The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
SOME e BOOKS.
life In Switzerland.

In the our European NelBhuoio' 49,
published by the Putnams, there Is no more
useful or attractive volume than that en-
titled Sriss Life in Torn and Country
by ALFRED THOMAS STORY what was
scarcely TO be expected In a book OF a popu,
lar character, the account OF the political
system Of Switzerland, whether federai
or ~captonal. Is, though concise, as accurate
and adequate as will be found in elaborate
works which treat the subject from tpe
viewpoint Of political science. or positive
value, also, to the sociologist are the chap
tiers which deal with public education and
with the national Industries, including
the culture OF the vine. The chapter on
the military system deserves TO be read
with particular attention In the United
Kingdom and In the United States. Tho
specific purpose OF tho series, which Is to
mako US acc iainted with the character and
with the domestic and social life OF the
peoples chosen for portrayal. Is carried
out In the chapters on Switzerland and
the Swiss on Life and Work In the Alps
on 'Cantonal Life and Character on Swiss
Women and Swiss Homes on Swiss Chill
dron,' on Religious Life and Influences
and on Popular Festivals to which are
added some illustrations OF Swiss types.
In the present notice we shall pass over
what the author has to tell us about the
Swiss political organization, because We
have lately had occasion to review sew
sral books devoted to the subject. We
shall here limit ourselves TO topics which
ars less familiar TO the general reader.
How does It happen that German and
French are the principal tongues spoken
BY the Swiss7 The author reminds us
that In Caesars time, and for some three
or four centuries a~fterward. the country
which wet now call Switzerland wac in
habited chiefly by two Celtic tribes known
a. the Rhetii and the Helvetii. There
10 no doubt that. In process OF time, they
bscame more or less Romanized In Ian
euaee, arts and customs. When the Ro-
man Empire, however, began TO crumble
In the west, Helvetia was overrun by hordes
Of Alemanni and Burgundlans, who thence
forward were the permanent ocoupiers
Of the land. The former seem TO have been
the sturdier people. and IL was probably
they who gave the tougher elements to the
character which In medieval and modern
times Ia associated with the Swiss. They
preserved their ancient Teutonio tongue,
whereas the B~urgundlans, a mllder race,
adopted the language OF the conquered
people. Thus II came to pass that we
now have German speaking and French
speaking cantons, or rather districts. for
the dividing line does not always coincide
with cantonal boundaries. The German
Ian uage Is spoken In the middle, the north
and east OF Switzerland. French Is spoken
In Neuchatel, Vaud. Geneva and lower
Valais, in the greater part OF the canton
Of Freiburg and In the Bernese Jura. Ger
man and French, however. are not the
only tongues spoken by the Swiss. In
the canton OF Tessin. or Ticino. Italian is
while in parts OF the Grisons another
ofYshoot Of the ancient Latin tongue, called
The Romansoh, is spoken. According to
he most recent estimates Ts per cent.
Of the people speak German; 2l4 per
speak French: SO per cent. speak
and Ia per cent. Romansch; the
remaining 03 per cent. speaking other
tongues. Although Romansch is con-
fined to the Grisons. several newspapers
are printed in that language. Romansch.
AZ We AVE said, is one OF those v~erIaculars
which, after the disruption Of the Roman
Empire became gradually differentiated
from the Latin. II was at one time the
common speech Of the old Roman province
Oh HQHsttd, WnlNN nlCluutu tHc ulblfIClS
where II is now spoken, the Tyrol and the
parts Of Switzerland and South
Germany.
Taken as q whole, the Swiss are a strong
and healthy race Of men, but, as Is well
known. goitre and cretinism are very prev
alent In some parts Of the country. though
not to the alarming extent which was for
merly the case. Goitre is more common
among tho women than among the men.
In the canton OF Valais a few years ago Il
was rare 10 see a woman who did not bear
the marks Of the malady in the form Of a
swelled neck. Though the swelling is
elsewhere regarded as a great disigure-
ment II was looked upon in the Valais as a
beauty trait, and those who did not have II
were laughed at as being 'goose-necksd.'
Cretinism, or idiooy, seems, like goitre.
70 be decreasing. Frequent ~intermarriage
In the same family is believed to be tho
most fruitful cause Of ere tinism, but our
author thinks that intemperance is partly
o~hargeable with the disease. Aside from
their liability to these scourges, the Swiss,
as we have said, are robust and healthy
Those engaged in agriculture are especially
we'll built and tough. The average length
Of life Is 400 years, and the proportion Of
males to females Is 40 per cent. TO 81.
To the cause Of popular education the
Swiss are passionately devoted. The pub
Ito contributions and the private gifts
allotted 10 this purpose by an otherwise
thrifty, not 20 say close-fsted, race. may
be truly described as admirable. II the
country be regarded as a whole, tho average
Of education Is very high, and It is a re-
markable feature Of the system Of public
instruction that IL aims TO enable the pupils
TO earn q livelihood. There are few II any
countries In the world In which there are
% many men and women capable OF turning
their hands TO profitable production. Al
most all have at their fingers ends sons
handicraft whereby In case OF necd thoy
oan carr their bread. The present system
Of education dates from 1874. According
70 an article Of the Federal Constitution
adopted in that year. primary instruction
must be Sufficient, obligatory, gratuitous
and u~nsectarian." The execution Of the
law, however, is delegated to the several
oantons. The result is hat while ~ il
fixed by the Federal law as the minimum
limit OF age at which a child can be with.
drawn from school, in some cantons thi:
limit In raised TO IA, Is and even 10. The