Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-11
SWITZERLAND.
Our Americans in the Noun
tain Republic.
Lake Geneva and the Famous Dungeon
of Chillon.
Climbing the Alps Above The Sleeping and
Eternal Glacier
Zermatt, July II. 1900.

V1eW!- Nature WON lHe udy, anu a.
nine in the morning we were en- route
for Switzerland, with twelve hours be-
fore us in which to study scenery we
needed no guard to tell US when
France was left behind; mountains all
about us proclaimed Switzerland.
while in each fresh green-tasseled
,tree-top, we read mute prophecy
that beyond all other seasons we
should see the beauty of HelVeta- In
busy, busting Lausanne, which all
tourists use as a convenience, and re-
member chiefly as starting point, we
.tarried but a night. Geneva, We
long ago decided, was where we would
install our bag shaped, umbrella IKE
.Lares and Penates." our introduce
ton was by boat, which we reached
breathless and painting. having squan-
1ered twenty centimes and as many
seconds of scanty time on handful
of '.blackhearts' nearly the size OF
walnuts. The refreshing GOODNESS OF
the breeze which Mt. Blanc sent IN
greeting as she revealed the snowy
heights. the deep blue waters OF the
lake. the picturesque shores. how long
we shall remember. Look there III
that villa among the trees. Dreyfus IS
summering with his family" vol
unteered a compatriot near us. Then
right into the city's heart we anchored.
where directly fronting us the open
doors of many hotel palaces invited US
TO enter mo, no, it is impossible to
take the best from each.' cried the
little fruit -vender in vigorous French
to a tail, muscular female. whom we
had watched with amused interest.
busily selecting from five full baskets
of golden apricots, the largest rlpest
fruit According to our habit, we were
walking in the early evening to gain
some impression of the city. and by
good fortune found ourselves in the
oldest portion. Dingy stone buildings
were all around into whose small dark.
gloomy passages we peered curiouSly.
On one we saw the bust of Calvin. 1t
proved to be the house where he had
long worked and studied. Then it was,
at the street corner, We heard a man
voice expostulating, and stood watch
ing. you must take at least TWO
small ones to complete the weight.
and I'll be satisfied I'm take none.
was the angry retort, and off the
wsmafl walked. leaving bag and con-
tents, Which we, rejoicing, paid for, re-
yelling in the lucious fruit of her in-
dustry.
Where can shops more allnring be-
found filled with dainty needlewqrk'
and fascinating souvenirs. but abovea
all. watches. watches Of all shapes and
sizes Watches, not as large round as
ones thumb licked in our ears, buy.
until in self defense we called 4cocher''
and drove to see the Rhone and Arve.
There, side by side, and yet distinct
and separate, the waters flow, the same
as centuries ago, one dark and turbid
like an evil thing, the other. Pas all
life might be. broad. clear and beauti-
full Hesitatingly We write, our spec
ial brand of weather greeted us the
morning we left for Zermatt. We fear
so many ideal weeks may seem myth,
but every one assures us the month
has been exceptional. and we certainly
have rejoiced in sunshine and cool
breezes Wesleaned fcom our cargwin-
dow,-regardless of the caution posted
overhead--to follow lake and shore in
wondrous combinations. If we were
asked to name one spot that holds more
loveliness than ones mind can con-
ceive what answer could we make
save Lake Geneva" MontreauX and
Territel how can we let you pass and
not dilate upon your terraced hills,
your vineyards. and your countless
charms? "Chillon, Chillon" rang the
guards voice, and eagerly we left our
seats. Were we indeed beside the cas-
tie we had all our lives pictured in our
thought? We rubbed our eyes-yes,
we were awake. but the towering
battlements of our dreams had dwin-
l. l,n;,- ct,
Down in the dark dungeon the worn
rock plainly said: here in this place
once lived the Prisoner of Chillon.'
II the castle did not reach our height.
sky, mountain. lake. far more than
compensated. As sentinels behind the
'.storied walls" there rose the Dent
du midi" Again and yet again we thought
that We had lost them. but when we
glanced backward they still pursued,
showing their sharp. white. glistening
teeth like some prehistoric monsters.
Too well we realize we lack the words
TO tell the grandeur that lies between
Villeneuve and Zermatt. We thought
We knew in part the meaning of Swiss
scenery, but the revelation of its power
was yet to be. Quick. look up
there." we cried as mighty cataracts
poured down the rocky. precipice. while
clouds. like marrow bands of swans
down. clasped the mountains. whose
tops rose towering above the feathery
mist. In terror We gazed into bottom
less abysses. on whose edge our train
crept slowly, where we knew the
slightest mishaps would mean death
We cleft through a mountain side, and
unexpected as the transitions from a
wizards wand, we found the spires
and homes of beautiful st. Maurice.
4 ''Of course I can climb" we overheard
the attractive German woman in our
compartment declare to her liege lord
How true 1t is one cannot estimate
the influence of ones lightest word,
That syllable climb was as tow to
smoking fax. instantly was our ambi-
ton fired. THAT means the Corner
graf we whispered. Then we looked
steadfastly at each other gave two
emphatic mods, and all we lacked was
Alpine stocks. From the commence
ment of our journey We had clamored
Tor torrent equal to our imaginiDgs
We found far more than we had asked