The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-10-11
A TRAMP THROUGH THE
TYROL.

A Storm Above the Clouds. -The Ty-
rolsso Of the I'll 1erthal.-The Grand.
est W aterfalls in Europe.-Sketch.
ing under DlMoulties, and . Sud.
don Fltght.-Over the q 1aciers,
Bidding Goodbye" to the many
pleasant friends whom we had met at
Munich we boarded the train one at
ternoon In August and turned our
faces southwark. Ny companion was
a young artist from Ohio who agreed
to abandon the palette and brush for
u sholt vacation and seek with me
adventures in the wild scenery Of the
Tyrol. Our plans comprised q tramp
through the less accessible portions Of
the Tyrol to the Italian frontier
whence we were to abandon the prim.
tive style of travelling and return to
the 18th century and its conveniences.
We sped onward for several hours.
Leaving Germany behind we crossed
the Austrian border and were under q
pie and customs. Hurrying past the
reached Jenbach, where we strapped
our knapsscks on our backs and ex-
changed our former situation for that
Of tramps, "children of nature" free
and untrammeled by the requirements
of society. In drifting away from
modern civilization there IL certain
relief in the consciousness of being
free from criticism. So we started of
briskly and with light thoughts ready
in all respects and enjoying the splen'
did scenes and novelties, which were
soon to be set before US. Tramping
is the easiest matter in the world II
one only thinks 30 and goes at it In the
right way; and exceedingly healthful
and refreshing after spending several
months In q continual round of sight
seeing among the cities of the old
world.
We turned our backs on Jenbach
and struck the Zillerthal. Our first
days march ended at an Inn above
Zell 300 feet above the sea, where we
were driven by the storm which over
took us. We had not long to wait for
company, for ip q few moments q
party Of Germans from the opposite
direction Joined us in hearty meal
served in Tyrolian fashion, good,
plain and satisfactory. Shortly after
ward we heard the sweet and harmO-
NOUS bells with which In Switzerland
and TyrUl the shepherds love to adorn
their herds and the opening door adj
mitted a really true shepherd and
shepherdess. They were dressed just
as in the pictures over which l had SO
often dreamed when the third reader
was my daily companion, never ex-
pecting to meet them face to face.
They were the jolliest chance cOmpan-
ions that 1t has ever been my lot to
meet and while / played a humble
accompaniment on the guitar they
danced and sang in their own way un-
til a late hour, and 'all went merry
AS q marriage bell" until we became
aware that If we desired to make an
early start and long journey the next
day, longer dissipation would not be
advisable. But we were not yet to be
Of sleep, for the most magnificent
array Of the elements Imaginable call
ed all sleep or ideas Of retiring from
our minds and held u enchanted.
Cur inn stood on precipice overlook.
ing the Zillerthal, or valley Of Zeil.
The valley extended away on our
right, and its continuation on the left
was lost by sudden bend. The
huge mountains far away formed a
dark back ground to the scene, while
nesting at their foot was Zell, a mere
handful of tiny houses in the distance.
A flash Of lightning lighted up the
scene, already dark, and like the
swoop of directors baton called
forth crash, as il the combined in.
struments in an immense orchestra
had united in an Introductory burst.
We were above the clouds aud looking
down we were astonished at the beau
tiful tints which played along the
edges and tops of the gray masses of
yapor. The lightning danced from one
side to the other in bewildering
chase now dyeing everything the
palest pink, changing to delicate law
ender and finally with a magnificent
flash of ruddy light and burst of
sound dashed off over the neighboring
mountains like the flight of a bespan-
glec fairy across \ stage. Slowly the
clouds broke up and the rain ceased,
and when we awoke the next morn.
ing the sky was cloudless and the sun
riding high in the heavens, admonish.
ing us our day was shorter than we
wished. SO hastily drinking a cup of
black coffee we babe our genial hosts
adieu, and strobe away.
A few minutes before crossing into
Salzgammergan We stopped to watch
Tyrolese woman spinning fax on a
little wheel which she said was over q
hundred years old and which she
would have parted with for "what-
ha sl
WORTH" She thought that being 80
old its yslue had decreased. The
simple minded old woman had not
yet become acquainted with the value
of bric-a-brac and antiques. Looking
ing up we caught sight Of the snow
capped SUBMITS OF the Reichenspitz,
u mighty mountain of ice and snow.
The Zillerthal is interesting chiefly
for its fine Tyrolese type ofinhabitants.
They are pastoral. The men are mOst-
ly large-built, and handsome. indus
trious and thorough specimens of Tyro-
lese character. The women are strong
with heavy but quite regular features
: and expression, full eyes, and the
most energetic and active workers.
The people are verv fond Of dancing
and music and we were given exhibi.
tions on several occasions. The old
native costumes are found only in the
places most remote from railroads and
the influence of modern civilization.
These elements have destroyed in
nearly all parts Of Europe the artistic
Z character of dress and hampers De-
culiar to past generations, by the in
PRODUCTION of fashionable styles of
dress and later costumes, and it Is only
by striking off independently from
The hplfRl track l.,N