The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-04

everywhere; we had unwittingly STUN
bled on convention of musical clubs;
more than 200 came, nearly all with a
large band and full ranks. 1t was esti-
mated that there were 1900 strangers in
the city, which only numbers 1900 peo-
pie.
Fortunately we reached there the day
before the greatest rush, or it would have
been utterly impossible to get any hotel
accommodations whatever. never be-
fore saw any city so covered with bunt-
ing; among the multitude OF flags l am
sorry to say ours was conspicuous by its
absence; so scarce were they, the only
consolation was that English flags were
equally few and far between. thought
it was not complimentary !of the Gene
vans to say the least, for these two ma
tionalities furnish the greater number of
visitors to that city.
We found that city altogether the best
residence place of any we visited, 1900 feet
above the sea, lying at the foot of the
most beautiful of the Swiss lakes, with
the clear green waters of the Rhone
rushing swiftly through the city; wide,
clean streets with slight grades, fine
buildings, and the brightest, breeziest
appearance generally, The hills are
further back from the shores than those
about the other Swiss lakes, thus leaving
broad margin about it, rising gradually
from the water, affording the choicest OF
villa sites, which have been largely built
upon. The city extends along both sides
OF the lake, but the largest portion is
grouped just at the foot In the centre,
on the lake shore is beautiful park
called the English Garden" because pro-
vided by residents of British ex-
traction: a charming place, hav-
ing green grass, splendid trees,
fountains, beds of flowers and shady
walks. All around the lake is broad
drive, and every building on it faces the
lake, so the scene is not spoiled by the
unsightly rear portions of buildings ex-
tending into the water, but you see the
sea wall, then the broad roadway, lined
by handsome buildings. The river is
spanned by several fine bridges, and the
lovely clear water is refreshing to look at
the current is, exceedingly swift, fast
which has been made use of within foul
years, by the city erectingia fine brick
building containing number of turbine
wheels, each one of thnm transmits l25C
horse power to peculiar machine,
European invention, which stores thu
power: this is sent all over the city, ano
rented to the various mill owners at
very cheap rate, yet affords fine prom
to the municipality. Not far below th'
city the Arve, a river of blue black watel
from the mountains unites with thu
RhOne, and the two colored waters f1ov
side by side for some distance befor'
they mingle, making very curious et
feet.
A nobleman died some time ago anC
left an immense sum of money to th'
city, and in his honor the citizens hav'
erected a splendid monument near tn
lake shore, standing in pretty littl
park.
There are number of hotels, many o
them large and handsome; most are OF
, the shore, having grand views over tn
lake and mountains. st. Peters Cathe
, dral, where Calvin preached, is sub
stantial structure Of grey stone, yer,
plain outside as wellsas in, though
chapel adjoining it is very handsome
Some of the old settees of Calvin's tim
! are still in the church, they are as stif
{ and straight as his doctrines, his chair i
D also kept there. VNear by is the hous
, where he lived, built about three side
: of court open toward the street;
3 house as gloomy as some of his ideas
Q The Hotel de Vile, plain building, /
n notable as the place where the Alabam
, claims commission sat, when Uncl
V Samuel came away with fifteen million
. of J. Bull hard cash.
Y Mt. Blanc is 40 miles from Geneva, bu
d in bright, cloudless day no more beau
n tiful object was ever looked at by morta
. eye. The next day was just such a
d one as we desired, and words cannot dc
: scribe the glory Of that mass of whit
+ rising up 10000 feet, not spot OF colo
. any where on it, but glistening in tn
s sunlight like frosted silver.
: The best view is had from little dis
I, Itance up the lake, so we took a boat an
q went out on the water; corner OF
7 nearby mountain hides a little OF MI
d Blanc. We could scarcely turn our eye
!, from the glorious vision, but after "
:. started back kept stopping and lookin
Q again and again. The whole snow
= range was plainly visible, the picture W
0 carried away in our minds was worth a
: the trouble of the whole journey.
S broad street leads from the railway sta
a ton to the lake, and Mt. Blanc (rightl
S named) fills up the scene as one look
n down this street.
! found out afterward that youn
!, American whose acquaintance we ha
q made, was climbing Mt. Blanc that yer
d day, was 80 hours in the snow: he cam
g back with his face terribly burned BY tn
d reflection Of the sun on the snow, hi
3 lips parched and split open; 1t was week
y before he fully recovered from the el
Q fects. Those who wish to climb sue
g mountains are welcome to the job, l pre-
fer to view such elevations from the fool
e where it is safe, and they look very muc
J. more beautiful from q little distance.
s great many lives have been foolishl
:, sacrificed by this climbing mania, whic
}. prompts people TO risk their lives. Mar
e Twain went 10 the top by telescope, hi
Q account of IL in the Tramp Abroad"