Water Valley progress., 1902-08-09

In a tableau to raise little money
to replace pews in the churches. Tho
pews had all been taken out and
made into troughs to feed their
horses in. He was forewarned that
night by a negro that if he didn't re-
lease those girls he would be killed
before morning, and he would have
been. Yes, Leopard Spots" were all
around here just as they were in
North Carolina. We had Gesslers and
we had Tells, too.
But was ruminating about Switzer-
land, that historical and wonderful
country. 1t is only little scrap of
q country about one-fourth the size
OF Georgia, and nearly half of that il
taken up by lakes and mountains. The
most beautiful lakes in the world.
Lake Lucerne Chat Tell's), Lake Ge-
neva CHATS Calvin's), Lake Wenner
and Wetter-and just think of the
grand old mountains-the Alps and
the Jura and the Jungfrau. Think of
the hospice of the good St. Bernard,
where they kept that fine breed of
dogs who were trained to go out in
the most fearful snowstorms in search
OF lost travellers and carry food and
wine to them and bring them safely
to the hospice. One of my first books
had a picture of two of these noble
dogs digging in the snow for a man
and feeding him, almost dead. One of
the dogs had a bottle strapped around
his neck and the other a basket of
food. In another picture little boy
was on a dogs back and his arms
around his neck and the dog was bark
ing at the door of the hospice for ad-
mission. Those pictures and the sto-
ries about them were as dear to me as
the story of William Tell.
But think of little Switzerland, with
its population of 3,OOO, 900 people and
all at work except the babies. About
half are shepherds and herdsmen on
the mountain slopes and benches, rais-
ing sheep and milch cows, and in the
year 1900 they sold over $4,000, 900
worth of butter and cheese. Down in
the valleys and around the lakes are
many towns and little cities that hum
Like bee hives, for nimble fingers are
making watches, jewelry, hair work,
lace, silk and cotton fabrics as fine as
gossamer and hundreds Of other little
things which, taken all together, make
the commerce of that little water-cov-
cred and snow-capped republic near
~ double the commerce of any other
country, according to population.
All the children from six to twelve
years have to go to school part Of
every year, and her young men have
to be taught part of two years in mill
tary tactics. There is no standing
army, but every citizen is a willing and
ready soldier to defend his country.
It's government is republic, divided
into 22 cantons or counties, and to
maintain this republic they have been
fighting all contiguous nations for
nearly 600 years and have whipped
every battle they fought. Austria,
Prussia, Maximillian and at last Bona
parte tried to subdue that people, but
failed utterly. They never had an.
army Of over 80, 900, and defeated Prus-
sia with 10000 in seven pitched bat
ties. Austria demanded 10000 Swiss
soldiers to help her fight Turkey.
Switzerland refused to furnish them,
and that brought ON war, and
Switzerland whipped it. We see by the
New York papers that they have com
pleted the new government buildings
at Berne, and the pictures Of them
are lovely, and the people are proud
and had great festival when they
were opened for business. Grand
country great people. John Calvin
left his mark upon them, for of all
the % cantons only three have kept
allegiance to the Roman Catholic
church. But all are devoted Chris
tians, and on every Christmas day and
every Easter morn the young men and
maidens come tripping down the noun
tain paths singing their Christmas or
Easter carols and making the cliffs and
valleys echo with their songs.
4 But it is said that their young men
fight for pay and are mercenary sol
diers. Yes, but they choose the side
they believe to be right. They would
not fight for Austria against the Turks,
nor would they fight for Bonaparte,
nor for England against the Beers.
And now the civilized world has let
them alone and the little republic has
had peace for nearly hundred years.
BILL ARP