Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-15
]. E. NISSLEY WRITES OF A
PRETTY COUNTRY.
Interesting Description Of the Mar
vels Of Mountain, River and Plain
in Europs's Most Picturesque Coun-
try.

beautiful cows, beautiful dairymaids,
beautiful cheese-in fact, beauty in
everything, and II were to end this
letter here ! probably would give
fairer representation Of it than in
long drawn out descriptive narrative.
1t seems to me that no matter what
further | may write. it will all resolve
itself into one of the several state
ments just made.
One would be the most senssless OF
beings not to fall in love with Switzer-
land anywhere one might chance to
invade it. Never in all my travels
have | had such panorama, such
charms, such poetic, such musical
beauty as | had when standing on the
tip top Of Majestic Mount Stsuzer'
horn, about l2 miles southeast and
4S0 feet above the city Of Luzerne.
Far in the distance could be seen
the windings Of numerous streams,
that seemed only as tiny rivulets,
but in reality were swift flowing
rivers. Beneath as in the bosom OF
these mighty hills, were the calm,
blue waters OF Lakes Luzerne, Zug,
Zurich and others, whose glossy sur
faces looked like huge mirrors; and
here and there skimming to and fro
we're scores Of steam launches that
ply between the clusters OF villages,
dotted along these Alpine foot hills
Then we too could hear the hum OF
bees busily fitting among the sweet
scented clovers and mountain llow-
ers; and lastly "a, fitting embelllsh-
ment to the already inexpressibly
grand scene, were the hundreds VI
large, sturdy, brown Swiss cows,
grazing thousands of feet below us,
with the jingle Of their bells furnish
ing music exquisitely charming as it
peeled out and up through the space
intervening.
We crosscd,the Alps by rail through
what is known as the st. Gottard
tunnel, an underground road Of nine
miles length, and at one point one
mile under the surface, forming sever
al loops in the tunnel and therefore
several hundred feet higher at one
entrance than at the other Before
entering it and after passing through
the track is hewn into the steep
slopes OF the mountains, making it
most picturesque for miles and miles.
Midway between St. Gottard tun.
mel and Luzerne sprobably the finest
roadway in the world. 1t is called
the Axenstrasse. 10 see it we lef.
our train at small station, Fluelen,
and walked to Tellskappelle, the
place where William Tell is supposed
to have ierried across the lake with
the "Tyrant Gessler," and as he
jumped ashore shot Gessler with an
arrow right through the heart From
here to Brunnen we drove still
on the Axenstrasse along beautiful
Lake LuMrne. The scenery all along
is interesting, because unlike our
western mountains. The Alps are
dotted with many well kept farms
and the green fields, the orchards,
and quaint farm houses hanging as it
we're between the snowcapped peaks
above and the lakes beneath make
the contrast great and the view ex-
ceptionally fine,
Luzerne is cozily located on the
lake bearing Its name and is con-
nected with scores Of villages by a
very good steamboat service, thus
aliording one a splendid opportunity
Of taking many pleasant excursions
OF several hours duration; retaining
Luzerne all the while as headquar'
ters. Besides, the city is interesting
in itself and we enjoyed onr stay very
much indeed. From personal obser.
vations | am ready to concede to Lu'
cerne two things Of more than ordi'
nary strength-that is its strong
horses and strong cheese.
At many places In the city are
what they cali "Kaserio," literally
meaning cheeseries, where they sell
milk, butter and cheese; but, judging