fairy land, so much of the
marvellous having passed before ou- vision
for VIC never before realized. ~ actual cx.
perenee now insists, that this large world of
ours sported such wild luxuriance.
The traveller who, after Il visit TO Geneva
believes he has seen Switzerland is very
much mistaken. As all great works of liter
aturc have u fowery Introduction, so is
Geneva pleasing preface to the grandeur
that is further on, and this without in the
slightest deprcestIns the city which |, Ter.
tainly very charming place. We all lala
delightful time there, purchasing watches,
music boxes. jewelry. and other trii z, is,
which are for sale in tempting proflsio In
the religious history of the world th,s eity
has had a somewhat prominent part, for th
famous John Calvin lived and preacln tHeis
for many years. We went within the church
where his impassioned uttcranccs ha :,
looked upon the self-same canopy wh'"h at
that time hung over the pulpit from VIII ca hc
spoke. This was far more interesting .'in
the several old monuments within the cdfice.
for il conimemorated an illustrious name, Of
whose great work the whole world IL aware
The house in which this religion. leader
lived for - years is near the church. and
thither our steps were bent We did not go
inside. but, passing within the court, had "A
long look at the walls which for so long saw
the incoming and outgoing of the renowned
Calvin Over the second story window this
motto in Latin was cut..-"The Lord 10 my
defense" In other respects the house did
not differ materially from the other stone
dwellings vhich lied the marrow street.
One day only was given TO Geneva, and
the next We had the great pleasure Of sail
the entire length of beautiful Lake Leman,
so famed in song and story. Would that
could convey on paper the delights of that
charming afternoon on this most picturesque
sheet of water in the world, but the power 81
to do does not within me lie. The impr, ssiun
of the high green mountains, backed by
loftier snowy peaks. rising, as 1t IN the dis
tance seemed, from the deep blue wat RS %
the peaceful lake, IL one battling description
We could simply stand and look, uttering ali
From Geneva, and at one or two other points
along the lake, glmpses OF snowy and ceie-
brated Mon, Blsc were bad The erst stop
ping place was Nyon, which the guide book
tells us was al anci NJ Roman colony founded
by julius Casar. 1t nal all indications of a
retired village, where 1t is d ificult TO see
from whence the inhabitants derive their
maintenance.
Thence the steamer CROSSED to tie southern
banks ard the next two landings we're in
France. Not uLtl after an examination of
the map could we reconcile this fact and few
people, nnle' they have looked into the matter
know that the country with the lri-colored
national emblem has ports on Lake Geneva,
However, we did not wish to land. so the
keen custom officers who stood upon the
wharf were robbed of the pleasure of rum-
maging our worldly goods.
From here the steamer again scu1s across
the lake. and il was Swi'zcrland once more,
the first stop being ouchy, where Byron
wrote the prisoner Of Chiffon" II is from
this point that the sail becomes particularly
charming. surprisingly beautiful. The
shore Is lined with vineyards on the steep
slopes, while ahead frowning mountains
seem blocking further passage. Thoughts
from Byron. the acknowledged poet Of the
lake. float through the mind, until a trifling
stretch Of the imagination transports the
delighted gazer to veritatle dresDlsn1, and
seemingly reveals a glimpse of Paradise.
Read while in this state these familiar lines
were doubly impressive:
"Clear placid Lernani thy contracted lake,
With the wild world dwelt in, il thing
Which warns me, with It's siillns-s, 10 fOrrake
Earth. troubled waters for purer spring.
This quiet -aiI IL NJ n roiseless wit z
To wait me from Distraction"
With happiness depicted on every counte-
nance, the boys looked and looked as the
grand view unfoided. frequently venting by
expressive words the nnbounded pleasure
which they felt.
All too quickly the trip was over. and we
found ourselves wheeling along the lake
shore toward the famous Castle Of CbilIon,
immor.alized by Byron. Little did we think
when in school studying the cele bratcd poem
that the privilege of seeing the historic spot
| 50 stirringiy described would one day be
| ours Yet, happy dream, there ~e were,
and with the still preserved school copy Of
the poem in hand, we passed over the
| wooden bridge and along the court 10 tb.
| dungeon entrance. where poor Bonyard
must have said adien, for 40 many years 10
the light Of day. Over the entrance is the
inscription, God bless all who come in and
20 out A shndder went through the party
a. we descended 10 the rock bewn dungeons,
in one Of which Thousands Of Jews are said
to have been sentenced TO death, aud then
pitched into the lake through an opening
which was pointed ont. The rocky couch on
which the condemned passed their last night
on earth, the beam from which they were
hung, the torture chamber, and many other
horrors, we're seen. But the greatest inter
1 Al. Iii
to which the patriot Bonivard was for q
years fastened by chain only 3 feet in
length. The horrors Of that awful confine-
ment are most wildly realized as one stands
in the hollow worn in III. solid stone pave.
nent by the feet Of the prisoner, or grssps
the iron ring which 30 relentiessly
held him, yet Byron drew largely on his i'm.
agiDation in the poem. and We we're tod tbsi
/ the additional circumstance Of the inprisoa-
men. of t~o Of the brothers Of Boniyard had M
historical foundation. Standing within walt
| which bad been mute witnesses of such
human agony. hos could we help recalling
with . Rrievous sole mnity--and verify be
lieving, the opening lines Of Byron's nara
tive:
my hair IL gray, but 70, with years,
Nor grew u white
In q single night,
| A. mems have grown from sudden fears"
Well could we imagine such an affair. the
Awfulness Of such close confoem.nt being
easy TO conceive while In the very place u
self. EIterioriy the castle is veil preserved
and looks jus, a. grand and imposing ~
il probably did in ancient times. The In
terror shows the q fleets Of age, and has beer
restored In several places. An effort is nov
being male 70 collect in one room articles ol
interest connected with the history OF thu
castle, and 90 start museum Of relics.
Here we bade farewell to the besutifu
Lake Of Geneva, and wheeled miles aloni
the valley Of the Rhone TO Aisle, where ves'
our quarters for the night. Next morning