Smyrna times., 1897-10-13

the hopes that we would get q view of |
the adjacent country from abovt the
lower strata of clouds. At Vitlnau,
the journey is greatly facilitated by a
railway which winds its way to the
summit, or as they say here, the Kuhn.
The railway is constructed on the rack
and piniOn system, the gauge being of
usual width. Between the rails runs
the toothed rail, which consists of two
rails placed side by side and connected
with cross-bars at regular intervals.
Into these spaces thus formed, runs a
cogged wheel under the locomotive,
which is always placed below the pas
senger car. The highest gradient is
25.9 : 100. The territory passed is, as
usual, widely varied. The north side
of the mountain is precipitous, but the
south side consists of broad terraces
and gentle slopes, covered with fresh,
green pastures, which support upward
of four thousand head of cattle, and
planted near the base with fig, almond
and chestnut trees. AS we ascend, the
vegetation gradually diminishes until
we have nothing but the evergreen,
and at the same time the view grows
more grand. 1t seemed to us that the
car possessed some charm, for, as we
continued to ascend, the clouds kept
on lifting until we were near the sum-
NIT when they descended on us in full
fury. After reaching the summit we
went into the Hotel Rigi-Kulm and
had lunch. Before we were finished,
the clouds had entirely lifted and
witnessed one of the grandest sights of
my life. We had spread before us
panorama $50 miles in diameter, with
all, or nearly all of the loftiest peaks
of the Alps, with the exception of Mt.
Blanc) on all sides of us. We moved
around on the crust of the snow, which
was about ten or twelve feet deep on a
level, and looked at the view from
every possibly point. 1t was q scene
that l will remember all of my life,
and the equal of which L never expect
to see again. For mountain scenery
alone, the Rockies are hard to beat,
but with the additional charm of lakes
on all sides, Switzerland easily takes
the "bun." On our descend, the at
mosphere was much clearer and we had
a decidedly better view of the different
canOns, etc. Left Lucerne about six
in the evening and arrived in Berne,
the Capitol, at about ten.
THE CAPITOL OF SWITZERLAND.
FOURTH DAY-Arose early and made
hurried inspection of the town.
Berne, the capitol of Switzerland, is q
city of about fifty thousand inhabitants
and has been the seat of government
since 184S. 1t is also the seat of the
University of Berne, and contains the
central Office of the International Postal
Union. One of the chief characters.
tics of the city, is the number of foun
tains, which adorn Gin most cases. it,
streets. Down in the old business por
ton of the town is curious clock which
announces the approach of each hour by
the growing of a cock, while just befor,
the hour, troop of bears march il
procession around a sitting figure Il
figures of men in bronze, which strik
the bell with heavy sledge Beins
the heraldic emblem of Berne, the bea
frequently recurs. Just across the Ny
deck bridge is the Barengraben, o.
Bears Den, where Bruin is maintaine,
from long usuage, at the cost of the mu
nicipality. In the Kornhaus, in whic
: the weekly corn market takes place
! there is an immense cask containing
about $500 gallons of wine. The Fed
5 eral buildings are quite pretty and ar
approached by a handsome flight c
steps. In front of the Department c
4 War, there is a very pretty fountain
figure of Berne, in bronze, ON a pt
! destal adorned with figures of the fou
: seasons. Left Berne at two a'cloc
Y for Geneva. Shortly after leavin
: Berne passed through Frieberg, whic
is on the boundary between the Frenc
and German Switzerland. Most of til
inhabitants speak French, althoug
quite a number still retain THEN Gel
man. Most of the journey, we wen
( following a narrow, fertile valley, graC
ually widening as we neared Lausann,
AS we came to what seemed a sudde
o ending of the valley, we shot into
d small tunnel, beyond which, a view {
# singular beauty, embracing a create
part of the Lake of Geneva and IL
Q surrounding mountains is suddenl
}. disclosed. In the direction of We've.
d which is not itself visible, are the Pl
q iades, the Dent du Jaman, the broG
valley of the Rhone and the Save
i mountains. Upon arriving at Lal
:. same, took a crrriage and drove dow
d to Ouchy, on the shores of Lake G
q neva, where we took a steamer to IL
city, arriving there about 5.15. I'll
s. atmosphere on the lake was not as goo
n as it could have been, but the view
r obtained were very pretty.