New-York tribune., 1902-02-11
SWISS LIFE.
A LAND OF SIMPLICITY AND SINCERITY.

SWISS LIFE IN TOWN AND COUNTRY; BY
bore series0 Illustrated, i2mo, pp viii 2S2
O. p PutLam's Sons.
This book is the work Of man who has pene-
trated below the exterior Of the society of which
he treats. In the case of Switzerland this
particularly desirable, for that land Of tourists
is known to most of only a tourists re-
sort and the realities Of its life and the char
acter Of the people are seldom appreciated by
those who have gone enjoy what Switzerland
offers 10 visitors in the way Of refreshment and
diversion. Mr.. Story finds the note of Swiss life
10 be simplicity and sincerity; and, Of course,
his warning not 10 judge the people by the hotel
keepers is hardly needed. Life is hard, and,
though the race is on the whole strong and
sturdy the unfavorable influence Of the factory
and alcohol and the ravages Of goitre and ere
tinism have left their blasting mark upon many
These TWO physical infirmities, however. are
decreasing. owing to a betterment of hygienic
conditions. There is a splendid passion of in
dustry among the people to cope with the rigor-
Gus conditions imposed by Nature. and there is
practically no idle class. ArlstOcrat and burgher
alike do their turn in the common life of the
country with the artisan. The highest classes
of the French speaking cantons are especially
public spirited and active in we'll doing;
and through the intelligence and energy Of the
most place in the world.
There are no very rich no very poor: Switzer-
land has, indeed. its problem of poverty, but It
is a different thing from what it is in other
countries. Mr.. Story gives a graphic account
Of the cowherd's life and the setting forth in
spring for the high mountain pastures that con-
firms the traditional romance of that life. Even
the alphorn is preserved to us, and does not go
the way of William Tell and Gessler. But the
rude, rough and very arduous Many of the
Old World customs and traits kept up in
some of the more remote cantons. The young
men still form vigilance committees to keep the
we'll TO do girls from being carried off by out
siders: the springtime dramatic representations
are still given on frail stages. with and without
roofs, and the old legends are still preserved
and mingled with the realities Of everyday life.
Swiss homes in many cantons are inaccessible.
the life there narrow and secluded-a fact that
led. especially in the more uncultured cantons,
to tavern haunting" as Mr.. Story calls it,
which is the chief path to acquaintance and
marriage among the young folk: also. it must
be said TO terrible results in drunkenness. In
the forest cantons there is freer life, and those
home gatherings that In America are called
bees are a feature of it
Child life in Switzerland presents delightful
picture. because OF the frank ingenuousness and
good behaYlor OF the children. One never sees
Swiss children destroying unrpe fruit-they
taught 10 regard this something criminal
I shall never forget the cry Of horror or dis
gust which spontaneously burst from a group
of boys who were fishing in the Aar when they
cav an Englishman draw down the bough OF a
plum tree and pluck still green fruit. It was
as though he had committed some sacrilege.
And in their outdoor life they acquire deal
Of knowIedge-a fact that Swiss pedagogy has
lately been finding out and that has stimulated
p movement akin TO that in our own country to
bring the school closer into touch with Nature.
To students Of politics and economics Swift
Ferland has a special interest the home OF
the referendum and popular initiative. All the
oantons now practise the referendum. with
or two exceptions. There is much difference Of
opinion about it, but among the intelli-
gent there is a general consensus Of opinion in
its favor. The enemies Of a proposed measure
but IL has, on the whole, worked we'll.
It has shown that there is no desire among
the body Of the public for hasty legislation. yet
that when a proposed change has been long
enough before the people for them 10 compre-
hend its bearings they are generally ready to
adopt it They wisely suspicious of
the augmentation Of public burdens and Of any
change that threatens the simplicity Of life and
habits which has hitherto characterized them.