The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-21
Interlaken. July 81. 1902.

Interlalken, July 81. 1902.
We left Lueerne this morning ut ten.
arriving here at fepr. being quite a long
trip for the distance which is only so
miles. but we crossed the Bruing pass by
means Of a cogwheei road like that going
up Pixies peak and II was hard pulling
for the small engines though our tram
was cut into four short ones. The high
est point we reached was Bruing. where
we stopped for lunch, which was serv-
ed by women in Swiss peasant costume
of black skirt and velvet bodice with
white chcmisette and elbow sleeves with
a rosette connected by two silver chains
on back of the shoulders and in front
and many silver ornaments down the
front of The bodice. Women dressed this
way sit outside the shops in Lucerne and
do the exquisltely fine emoroderies sold
inside.
We passed several very pretty lakes.
and of course the Alpine scenery was
superb and we reached the lake of Brienz
at two and embarked on a steamer the
trip being similar to the one on Lucerne,
though l do not think as beautiful,
though we passed the Gressbach water
fall. Interlaken in itself is a small town
of about 1000 inhabitants, but there are
dozens of hotels and this being the
height of the fashionable season they are
full to overlooking. We are at the Vic
toria, the most fashionable and there
, were many elegant looking people at
dinner tonight. L will give the menu not
because it WAS unusually fine for we
have had many just as good, but because
it is the dinner one gets all over Europe
50 far and I get so very tired of the
long drawn out ceremonious affair. Tho
dinner tonight was served by a large
corps of women in peasant dress and men
in full evening dress, which they wear
even to give you coffee and rolls in the
morning.
Dinner du 81 Juliet 1902.
Consomme Paysanne-Filets de bar
becue Venitienme-Roest beef garni abon
dante-Tete de vean Poulette-Choux
heurs polonaise-Poulsrds de la fieche
e-Salade-Glaces-Va ct abricots
-PatisseIie. Fruits. Dessert
That chicken and salade is Just as in
evitable as death and the dessert means
cheese. fruit nuts and raisins, bonbons,
but strange TO say no cafe noir, which
is never served at table. They sat arounu
a large smoking room, billiard and bar
tonight both sexes and slipped coffee or
liqueurs They had a barmlid in Lucerne
who served drinks in the square entrance
hail, 50 these people do not have any
thing to hide. We wanted to go to the
Kursaal CT music garden and the Monte
Carlo tonight, but it is storming for the
first time since we landed and it IS
rather a doleful feeling to be off in an
annex alone as l am, but will sleep and
forget it.
The beds and pillows in italy were SO
hard, while these In Switzerland are the
most comfortable possible with two down
pillows and a down mattress to cover
with and the liner so white and clean
and sweet. The service is splendid too,
the chambermaids turning down the beds
and hanging up ones clothes in the even
ing and if skirts or suits are hung on the
rack by your door they are well brushed
before you are out of bed. The shoes of
both sexes are beautifully polished, too.
II left out and they are altogether the
most attentive and polite servants l ever
saw, the men always taking off their
caps in the hall when you meet them. 1
started to my ROOM in the annex tonight
end it IVES raining ard before l knew it
the small buttons" In uniform who
opens the door stepped forward with
grave dignity and held over me huge
white and red umbrella and 1 was so
emused l laughed and he smiled, but
escorted me home and of course l tip
ped him. They bring you small or large
cans of hot water every morning and are
thoroughly well trained servants in every
way and they look SO patient and hard
worked. They all wear black with dainty
white caps and aprons. The uniforms or
livery of the men are quite handsome,
end one little chap looks like q courtier
in his blue pigeon tail coat, knee trousers
end patent leather low shoes, with brass
buckles.
When serving meals the walters from
Italy up to the present hotel lay the
dishes on the left arm to rest 1t on the
table, while the right arm is put behind
the back. The dishes are garnished elab-
orately and in many cases beautifully,
lace paper mats being used under fruits,
cakes, nuts, etc., while the meats and
salads are trimmed with designs cut out
of red beets. olives, lemons. and eggsets
The roast beef is cut IN slices AMI