The age-herald., 1899-09-27
PAUL PRY WRITES OF SWITZERLAND Falls of the Rhine Are the Larg-
 est in Europe. FOUR BIRMINGHAM GIRLS Beautiful Features of Swiss Scenery The Terrors of Mountain Climb
 ing Have Been Overcome by
 the Power of Steam
FOUR BIRMINGHAM GIRLS

Geneva, Switzerland, August 31.-(Special Correspondence)-To enter Switzerland after visit to the historic scenes of west ern Germany is to pass at bound from history to nature, from the grandest works of man to the grander works of God-from castles and storied fortresses to temples rough hewn by the avalanche. From Baden-Baden we took the eastern route to Switzerland which passes through the pie turesque scenery of the Black Forest. It was a bright, cool, glorious day, and we enjoyed the eight hours journey to the utmost, for the the last three hours of the afternoon We had travelled through the heart of the Black Forest; and 1t was not difficult as we watched the densely wooded ground, covered with pine trees, to imagine We were among the pine woods of our own native state. But here and there little will lages or tiny chalets clustering beside some stream or in a cleared space assured us of the great differences in the two countries and reminded us that even now we were lengthening the home-cord which bound us and were far, far from home. While such serious reflections which are nearly always produced by the sublime in nature we reached the little picturesque town of Schahhausen, most beautifully situated on the river Rhine. But it was not the mag nihcent falls of the Rhine which here de- lighted us, although the falls are the largest In Europe and present unusually at tractive and splendid sight, as the blue waters of the Rhine dash over the rocky prominence. But 1t was the sight of four merry Birmingham maidens which delight- ca us and cheered our hearts as not all the easties and cathedrals and wondrous sights CT Germany had been able to do. Our train spent ten minutes at Schafnausen and likewise the passing train of Miss Gelders ana her party, and so We six Birmingham people all talked at once in our frantic ehueaVor to eondense hours of conyersa- ton into ten blessed minutes. I can tell you this much, that you won't know those Iour pump maidens when they return nome, Tor they are enjoying all the delights ol lelsurely European travel and in conse quence are reaping the utmost in the amount cf ayoirdupois Then we went on our Way rejoicing, our hearts all aglow. 80 on the scenery changed the character or the peasants in the fields appeared dis. t'nctively different, the houses were unlike any we had seen, and We knew at once thar We were in Helretia
 Ihe moon was shining more brightly than thlnk ever saw 1t. and in conseouence the scene which passed us like some swift iiloN ing panorama was strangely weird and oeauufuL Zurich, Zug and Vitznau were passed in quick succession each with tbeir beautiful blue lakes which appeared so sublime under the moons silvery rays linen all too quickly We reached Lucerne truly the paradise of the world. Our hotel was advantageously situated on the shores oi tle lake and from our window We had such View as my pen cannot describe The lake of the Four Cantous around whose borders cluster nearly all the his- torlc interest of the Swiss people lay placid and quiet before us. The moons rays touched it's bright blue waters with high lights here and there, while all around and as far the eye could reach the tall soaring Alps seem to enclose and guard over the beautiful city of Lucerne In the bright moonlight l could easily discern the Rigi and P1latus as rocky sentinels to left and right. Shut up In their inaccessible fastnesses these hardy mountaineers have contributed but little toward changing the map of Europe, but their struggles for the preservation of their own freedom possess fascination that crystalizes legend into fact. In 1291 was formed the first mutual league for defence against the tyranny of the House of Hapsburg, and sixteen years later, on a lofty pla teau opposite Brunnen thirty-three confederate took at midnight the solemn oath of Ruth to drive the op- pressors from their soil.
 The name of Schiller, the Bard of Tell" is writ large on a huge boulder below these cragS; TOT nearby, at Altdorf, the Swiss patriot lived, and the scene of his marvellous skill with bow is indicated by statue of him in the market place. I feel sure that, while enjoying the day spent on the storied Rhine, l would have said, it is worth the trip across the vast, trackless pond to behold Now, in Lucerne, beauti- ful beyond any possible description, I can truthfully say that this vision of the Alps. with it's inexpressibly beautiful blue lakes. is more than worth the long, and maybe tedious, trip that is the penalty we Ameri- cans pay for these monstrous sights. But the tour cannot be complete, no matter how lengthy, without Lucerne the Alps and the Brunig Pass. I have mentioned,