Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-10-10
swItzerla nd and the Rhine.

Switzerla nd and the Rhine.
Our party OF seven left Arnhem at
8 80 one cool. cloudy morning, in a
vestibule train and, after ride along
the historic Rhine by way OF Sirassburg
we reached Basel at s 80. IN time for a
very late dinner, our hotel being pleas
antly located in the vicinity OF the
depot. Next morning We made tour
OF Basel ll05 900 inh.) the view of the
Rhine with the various bridges across
it, being worth remem bering. Leaving
Basel after lunch, the weather being
perfect, we had a delightful ride by
rail, thro' the Hsrdt Mts. and, long ere
we reached the beautiful city Of Geneva
we had fine view OF Mt. Blanc, l6 900
feet high (the loitiest peak OF all Europe)
and OF Lake Geneva, with water of an
exquisitely blue color. Geneva no..
900 inh) at the western extremity OF
Lake Geneva and also built on both
sides OF the River Rhone, reminds one OF
Paris and the Seine being connected by
numerous bridges, which give to the
city very picturesque appearance.
Geneva dates back to the period OF
Rome's greatest power. For centuries it
was under Roman protection, became an
independent city in 1926, was annexed
10 France by Napoleon in 1898, and
after the fall OF his empire it became the
22nd Canton Of the Swiss Confederation.
Geneva was the home OF Jean Calvin,
the noted reiormer, from 1886 to 1864,
and during that time the city became
the refuge for prosecuted protestants OF
every nation, especially the French. 1t
is noted for its watches and jewelry, and
beautiful are the exhibits OF these articles
in the stores.
The Cathedral OF ST. Peter is one OF the
many places we visited. 1t contains a
handsome nausoleum with the remains
OF Duke Henri de Rohan who was a
leader OF the protestants in the 18th
century. The Ariana Museum, situated
in beautiful grounds outside the city.
and commanding a magnificent view Of
the Lake and Mt. Blanc, is a royal gift
of its founder, Gustaye Revlliod, to the
city. and contains collection OF paint
ings, scul ptures, worries, coins, porcelain
and gold and silver ornaments. We
spent two days in Geneva and left on one
OF the Lake steamers, touching at vari-
GUS points, and after trip Of 45 miles,
arrived at MOntreux, enthusiastic over
the beauties OF Lake Geneva. Montreux
is famous health resort in winter, has
numerous hotels, many OF which have
handsome gardens OF flowers, palms,
et. and has to the east snow-capped |
not many miles distant. The
place Of greatest historical interest IS
the castle Of Chillon, built on a rocky
isle near the lake shore. Here we were
shown to the prison where The Pris.
oner OF Chillon", named Downward was
to one OF the stone pillars for
four years, in almost total darkness.
The name OF Bryon, who wrote the
above mentioned poem, is engraved
by himselD on one OF the pillars.
poet and free-thinker, was
imprisoned for taking sides with reform
,rs and was finally rescued by the
Bernese army. The views in Monlreux
,f lake, mountains and sloping hill
des, the last named covered with vine.
ards, have left on my mind the i'm.
'ression OF peaceful beauty. From here
We went by rail thro' Lausanne and
'erne to Thun and by water oyer Lake
hun to lnterlaken. Not es5 than 80
otel buses awaited the arrival OF the
teamer, and we soon learned that
nterlaken is principally composed OF
otels and stores, the latter filled with
Il manner OF Swiss curios and souvenirs.
the vicinity are the following snow
,pped Berneso Alps, Jungfrau, Monch,
Tiger, Metterhorn, Schreckhorn, and
,veral others, all from l2500 to $4,000
et high, and each having one or more
acieis. The day after our arrival ut
lterlaken was to be the finest of our
ip, from scenic point Of view, but it
Ilned in the morning, afternoon and
iening. This was disappointment but
10 redeeming feature OF the day was our
limb on the Eger Glacier during the
lree hours OF good weather in the early
Iternoon. We secured a guide who
ed us together in the customary fash
m, and supplied with ice.pick, aud
lpen'stocks, We started across field OF
% from 10 to 90 feet deep, 2 miles wide,
nd losing itself upward in the everlast-
~ SHOWS, 1t was slow work, skirt ing
reyasses 20 to 40 feet deep, the ice OF
eculiar blue color, but intensely in
eresting. The guide frequently cut
lto the ice to give us firm footing and
ven then, in turn, each OF us, measured
alf or full length on the ice. We
mused ourselves in spare moments by
olllng pieces of rock down the glacier
nd enjoying the giant leaps they made
'hen under good heAdway. At times,
'hen we halted, some one would be
landing in one OF the many rivulets
hat course down the sides OF the glacier,
nd our length OF rope being limited it
| Ws -fys