New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
GLlMPSES OF SWITZERLAND
THE VILLAGE OF BEGNINS. ITS VINE
YARDS AND DOMESTIC LIFE
THE GRAPE HARVEST.

Several weeks ago The Tribune printed a vivid
and interesting account Of a young American
woman's first impressions Of Holland and Bel
gium The following letter continues the narra-
tive Of the trip through Switzerland to Geneva:
Geneva December 10.
The Swiss railroad stations in some ways
remind one Of the same little affairs
in Holland. They are set about with the
same scrupulousy tended flower beds, with the
same red geraniums always in haring color only
the officials are trihe less ample in waist devel-
opment and il doesn't require persistent drilling
before they take in the import of your questions.
Possibly though that has somewhat TO do with the
fact that you are usually more nearly on speaking
terms with French than you with Dutch.
Gland, the station for Begnins. where We were
bound in the early fall has twin of all the rest
Of the Swiss gares." Like the others. too was the
swinging bell that played little tune at the ar
rival and departure OF trains. I had always sup
posed that the Swiss bell ringers. like the Italian
organ grinders were only to be found in the home
OF their adoption. My early training stood me in
good stead, however. and / recognized that bell
just l heard ii.
For three four hours two dumpy little engines
OF the bobtail order had been struggling to pull
our Europeanly speaking heavily laden train up
precipices and through gorges ! certainly thought
bound for something least high as
the peak have named for the Father of His
Country. 1t decidedly disappointing. then. to
elevation really amounted 10 nothing Brittany
couldn't look much iatter. Mountains were all
about TO be sure but seemed TO be in a basin
whose sides too far of for TO get any
benefit Of their upward slope. My disappointment
made ne willing TO take exceptions 10 anything
So when a black eyed portly man with a wide
sombrerO approached and proved TO be our future
landlord l vowed that he looked like a brigand
On being scornfuy reminded that Switzerland
wasn't Italy replied that they d probably swapped
mountains for bandits.
NATIVE VEHICLE.
The arrangement on which our baggage
tied for the drive Begnins is. sc far as i know.
an institution peculiar 10 the region. II consist
ed of two sets of wheels. separated from each other
by a pole that almost touched the ground That
was all there was for the cart part. How
NJ p and the fat youth who assisted him ever
got those thirteen bags and bundles and trunks
10 stay ] don't pretend 20 know. After some Wig
orous French expletives and heavy scornful
marks by Monsieur on the uselessness of wide
youths in general everything ready, and
started uphill To my delight it proved to be moth
ing but uphill for the whole of the way. The
mountains pressed even closer upon us show
ing the Juras on one side and then with turn
bringing the Mont Blanc range directly before
eyes. Below like cascade falling into another.
hollows under hollows, each filed with It's
little village Of white walls and red roofs All
about climbing the perpendicular hills easily
as the goats that perpetually appeared and dis
appeared the vineyards where already the
grapes were showing a lucent greenness. ! never
realized what important part the vine plays
in Switzerland or how many villages there are like
Besnins, depending upon the annual yield of grapes
for almost all their prosperity
Suddenly the road turned and on each side Of
rose high, plastered walls over the tops of which