The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-11
IN SWITZERLAND.
Continued from ThiEaI rage:


stated. AS sentinels behind the STORED
walls'' there rose the "Dent du Midi. I"
Again anu yet again we thought that we
had lost them, but when we gla need
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 ViIleneuve
and Zermatt. We thought we knew in
part the meaning of Swiss scenery, but
the revelation of it's power was yet to be,
"Quick look up therel'' we cried, as
mighty cataracts poured down the roc ky
precipice, while clouds. like narrow bands
of swans down, clasped the mountains,
whose tops rose towering above the feath-
cry mist. In terror we gazed into bot
tomless abysses, on whose edge our train
crept slowly, where we knew the slight
est mishaps would mean death. We cleft
through mountain side, and unexpected
as the transitions from wizards wand,
we foun the spires and homes of beau
tiful ST. Maurice. "Of course can
climb, - we overheard the attractive Ger
to her liege lord. How true 1t is one
cannot estimate the influence of ones
Iightest word That syllable climb
was as tow to smoking fax, instantly
was our ambition fired, "That means
the 'Gornergrat, - we whispered Then
we looked steadfastly at each other, gave
two emphatic mods, and all we lacked
A che 81 o
ment of our journey we had clamored for
q torrent equal to our imaginings. We
found far more than we had asked on the
Viege. 1t was waiting for us as we
changed cars at Visp, it's thick, gray
waters breaking over huge boulders. An
grily it rushed beside us, then, as we
crossed bridges whose dizzy altitude made
it inconceivable that they were the work
of man, it still foamed and Numbered
close at hand. From early morning our
day was crowded with successive views,
the last most glorious of all. A swerve
to the left, and then the whole magnif-
cent panorama. Far off, the snow
crowned head of Mounta Rosa, nearer,
surrounding us in ever deepening maize S.
ty, their fresh white mantles glistening
in the sun, Weishorn, Breithorn, peak
after peak, unnumbered and for us IN
named. There was but one thought in
mind as we walked toward our stopping
place, yet in vain we looked for what we
had supposed would dominate. Finally
in sheer desperation we said apologetical-
ly, Excuse us, please, but where is the
a ToA4c -.1o
piled far more than we would care to
chronicle, and a sweep of his big right
arm, PORTER indicated dense cloud,
from underneath whose dusky folds we
could with difficulty discern bulky
shape. Summoning all our optimism to
bear upon the morrow we turned to make
a closer acquaintance with the village
Quaint little place grit round about with
mountains, one narrow cobbled street is
all it boasts, crowded on each side with
hotels, shops and primitive buildings
We were intently considering the architec-
tural structure Of what seemed to be the
public hall, when "Bitte, bitte.S' in
small, childish voices sounded in our
ears. On looking round, there stood a
old, Offering us fruit and flowers. "But
are they chill 1ren?' we exclaimed, for
each little forehead was scanned and lined
with deep-set wrinkles, pitiful to see.
We learned later that this was a misfor-
tune liable to come to every child born in
the valley, and attributed indirectly to
the glacier water.
One of the most trying arith-
metical problems we have yet en-
countered stared at us from the
guide as we tried to plan our
days. Eyes, read E aloud, ''there are
just thirty two excursions that require
a day for each. - "Let me think" unused
w, -four into thirty-two eight times :;
eight in one day, that really is impract-
icable, and regretfully we marked off
more than half. There still remained
the "Gornergrat, the chief among the
hirty-two. Conscientiously we sought
slumber before sunset, and slept the sleep
OF the just till four a. m. Looking from
our window at dawn, our first upward
glance showed us that faith can uncover
mountains; without a cloud, towering in
air. sharp and clear rose the mighty Mat
terhorn; breathlessIy we looked then
once more the misty curtain shut all
from sight. Fortified with steaming
chocolate and rolls, our skirts pinned
high, our rubbers dangling from our
necks, Alpine stocks in hand, jubilantly
we set forth for the days long climb
The dew still glistened on meadows of
purple pansies. On both sides of our
mountain path Alpine roses blossomed in
prodigal profusion, cuckoos called their
mates from tree to tree. Our party sang
and 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 gain it in great
fields of double buttercups; golden petal
after petal, Tapped and Over-lapped, and
close beside them grew long stemmed