The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-14
We left Basle for the Rhine at 2 D.

We left Basle for the Rhine at 2 p.
M, ami arrived at Meiz on the Rhine
at p. M, where we stopped for the
night. We took boat for an all day
sail down the beautiful, picturesque,
and historic old Rhine, arriving at
| Cologne at 5:2O in the evening. Our
party secured the town at night, not
forgetting to visit the great Cathedral,
commenced in the 18th century, and
finished in the 10Th century, and is $40
feet high. We left the next morning
for Brussels, arriving at our destina-
tion at p. m. We left Brussels for
Paris July 10, and after warm day
through beautiful country, we again
walked the streets of Paris, and our
eyes feasted on the great show.
All the country of Europe is beauti-
full indeed-the country between the
English channel and Paris having poor
er crops than any part except northern
Italy, where there is very little soil on
the gravel.
Much of southern France is as beauti-
full as our great Western prairies, but
more undulating than some of them.
1t seems to be farmed next to perfec-
tion, but the country homes of France
which are generally neglected, present
a very old and gloomy appearance
and suggest place to stay, rather than
TO- enjoy.
The valley land of Switzerland is
very limited, but from Berne to Geneva
it is very fine, and no place on earth
has more of an Eden than is found
around Berne.
The first corn we noticed was in the
southern part Of Switzerland. This
country is farmed second to none. We
saw ten times as much corn in Italy as
we saw in all other parts of Europe.
The Italians raise corn, wheat, grass,
oats, etc. Timber is grown more ex-
tensively here than in other countries.
Irrigation seems to be perfect, as the
country is nearly level, with abundance
of water. Farming is done in a most
perfect way.
think we passed entirely through
the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine,
and we had to say, 'sHow much France
lost when she was compelled to give up
this territory" 1 wished our good
farmers could see this country; farmed
to perfection, the ideal of beauty.
Grass, wheat, rye, and oats comprise
the principal crops. The general con-
dition of the country homes, great
smokestacks nearly everywhere, and
the vast improvements, indicate the
greatness of Germany's future, and we
predict most of the nations will look
Lahead rather than behind, to see Ger
many. - a. t,--
E.cL Little Belgium has perhapst the heav-.
fest crops, the country well farmed, and
as much Or more taste shown about
their homes than other countries. We
have watched for place to stop since
we began, and have. said little about
sights in the cities, knowing we could
only briefly sketch the route we travel
ed, and. note few things that came
right in our way.
We leave London Monday or Tues
day for Glasgow, where we sail for
America, August 2, the land of our
Fathers, and where our dearest ties,
and all our interests are, but, as the
Laurentian moves off from this great
country, we shall have feelings of pride
and satisfaction, because of the great
privilege we have enjoyed, which will
some to us but once in life time.
During our. Southern tour few OF
Iour company remained behind-among
kthem being Drs. Covington and Moury,
who visited the hospitals of Paris and
Ltr5c, r5onuon' y sfss 1,,., s,,,, nc,
fI"%/ ip.,.s s.,-as as. ENOS STILES,