New-York tribune., 1903-08-02

Lake Geneva by some other route meant by either
the Mont Cents tunnel by way of Turin end Geneva
or the St Gothard by way OF Lucerne either route
necessitating three or four additional days. Ny
landlord stoidly verified the remarks OF the agent
and said that frequently messieurs les voyageurs
were thus disappointed.
" But persisted, why cannot go by extra
post2
teman. who had been listening to our CONVERSE
ton, here Joined in raising his hat with charming
grace to me, In apology for the intrusion.
Certainly he said, in excellent English though
we had been talking in French-a trick which most
Foreigners have when they recognize the American.
1 and my two daughters go tomorrow by extra
post; should be glad to offer the fourth seat to
monsieur if
i was about to express my gratitude when mine
host explained that the extra post was Just as
much under government control as the diligence
and the law did not allow bicycles
Then 1 exclaimed in desperation, I will hire
a private conveyance"
THE landlord smiled Impossible hs said.
are government monopoly AS we three stared
IN IN sence for moment at one another there in the
damp little courtyard suddenly idea s1note me.
.I4af .HI44aaqISGa S said nave you any meal bagsr
Yes four large. strong meal bags. Send for
i theIn quickly crossed TO my bicycle. unstrapped
the Snapsack from the handlebaTs, took off the
1901 bag and handlebars. and, crouchng down ON
the the een Psyeen by the light OF lantern removed
the vehicle which had borne stoutIy over a
t4lOuSSa4O ASS OF IOuSn llauan roads had resolved
woman appeared With an armfa Of 9Ufy dusty P6a 6aS
rear another the frame Refo into the s0 thrd drs
the the hmandebars nan chain. pedals saddle and sprocket
INTO the fourth 1 he woman, quick to understand,
Iai, %aS 5apldIy PIC plying large needle, and when I
face and grimy hands l heard a ripple of laughter
and there stood the bearded Dutch gentleman with
little wooden balcony above 0-- N'0 -'0iA
We we four had a merry supper together. I was
together on the following night on the other side
= The The next next morning 67 was called at $50 O'clock
n6 @R& Wqy va tb ana soon presented myself at the
gence, demanded. with some hauteur. of nv ac-
head out Of the little WHdoR % ared ae f5 thrust @ his
then at my luggage deposited at my side by the
four meal bags, securely sewn up. For a moment
window made out the ticket ana gave nv nv 1np me
gage TO the guard to be stored top OF the coach
-, After tr cheerful breakfast took my place on
7 O'Clock the six horses started under voiiey OF
to Switzerland was begun. And what day OF ad-
ventures! After climbing the rain soaked roads
changed from the coach to little wooden sledres
saGh ] urawh raw oy one rope harnessed horse and car
and for five hours toiled over the deep snow
Sometimes the horse would fall. and we would
founder out to help him up and Werm our sin
limbs. once we upset, and once, when the right
hung precipce Several times. where the snow
naQ aValancheQ across the road. workmen had dug
tunnels, and through these treacherous holes We
had to 60. At the summit the hospice where
drink. Clouds and snow fuTrie5 bufeted US; the
great mountain peaks rose. dnnIy discerned on ali
sides: white riffs OF clouds lay below us shutting
out the valleys and the wind whirled around the
corners where the narrow road turned striking us
from unexpected quarters. vast silence encon-
passed US. broken only by the creak OF the sledgs
and the bell on the horse, AT last. about 3 o'coek
IN the afternoon we climbed half frozen, from
the wretched sledge into the shelter and Compare
tive comfort OF the diligence awaiting us al he
level where the snow ceased For two or thres
hours more we whirled down the ZigzaR road
toward the green valleys OF Switzerland the storm
passed. and az sunset, with a resoundIng tlatter
OF hoofs our diligence rolled into the little cobble
stone square OF Breg, and the doorway OF the dear
good cheer. anu
= II clambered. with infinite WEAKNESS but with in
finite peace of mind down from my red cushioned
seat In the coupe. My meal bags were being taken
down from the top the horses unhitched from
the coach were led 20 their stable and across the
dusk-veiled SQUARE. toward the stone watering