Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-17
Additional Locals.
Measre HRmm ett and Pierce
A.WheeI In Europe.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

At Lenk we went in to see the baths.
Rheumatics and people afflicted with
skin diseases stay in the water four or
FIVE hours at time.
There are a number Of large hotels
here ard doubtless the proprietors make
fortunes every year if they are all like
the fellow with whom We took lunch.
The little Swiss children are the fun
niest mortaIs-little children here about
the size of Mary, and even smaller, dress
in long dresses, put up their hair in
knot, wear a red handkerchief around
it and look for all the world like mini
allure editions Of their mamas, and all
the children as we'll as men wear ire
mendously heavy hob nailed shoes end
90 clickety clack up and down the
Streets. i tell you Swi zerland Is all
very pretty to read about, to see pic
lures of and to visit, but don't talk about
living here. The thing that surprises
me is that anyone is willing to do SO
when there are so many better places.
The peasants are a rd-working set,
and they look it;all are stoop shouldered
crooked backed, heavy and slouchy and
have no doubt stiff from continuous
exposure to the elements. One seldom
sees, outside of the guides, an interest
ing face or one that shows any evidence
of education or refinement. The amount
of hard work that Swiss goes thro' is
appalling. We see little tots scarce 9
years old trudgng up the hills with
baskets half as big as themselves strap,
ped to the back. got a good snap
shot of one today.
TUESDAY Noon.
We are now in the garden of a little
Wirtshaft at Frutegen and waiting for
our dinner which is to consist of veal
outlets and beer. Last night we spent
at the Hotel Welstrubel on the top Of
the Gemmi. 1t was cold, much like
late in November. Had a splendid
nights rest and arose at this morning;
by 6 finished breakfast and at 6:15 star.
ted to 60 down the Gemmi. On the
northern side, all around us were like
the illustration in Dante's Inferno a
vast illimltable world OF solitude bare
of bird and beast, tree and shrub. 1t
was stupendous. All around great cliffs
raised their bare brown heads to the
sky thousands OF feet above us.
We soon fell in with two Swiss porters
who were bound our way. They could
speak German and we practiced upon
them for an hour as we Journeyed on.
After awhile our way led between
snow clad peaks close at hand but from
5000 to 1000 feet above US. Glaciers
came into view, the clouds wreathed
themselves around the mountains and
the most lovely valleys and gorges
opened as we progressed. 1t was the
most charming trip we have had. At
one place about half way over we looked
up a long winding valley, the opening
guarded by immense cliffs. Near the
base of one of them copious stream
issued apparently from hole in the
solid rock (Which lowered 1000 feet
above) and fell 10 beautiful cascade
200 or 300 feet.
THURSDAY, II A. NJ.
Held here by steady down pour;
are stopping at quaint old hotel, the
Friendshop, on the bank Of the Aar, a
swift, clear river. You must not think
of the bank as being green slope or a
muddy cliff, as such usually are at home
STONE walls confne the river and
houses are built to the waters edge,
except for a narrow footway 2 or 3 feet
wide. From my window the view is a
very pretty, quaint one-the houses
fronting on the river have long PROJECT.
ing spouts from the roofs 6 to 8 feet, or
even longer, and as the roots are very
steep, when there Is heavy rain the
water rushes down these spouts with
great velocity and shoots out into the
river. You may imagine how strange
it is to look down whole square and
see Is to 25 long s2outs sticking out
into the air and shooting streams of
water from heights varying from 20 to
80 feet. The funny part of it is that
when the rain falls but lightly the water
trickles out of these spouts directly
down upon the sidewalk and the passer'
by Is likely to catch it down his collar
unless he is quite deft with his umbrella.
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