Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1893-05-19
An Hour in the Alps,

The journey there was peculiar
one. The fare was fifty cents, and
the time two minutes. 1t was accom-
plishcd safely although we felt some
apprehension when passing through the
| dark unfamiliar straits. We landed
on a mountain 200 feet high: and
there spread out before us like a
beautiful panorama lay the spot for
which we had longcd. Of which we had
dreamed, but which we had hardly eX-
| peCtcd ever to see. To the north and
west over the lower hills, France
bounded our horizon: with the bcauti-
ful Lake Thun between, nestled
among the hills, a crystal gem in a
setting Of green. TO the right two
high mountains greet the eye. Be-
tween them is green valley down
which prcCiptOuS stream tumbleS
and on each side the rich meadows and
vineyards stretch back to the noun
tanS dotted here and there with a
| rustic farm house or villa. To the left
away in the distance magnificent falls
pour from the mountains and we can
almost hear their hollow roar. On
the south the lofty Yungfran picrccs
| the sky at an attitude Of fourteen
thousand five hundred feet. Its sum-
nit crowned with perpetual snow and
standing SO stiff and still frOwnS on us
coIdly. But we smile and rather pre-
| fer it to the SUItry air Of jackson Park.
Here the sky is perfection. Zephyr
| clouds floating about aimlCSSly, and
| all Indefinite and idle. Most suggest
| i've OF rcpOSC, No wonder that Stan
| ley came here to renew his strength
after his experience in the heart Of
Africa. The atmosphere is Sni gCncr
| is. 1t has Il blue tint altogether its
own: and the chariot clouds Of mist
rising from canon here or rolling
down mountain side there give the
picture a dreaming Of expression that
speaks of rest. But we are recalled to
ourselves by the scene 1T our feet.
Here path is mOwn down the side of
the peak to the edge of the cliff over
which we look down hundreds Of feet
to the valley below where cattle and
sheep are grazing. At another place
steps out in the stone lcaG down the
side to green meadow where Il group
of hcrdSmcn are SmOkingand spinning
their yarns. Down another Slopc hid
den from view by the beCtling Crag
over which we look lies that interest
ing old town. Bcrne. which gives its
name to this part Of the Alps. Here
covering the rocks on which we stand
grow soft moSsnS and LiChcnS in the
cranncS. and al our side a RhOdOden-
drOn in full bloom: and there in the
sand are some plants with blossoms
quite like our common little dandcllOn.
| How we long to pluck a poSey for a
reminder of the visit. but alas. it is
forbidden. After at we are in the
dOmniOnS Of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition and guards abound on
every hand.
This panorama was painted by three
celebrate Swiss artists. Eugene Bur
nand. Band-Bovy and +. Furet. And
they with twenty-five helpers were
nearly two years in painting it. The
canvas has surface Of more than
thirty thousand square feet. And it
required three thousand pounds OF
Daint to cover it. In France it was
received with great admiration and
delight: and the cross of the Legion
of Honor was presented to the artists.
The second week Of the exposition
has been very satisfactory to the
management. The attendance is in
creaSing as the weather becomes
warmer, The number of visitors for
the first three days of this week being
equal to that of the last five days of
last week. and nearly double that of
the corresponding days Of the Cen
tenniaI exposition. The State build
ingS, many of which have been in a
backward condition, are nearing com
plction and.one by one being dedicated
TO one unacquainted with the
gigantic proportions Of the exposition
and their way Of doing business, the
rapidity with which the work is
executed is marvellous. In the morning
there may be wet dismal looking
SPOT covered with debris and in the
evening it will be a level, green SWard
with blooming flowers sending t0rth
their sweet perfumes.
Quite a cOmmOtiOn was created one
dav this week by boy who was order
ed by Columbian Guard to forego |
the pleasure of his cigarette, dropping
it into a box of excelsior. Very soon
tirY wreath Of blue smoke was curl
ing upward and a Guard turned in a
fire alarm, which soon brought out
the whole department. In the mean
time the Guard had bethought him.
self of the hand fire cXtlnguisher, ana
about the time of the arrival or the
fire engine the fire was put out. Peo,
ple intending to visit the Far need
fear no danger from fire. win the
presence of so many guards everywhere
day and night and fire department.
so complete and efficient IN every way,
serious fire would be very dltficult.
May 10, 1893. -
ADAM ANTISE.