Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-11

with successive views. the last most
glorious of all. A swerve to the left.
and then the whole magnificent pam
Drama. Far off, the Snow-crowned
head of Mounta Rosa, nearer. sur
rounding us in ever deepening majesty,
their fresh white nantes glistening in
the sun, Weishorn, Breithorn, peak
after peak. unnumbered and for us I'M
named. There was but one thought in
mind as we walked toward our stop
ping place. yet in vain we looked for
what we had supposed would dom
mate. Finally in sheer desperation we
said alphabetically, Excuse us. please.
but where is the Matterhorn?" With
n glance which implied far more than
we would care to chronicle, and a
sweep of his big right arm. PORTER
indicated a dense cloud. from UNDER.
meath whose dusky folds we could With
difficulty discern a bulky shape. Sum
moning all our optimism to bear upon
the morrow we turned to make closer
acquaintance with the village Quaint
lHtle place girt round about with
mountains. one narrow cobbled street
Is all it boasts, crowded on each side
with hotels, shops and primitive build
4egs. We We're intently considering
he architectural structure of what
4eemed to be the public hall.x5 when
Bitte. bite" in small childish voices
funded in our ears. On looking round
here stood a group of children from
Gttlr to ten years old. Offering us fruit
and flowers. But are they children?"
we exclaimed for each little forehead
witt
wrinkles, pitiful to see. We learned
later that this was misfortune liable
to come to eveAg child born in the val
ley, and attributed Indirectly to the
glacier water.
One of the most trying arithmetical
problems we have yet encountered
stared at us from the guide as I've
tried to plan our days. "Yes," read +
aloud. there are just thirty-two ex-
cursions that require a day for each :"
Let me think" unused w, -four into
thirty-two eight times: eight in one
day that really is impracticable," and
regretfully we marked off more than
half. There still remained the Cor
nergrat." the chief among the thirty
two. Conscientiously we sought slum-
Der before sunset. and slept the sleep
of the just till four A NJ Looking from
our window at dawn. our first upward
glance showed US that faith can uncov-
er mountains: without a cloud. tower
ing in air sharp and clear rose the
mighty Matterhorn; breathlessly we
looked, then once more the misty cur
tain shlk all from sight. Fortified
with steaming chocolate and rolls. our
skirts pinned high, our rubbers dang
ling from our necks, Alpine stocks in
hand, jubilantlys we set forth for the
days long climb. The dew still glist-
ened on meadows of purple pansies. On
both sides Of our mountain path AL.
pine roses bloSSomed in prodigal pro-
fusion. cuckoos called their mates from.
tree to tree. Our party sang ana
shouted. yodelling long and loud. and
back the echo came soft, yet every
note distinct. The only thing that
failed was WIS breath, but who for an
instant would not lose that. to gair;H
in great fields of double buttercubs:
golden petal after petal, Tapped and
over-lapped, and close beside them
grew long stemmed patches IL heaven
ly forget e-nots. WhatscIoud visions
we saw. Vapory masses, piled one
above the other, were borne hither and
thither by the varying wind ceaseless-
ly changing. now dark and threaten
ing, then once more rising IN trans
scendant beauty. Still up we climbed,
where ice and snow Forever reign. At
our feet eternal glaciers whose frozen
depths the sunRf ages has not touched.
In what dread loneliness those m06n-.
tains ranged about us;sfar as our eye
could see. illimitable heightsspf gram
deur. Words cannot picture 'Such sub
limity-we had no speech which <was
not profanation.. In solemn awe NE
could but dum6ly stand before the aw-
full glory of His handiwork =
MRS. HERMANN KOTZSCHMAR.