New-York tribune., 1891-08-30
SWISS DAYS.
THE INDUSTRY OF THE COUNTRY-THE
GREAT CELEBRATION.

GREAT CELEBRATION.
weesen, Aug s.-The scenery which passes in re-
view before the traveller going by train from Paris to
Geneva is agreeable, but not remarkable-lke good
deal Of the contemporaneOus poetry. Recalling IL,
chiefly long lines Of Lombardy p6plnrs. They
dominate the landscape like many majestic sennes.
The father of the lady whose maiden escapes me
at this writing, but who the readers OF Our Mutual
Friend Will recollect, became Mrs. Wfer, had pas
sion for the tall So too as Mrs. wilfer fond OF
telling her offspring had Frederick the Great. said
10 myself the train rolled along, II these popars
could be changed into men-and in the fading light
they so much resembled giant soldiers that the fancy
was not forced one-how eagerly Frederick would
have snapped them up for HIS army and how strongly
they would have appealed TO Mrs. Wlfer's father as
the stuff Of which ideal sOnsin-law made. Now
and then as the wind blew among them-not Frederick
and the other man, but the poplarsit though
some mysterious message or perchance the watchword
for the night, being passed along tho line. 1t Is
but fair TO add that there gay young lady In our
party on whom the poplars made radically different
impression. She had parted from Paris desperately in
love with II and protested that the poplars to be
regarded as so many exclamation points indicating the
surprise which the universe In general must feel 1t
contemplates person voluntarily consenting to for
sake that fascinating capital for anywhere ese Pos
sbly did injustice to the scenery in taking note only
Of the poplars. But passing from France to Swzer
land has such acute realizing Of the
glories Of mountain and lake which await him.
that he is intent upon what lie is to see in
the land Of which Geneva is the gateway to
the neglect of what he Is seeing between Paris and the
gateway. 1 would not be surprised to learn that
gentlemen on their way to the Mermaid" to sup with
Shakespeare gave small attention the good people
whom they encountered as they walked along
Not an interesting city Geneva apart from its asso
Tha Iol rhI Icb bea ire ig n
beauty, some OF the drives about it, especially tho
one from which you get the view Of Mt Blanc, arc
most attractive, while as high an authority in the
realm OF the beautiful Mr.. Aldrch has pronounced
the excursion from Geneva to Chamounix to be
equaIled only by that from Chamounix to Geneva.
The city is prosaic, not to say dull II has no flavor
speaking after the manner Of Boston, II lacks atnos
phere 1t does not suggest Switzerland. The char
actcrstic things worth seeing which 1t has to show
strangers are few. OF from the point OF
view Of ecclesiastical or literary history it has abiding
distinction and interest All the same, from tho
poiYt of view OF man In hack doing Europe in
accordance with rule Of the survival OF the ttest
IL IS by 10 means engaging place In spite Oh
"he fine view" Of Mont Blanc which 1t affords Well
am not so sure about the fine view. The day on which
our party was driven ont along the road which COM
mands Mont Blanc was clear one There was indeed
slight haze I'm the fnrthest distance, but the sun
was shining brightly. And yet when the driver pulled
ND and pointing with his whip remarked, NJ Blanc''
VIC gazcd as guided, only to have a youthful member
of orr marty inquire in q voice full OF Disappointment
ais that Mont Blanci5 1t certainly did not LOOK the
monarch peak OF the Alps. Distance lent diSehchant
ment. Barring the cap. it might have been a
peak OF the Catsills of the White Mountains wme
the snow cap might easily have passed for cou cap
1t failed TO ITSELF at all events II dd NOT ioo
up. "Why, confidently expected" SAID 'ns !ounS
person lust mentioned, "that II l drove over
this road could pick out Mont Blanc as readily Us
could have picked out Jumbo in herd OF elepnan's
over there where the driver points there are neru
of mountains but only know that that one Is nlo"'
Dlarc because he tells that 1t is.' reralleu lo
repyinG to this criticism. seeing that roo was iPN
ine Mont Blanc largely by faith rather than 0is""