St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-08-23

IN . tableau TO raise . little none
to replace pews in tho churches. tn
pews had all been taken out an
made into troughs to feed thei
horses in. He was forewarned tina
night by q negro that If he didn't n
lease those girls he would be kille
before morning, and he would hav
been. Yes, leopard Spots" were al
around here just as they were il
North Carolina. We had Gesslers IN,
we had Tells, too.
But was Illuminating about Switzer
land, that historical and wonderful
country. It is only q little scrap o
. country about one-fourth the sdz'
of Georgia, and nearly half of that i
taken up by lakes and mountains. Thu
most beautiful lakes in the world
Lake Lucerne Chat Tell'sl. Lake &c
neva CHATS Calvin's), Lake Wenne1
and Wetter-and just think of the
grand old mountains-the Alps ane
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 snow'storms 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 man
and feeding him, almost dead. One of
the dogs had bottle strapped around
his neck and the other basket of
food. In another picture little boy
was on 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 3,0O0,0 people and
all at work except the babies. About
half are shepherds and herdsmen on
the mountain slopes and benches, rails
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.
ly 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 willing and
ready soldier to defend his country.
Its government is a republic, divided
into 20 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 10000, and defeated Prus-
STA 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 a 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 a great festival when they
were opened for business. Grand
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
;ians, and on every Christmas day and
every Easter morn the young men and
come tripping down the noun
ain paths singing their Christmas or
Caster carols and making the cliffs and
alleys echo with their songs.
But it is said that their young men
ight for pay and are mercenary sol
liers. Yes, but they choose the side
hey believe to be right. They would
lot fight for Austria against the Turks,
or would they fight for Bonaparte.
Tor for England against the Beers.
md now the civilized world has let
hem alone and the little republic has
ad peace for nearly hundred years.
BILL ARP