Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-01

crowd of some 1900 stone angels and
things, and with splendid view of the
Alps and the Apprentices.
In company with this kindly Italian
gentleman | visited Venice, the city of the
Adriatic, ard was much impressed by its
silent waterways, where the gondolas fit
to and fro just as had read in song and
story One moonlight night we lay under
the bridge OF the Rialto, and listened to
delightful serenade. | closed my eyes and
thought of the meeting of ShYlock and
Antonio, Of Cesdemona, of Byron and his
poetic fancies copjured up by these beau
tiful scenes. And again We were by the
Lake of Como, where the prisoner of Chill
lon pined in his lonely prison, and where,
but the other day, pretty salvation army
lassie was incarcerated for persistently
| leading her soldiers through the streets in
defiance of the local police regulations. 1t
was here, too, that the Prince Of Como in
Bulwer Lytton's Lady of Lyons owned
a splendid palace, to which he wished TO
lead his fair Pauline.
After short stay in Lombardy we
started off for Switzerland in the machine,
as tie heat was too oppressive in Italy,
this net being the season for visiting that
country. As we travelled along Mr.. Cali
leo said that it was all humbug about the
Italians vowing vengeance upon Americans
in consequence Ct the shooting affair at
New Orleans, and indeed | could only
agree to what he said, as during the whole
| OF my stay in Italy was treated with the
utmost politeness and consideration. OF
course | found that they appreciate money
there as much as in the states. About mid
night the aeronaut said we were passing
over the lake Of the -Four Forest Cantons,
CT LuCerne He asked if | would like to
descend upon tie summit of the Rigi,
where should be certain to meet a num-
Der of Americans waiting to see the sun
rise, which is particularly splendid sight.
| agreed, and in a few minutes we had
anchored on the top of the mountain. On
leaving the car what was my surprise and
delight to hear Enthusiastically American
voices singing
when Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah"
in chorus. | was advancing toward them
when there was loud report, and look
ing back | saw that the cable of the flying
machine. had given away from the pressure.
The aerostat shot upward into the night
and WIS almost Immediately lost to view.
One man, who had seen us arrive, seemed
to think that ] might be an uncanny spirit
| of evil, but FASTENED to assure him that
| was simply an American citizen taking
a walk abroad. We fell into conversation,
mostly on the curious railroad customs on
| the continent. Here about eight or ten
| persons are boxed up together in a COM
partment, and you have no opportunity
of stretching your leg, such we have in
cur cars. Every now and then, often in
the dead of night, the conductor comes
along and suddenly thrusts his head in at
the window and asks to see the passengers
| tickets. We had coed deal Of fault
to find with the hotels, too, which, al
though very fine and pleasantly situated
many of them, do not quite come up to
the American ideas of what these estab.
| lislments should be. 1t seems to me that
we have accomplished more in America
in many respects, in a century than
| Europe has achieved in many centuries.
| refer more particularly to inventions Of
different kinds for saving time and max
ing life more comfortable. It is a mis-
take to suppose that you can travel on the
continent of Europe aud thoroughly ap-
preciate the sights to be met with there
without knowing little of the principal
languages, French will suffice, however,
fer really with French you can 60 all over
the world.
| | was conversing with my new ac-
quaintance on these matters VIXEN the sun
rose from behind the mountains shedding
undesirable splendor round about US.
The sight was most unearthly in its
beauty, and | will not attempt to write
anything about it. The morning mists
rolled amid the mountain peaks and for
med sort of sea around them, so that
they stood out like islands AS we looked
| I @ of fol no
ear. which gradually grew in intensity
until it had risen to deafening roar very
suggestive of the Fall of Niagara Ny
companion said we were standing by the
celebrated Falls Of Giesbach (?), but how
we got there was a mystery to me. Well,
Americans are justly proud of the lakes
and waterfalls and canons in The states,
but they will find many marvels in Swift
zerland, which, on the whole, is perhaps
the most beautiful of the countries | saw
during my tour. This was the opinion of
most Of the people ] met from this side of
the water.
Then, as l gazed at the mighty curtain
OF falling water, upon which the sun
threw a rainbow glory, | seemed to be
slowly mesmerized. | saw tall, bearded
gentleman before ne; we were standing
Paris, and looking down upon the waving
foliage of the Tuileries Garden. [ found
that my companion was none other than
the Grand Duke Alexis, brother of the
emperor of all the Russias. He had just
arrived from Germany, and tremendous
crowd was collected around the hotel and
yelling, "Vive la Russia! Vive la Car!
Vive IA Grand Duel while the band in
the garden played the Russian national
anthem bareheaded. | had a mind to
ask question or two about Behring sea
business, but he said we would go for a
drive, When we reached the carriage |
found that the c0achman had all the stars
and stripes fixed to his whip as sort of
flagstaff. There was a pretty strong breeze
and the folds of the flag tapped in my
face. Just then | heard woman's voice
singing, low and sweet, the touching
words Of Home, Sweet Home Oh,
how sweet it was! never heard anything
so lovely. Tears came to my eyes; | felt
as If my heart would burst
Rat-tat-tat- tat! It's10 o'clock, sir.
called you at o'clock, and thought
would knock again, as you said you were
going to take the train for the north this
afternoon"
sat up Tin bed) and rubbed my eyes.
1t was in London hotel, and had been
dreaming my tour Of the continent over
again. The tapping of the star spara led
banner in the Paris cab was simply the
noise made by the chambermaid as she
busted table outside my bedroom door,
and she it was who had been so sweetly
singing Home Sweet Home"
Sol COLEMAN.
London, England, Aug. II,