The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08
EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY.
syr1xrRLANp,s FEDERAL FAST
A Day OF ThsskseivinE and Reie'ous ob-
,.rv,t,or,-Her Curious Elections.

tsmber Is set aside In Switzorlhnd ior IN
FEDERAL Fast. and 1t has been on several oc
cnsions since its institution strictly enloine'
nv n proclam alton OF the ConseH d Etd' In uit
isrent cantons. Tho date OF this day OF penano
+. a, once ancient in its origin, It's Injunction
y.rv precise and It's character sinRularly In
.onaistent with tho celebration II had In view
AFTER the departure OF Napoleon l. for st
uo,ena. Switzerland found herself freed from
,he yoke laid upon her neck by the omnipoten
Enpsror, and able to recover her autonomy
rbs Dieta," now bearing the name OF Fed
a,aI Council" decreed that every year thii
.u,picious event should be COMMUNICATED b.
celebration taking place on the third SUNDAY
=, s.ptember The festivities were to be OF ar
.Yclusiyely religious nature. and every citizen
u.,s 70 visit the churches and offer UP thanks.
elylngs to his Maker.
Tho whole population has always piously
,on,ormed to this,patriotio duty as 1t was laid
unon t. From early dawn. on the appointed
day. tho faithful flock to their temples" as
tbe strict disciples Of Calvin call their places
NJ worship to distinguish them emphatically
from those OF the Catholics and Lutherans.
specal and heightened services are held.
and earnest sermons preached by the
nastors But whatever the faith. religion or
,.ct to which q Swiss belongs. whether ma
tive born or one by adoption. he never shirks
the public manifestation OF fasting and prayer.
implorng Divine assistance and protection
for the prosperity Of the fatherland.
Ifany one canton has suffered from the visl-
tations OF excessive snow. hail. or destructive
svslanches. on the third Sunday OF September
sollections are made for the victims and gen.
erously responded to.
Beyond the proclamations OF tho Federal
Council, the Cbnseil d Etdt OF each canton OK
horts those under Its control to the fear OF God.
The observance OF justice. and tho practice Of
rood deeds. Shops and places OF business are
Theoretically closed. Sabbatical observance
being BY no means q general rule. and there Is
no attempt at any kind Of manual labor.
At the close Of the religious services. toward
4 or In the afternoon the devotees return to
their homes and partake Of q frug Il collation..
The more strict among them. however. fast
I'LL the evening" Some few years ago slight
relaxation crept into the austerity OF tho rules.
On tho eve OF the fast day the young people
Of both sexes gathered q plentiful harvest OF
grapes in the vineyards to be used for the
open tarts in vogue In the country. On the re-
turn from the Temple" on the Sunday the
relations and friends Of each family assisted
In the making Of the tarts with all the mastery
Of long experience. and now the delicaoy is
regard awarded BY the Englishman to his
Christmas plum pudding.
But in spite OF this gastronomic recreation
tho day maintains It's sober and stern charac-
te. 1t is. however. whispered that some rec
reants are habitually called across the frontier
BY important business precisely at that date.
and that they spend twenty-four hours In
mundane pleasures: but there are free-think-
ers in all communities. and It must be con-
fessed that the deserters, II any. are chiefly
strangers or lately naturalized residents. The
loyal sons OF Helvetia consider it patriotic
duty to conform strictly to tho regulations OF
the day as they obtain in the TWENTY-FIVE can
tons Of the confederation.
The Inconsistency OF celebrating deliverance
from oppression and reoonquered freedom by
fasting and psnance remains inexplicable, and
strikes the spectator as the most incongruous
fashion Of expressing national rejoicing.
Switzerland is q confederation Of self gov
erning States Its Government 10. as 1t were
adoube one. for above the Federal sovereignty
there Is the sovereignty of the oantons. Each
has It's own Constitution. which 1t revises at
will. but always In the spirit of republican de-
mocracy. Some have maintained in the very
heart OF parliamentary Europe tho ancient
custom OF calling onoe year on all active citi-
bers OF the cantonal Government
The DEGREES OF these meetings. called Lands
oemende. arc uncontrolled and undisputed. for
they alone have the right to make or repeal
laws that are without appeal
This institution dates from the thirteenth
century In the cantons where 1t does not existit
has been replaced By an obligatory referendum.
according to the articles added to the Federal
Constitution in 1874.
These popular assemblies are conducted on
similar principles with only slight variations
Of outward forms. At Sarnen. q pretty little
town with about 1000 Inhabitants. the capital
OF the half canton OF Unterwald the Higher
the proceedings are as follows:
On the left OF the town Is hill crowned bya
plateau called the LandenberR. on which.
since 1647 the Ldndsgemeinde has been
held. On the day fixed professional cortege
is formed. headed by the band and body of
drummers belonging to the Forty-seventh bat
TALON Of infantry Behind them four stalwart
men with flowing boards. wearing the cos
d hs century
der an enormous buffalo horn, support an
usher OF equal liz imposing stature. also clad in
bOyant' sword without the scabbard. and he
carries the cantonal banner Of one white
o z, one req stripe on which figures the efigy
y, Another usher carries aloft, hut with point
9sr1pWsnward. long sword symbol OF authority. |
tbs group lie followed BY the Landsiahhaher
or Landaman, This functionary takes his place |
under small awning erected purposeIy for |
PIN and the authorities at the northern ex- |
uomity OF the plateau and commanding the |
people who bareheaded are crowded on the |
narrow space covered with m oss- grown stones. |
Ihose who have the right to vote number |
AAoout 1900. At gesture OF the Landaman |
they sit down and cover their heads.
he stage on which this scene Ia enacted |
lends y strange. impressive character. The |
gigantic snow-capped mountains that sur
round tho va ley rear their crests against the |
deep blue sky in halo OF dazzling light; |
somewhat lower belt Of sombre fir trees d. |
Mdes the white robsd heights from the fertile |
region OF bright green meadows. FRUIT laden |
she pastures whore the sleek cattle shake their
ehiming bells
The Landanan rises to make " speech: his
sheereetiG and intelligent featureL are pronled |
WIZ singular clearness against Tho intense
EEhite OF the mountains Of the MelcGthal. and
~ utterances are concise and to the point |
livery aNeIy citizen has the privilege to propose a
Iy "a and the right to speak To those
FAMILIAR with the agitation and tumult OF pub
~, ra meetings elsewhere. the dignity and perfect
epose ol these Swiss gatherings Is very strik-
TX Ivy they seem to realize that they can only
~ Tree on the condition Of respecting the
vs,euQm OF others. The Landaman direct the
tto oe he gives aloud the name of each candi-
yhlt, luebtlnQ his n thair