Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-05-02

chensn and stopped for dinner. not :
fake Of snow was. to be seen except
on the tops Of the surrounding noun
tains.
Passing through Amstsg and Erst-
field. (near which is the Schiossberg
Glacier) We paused for moment in
the village Of Altdolf. the capital Of
the Canton Of Uri. where Tell ID said
to have performed his celebrated ap-
pie trick.
At Fluelen We reached an arm ol
Lake Luzsrn and, soon after passed
through tunnel under Tells Platte
where stands Tells Chapel. one ol
lths historic landmsrks Of switzer-
land.
At Rothkreuz is the starting point
of one Of the two Rigi railways. On
the roof of the station at this place
are several huge quartz crystals, al
most perfectly formed and over foot
in length.
Reaching Lucerne at about seven
o'clock. we hurried to the Hotel Gyg-
ne and left our luggage.
Lucerne is beautifully situa. I'D at
the foot Of Lake Lucerne, or the Lake
Of the Four Cantons as the Swiss call
il, on both sides Of the river Reuss
which here flows out of the Lake.
We celebrated our return to Ger.
man speaking country by adjourning
at once to little German 'restaura.
ton and ordering an honest beefsteak
and glass Of that elixir of life, Ba-
varian beer. Two weeks of italian
cooking had taught US the full worth
of such repast as this and I can as.
sure the reader we did ample justice
to our modest little supper.
The view from our hotel windows
was exceedingly fine. To the left rose
the two needle like spires of the
Cathedral of st. Leger near which
one must pass in going to see the ia
mous Lion of Lucerne." Thorwald-
sens great work, which is carved in
the solid cliff.
To the right and straight ahead
(still looking from our windows) was
the lake with number of steamers
aud picturesque saiIboats lying at the
wharves. In the distance toward the
proud heads of the Rigi. Pilatus. aud
a dozen other less pretentious giants,
all capped and shrouded in fog. To
places these rose abruptly from the
water. as though half submerged !;
and, indeed. this is the case for the
lake is said to be in parts, thousand
feet deep.
Historically the Lake Of the Four
Cantons is famous in the annals of
Switzerland and the world. It's
stormy bosom may be said to have
been the cradle of freedom and among
these gigantic mountains live memo
ries of Tell, Won Winkleried, and the
sturdy patriots of the forest cantons,
the heroes of the early wars for in-
dependence.
In the year 1921 che canton of Uri
obtained from the Emperor Henry
VII charter specially granting it
freedom from the authority of the
powerful house of Hapsburg; and,
sixty years later. 1921. representatives
of Uri, Schwytz and Midwalden
made written confederation. the
original document being still preserv.
ed among the archives of Schwyiz.
On the 18th of December, 1915. Leo
pold of Austria. with brilliant array
of knights and the flower of the Ans
trian chivslry was completely defeat
ed at Morgarten by the peasant noun
taineers and thus the stability of the
Swiss Confederation was assured.
This was one Of the earliest and most
brilliant occasions when feudal might
gave way before the peoples right.
, celebrated character Of the olden
times in Lucerne was one Brother
Fritschi," soldier of such humorous
disposition that he became general
favorite throughout the whole land,
and, on more than one occasion, be
was forcibly seized and carried away
by persons or towns desirous of en-
joying his society. On ons occasion,
it is said. he was captured BY the peo-
pie Of Basle and when the news reached
Lucerne the town council declared
war and notified the burgomaster oi
Basic that they would march to the
rescue within seven days. This they
actually did and when they arrived
at Basle they were met by the burgo-
master and town officers and an hu-
morous speech of welcome was made
by Fritschi from the top window Of q
building. After few days of feasting
and merriment the officials of Lucerne