The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-11
;itten for THr DEMOCRAT }

I y
landed at kOrschacn, a pleasant
SWISS village, v b ere We
Witnessed the celebration OF a
national feast day. BnslDess
vas practically suspended, tue
town elabor itely decor Iated with
/ tags aud all the InhaD tints adj
! loucued 70 the woods for the ell
| ioynent OF the holiday. Americans
can form no conception OF the de.
| I'ghful and caIeiesss @ay IN which
these people erjNy themselves on
such occasions. The celebration OF
tue birthday Of American indie
| pendcnce meauS the slaughter OF
innocent patriots, luebriate joi!ln-
cations aud the emp!oI ment OF cA-
tca medical force IN hospitals, but
We have no holidays where people
reiegate to oblivion desires for the
mighty dollar and enjoy them>
selves III lbllaut celebration where
pngilletlc disturbances and drunken
rows are nOn-eutities
Switzerland is peculiar aud
| htautIfui country. All portions ait
! hiliy. Villages are few but houses
are densely scattered through
;ue country and IN almost every
house there are looms used IN tie
manufacture Of the celebrated Swiss
lawns. You cen ride for miles and
miles and never see a cultivate q
field, a growing spear of any kind
Of grain or even an onion OF pump.
lin IN course Of growth. All their
proyl>lous are shipped In from
other countries and If importation
OF food supplies were suddenly
i 'ohl5Ited the whole nation would
s 2nItlv DIE Cf starvation. Ere
qlentlv id we pass people on
c. imam roads bot rarely did We
meet anJ one IN Switzerland.
Few large factories exist, every
house Is miniature manufacturing
establishment aud the members tf
the household are both proprietoCs
and employees. These peopl, are
extremely happy. They cherish
fond traditions OF William Tell and
glorious historical associations Of
their little republic, hich has ex-
listed for centuries surrounded hy
de>potiSms AMI m0narchies, Their
republican government Is vastly
inferior to our; still the contrast
between the freedom which the
eommonahty enjoy and the se!vility
Of peasants under foreign mon
aEchteS is distinctly noticeable. I'm
mense revenues for the support Of
coya, Incidence and gambling do
not drain the natlon's supplies, her
srns are not compelled 10 spen d the
ocst portion OF their manhood in
ne army, men feel the dignity Of
their manhood, class distinctions in
costumes are unknown and bowiGg,
hueejiGg and raising hats are
manifestations CT lnterlorltv which
are never exhibited under the flag
u tie White Cross yepah.ic Happy,
independent and Tree these Iepub-
leans peacefully Ike nnmo!ested
by unri9aaant tlammels OF mon-
arch.es a:ld European politics
Owing 10 the mountainous cor.
dlt on OF the country We sent our
wheels from LGceGue to Geneva
aud Eegan tiave'ing by raj! or
"zu fuss We aSccude,l the Rigl
mountain uy foot. u one of the
bic, ce satche.s was placed SUIT
cleut quantities Of chocolate, figs,
bread and butter to satisfy our ap>
Detites during the next nty-foGr
hours and the tedious climb was
then begun. At six o'cICck We.
reached The summit and despite the
chilling wlntry atmosphere enjoyed
the exquisite view which was e2.
tensive, commanding and beautiful
NejcstIc sLOwC'id Alpine peak
extended az far as the eye could
;.tne:r t. and clouds and sunehIne
alternately covered the tpotlrss
mountains Clouds would ell veiop
ali ont >oon be dl2peiled and slors
spark ed with diamond brlliiancy
as the last rays OF the SITTING sun
were reflected over the fields OF
white Ia striking contfasl 20 this
lmmacGiate Whlttness SIX lakes
tlugtd With ,!repe>t blue and walled
hy bills covered with luxuriGnt
vege' alton lay at our feet. Tie
extreme coldnass soon compelled us
TO desert tins realm Of enchautment
and seek hotel quarters. Several
hotels adapted To our financial
abilities were situated down the