New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
II. ROUSSEAU's COUNTRT.
From The London Spectator.

sIohl Inc London Spectator.
IL is announced that Les Charmettes, the home
q Nine de Narennes where Rousseau for a
tIne found shelter, is TO be sold. In these days
OF improvements, few more interesting and
genuine private houses TO be found and Ger
fanny lew more charming. The place is
scarcely more than a mile from the quiet ar
caded old city Of Chambery, which, it is To be
feared, the tourist knows rather because Of its
proximity to AiX-les- Bains than for its own
sake. But there are few more pleasant cities
in France than Chambery. with its fresh green
fublc garden Watered by q stream its ca thedrai
It's dlSnfed old streets with their arcades and
us 6l0rOus s-'uation. Lift your eyes above the
roofs and you see the white cross high on its
mountain summit, while In every direction
C-arinlnS walks invite your footsteps For
Rousseau, the genuine lover of Nature the pio-
IT ~ the modern rambler, 10 place could have
D. d greater attractions.
After winding ones way past those big bar
RACKS which form the least attractive feature OF
an atcrase French city, arrives at a Ieafy
country lane, bordered with woodland, and in
autumn thick with wild berries a few strag-
g-nS passengers and an occasional cart form
the sole indications Of active life. Les Char
mettes IS on the right, and you reach il along a
pain cut in the garden Such a garden redo
lent of the last century, suggestive OF the age
before the modern life scramble began, Thick
walls OF box, old fashioned flowers sunny walls
with burdens OF luscious fruit. ancient pear
trees large melOns-Ones thoughts instantly re-
vert to that delightful poem on a garden by
MARVEL, and one sinks in sensUous ease into a
rustic seat
Annihilating all that's made
To a green thought IN a green shade.
In sense the garden pleases more than the
house. You feel the charm OF Nature the
beatty Of garden that is still attended TO with
industrious care, but you would not greatly
desire TO live in the house. IL is rather musty,
the doors do fit. there is a suggestion Of
cold ana perhaps damp. The historic assOcia-
lions are not altogether satisfactory, and a long
tenantless gap makes the place seem homeless.
Interesting however, il certainly is, and well
preserved. with many indications OF the sinsu-
lar woman and OF the strange, erratic impulsive
genius whom Dr. Johnson thought more deserv-
ing of hanging than most OF the criminals Of
Neweate. Taken altogether the tourist can
scarcely feel anything but pleasure in looking
famous scene
To the reader Of The Confessions" the whole
region round Chambery should be full Of in
t,rcst, II not for Rousseau's sake. then for the
sake 81 history and scenery. Is IL possible that
the English people do not read the famous
book which Rousseau composed in England, or
that they do not dream OF the glorious and
varied scenery TO be found in this part Of France
which skirts the mighty eastern borderland OF
Mont Blanc2 Certain il is that outside AlX-les-
Bains scarcely any English tourists are to be
found. The present writer. during long series
- pedestrian rambles, only found three, and
those II "A hotel in Annecy. Yet scarcely any
part of Europe possesses more charm