Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-27

beautiful statue. 1t is built in the Gothic
style Of architecture, and is a MASTERPIECES
of its kind. From its tallest spire, which
we ascended, we had fine view of the city
and surrounding country. 1t was sight
worth seeing. We visited also the church
of St. Ambrose, who was Bishop of this
city, and died here in 397, A. D. The
church is as quaint and as old fashioned as
the date to which it belongs. 1t was st.
Ambrose who converted and baptized st.
Augustine at the age of 80, and likely in
this old church. st. Augustine afterward
became Bishop of Hippo, in Africa, and
was tanned for his learning and sanctity.
Thursday, May 80, we arrived at Lucerne,
Switzerland, passing through the Saint
Gothard Tunnel. This town stands on the
northern shores of Lake Lucerne, or the
Lake of the -Four Cantons. 1t required no
small engineering skill to construct rail-
road through those rugged mountains. We
passed through tunnel after tunnel till we
came to the long Gothard Tunnel. From
high elevation, several railroad tracks could
be seen at various lower grades. These
tracks, we were told, we had passed over
and all were parts of the same road on
which We were travelling. 1t was mystery
to us how it was done. We could not solve
the problem. The engineers did.
POPULAR WITH TOURISTS.
1.-THE town of Lucerne is great resort for
tourists We met with several English peo-
pie there At that time snow could be seen
on the mountains, which appeared at no
great distance from the town, while the trees
on the banks of the lake were covered with
green leaves and blossoms. From the town
could be seen two high mountains which
outtopped all others. These were the Pi-
1,4r, oh foin Tho fo-
er takes its name from Pontius Plate, who
condemned our Savior. Some time after
passing that iniquitous Judgment, PLATE
fell into disgrace, lost his government and
was banished by the Emperor, Caligula,
who reigned from A. D. 81 to Al. These
people say that it was to this place he was
banished, and here he ended his miserable
life, having drowned himself in the lake at
the foot of :his mountain which from him
takes its name.
Friday, May 81, we made an excursion
on the lake to Vitznau, at the foot of the
RIghi Mountain, and assembled by railroad
to its top. The distance from Vitznau to
Righi Cullen, the top station, is AZ miles,
The total rise is 4, 4S7 feet. The road ascends
continually the grade varying from $40 to
25 in 100 The average rise is 20 4.10 in 100.
The ordinary gauge is used, but between
the two usual rails runs a third rail with
wrought iron teeth, which teeth are caught
by other teeth in connection with the loco
motive. The usual speed up and down is
three miles an hour, steam being the motive
power in the ascent, and compressed air in
the descent. The boiler is vertical, and is
designed to suit the unusual conditions un-
der which it works. The railway was opened
for business May 26, 1871. There is SIM
liar road in operation to the top of Mount
Washington, New Hampshire.
From the top of the Righi Mountain
could be seen rugged,
SNow-CAPPED MOUNTAINS
in profusion, lakes, townssand villages, and
a level cultivated plain toward the north.
In many places around the lake of Lucerne
are "reminiscences of William Tell, the
Washington OF Switzerland. According to
the census of 1880 Lucerne had population
of II 800, IL, 900 of whom are Catholics, and
9, 900 belonged to the reformed church.
"We arrived at Paris Saturday, June l.
Here, after a stay of three days, during
which the Exposition and other notable
places in the city were visited, the members
of the third section OF the pilgrimage sepa-
rated, some going to Germany, some to diff
ferent parts of France, some to England, to
Ireland and other places, while others pro-
longed their stay in Paris.
'To attempt a description Of Paris exceeds
the time and space at my disposal. 1t must
be seen to be understood and appreciated at
its value. In many respects it surpasses
New York, London and every other city we
passed through on the pilgrimage. In and
contiguous to it are beautiful woods and
parks, fine broad and shaded streets, called
boulevards, monuments of every kind, mag
nifcent churches and buildings of all de-
splendid galleries of paintings |
and statuary, the streets scrupulously clean,
being washed off every morning, and COM
plete system of sewerage to carry off every
thing offensive"