The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-09-30
Hurryins Through Europe.

To THE .I:GIS:
AT the close of my first letter was just
ready to leave Paris for the south OF
Europe | started on July - over the
Paris and LYONS Railroad for Lausanne
Switzerland, passing Dion and Dole, and
stopping over night i'll Pontarber The
route leads through some very beautiful
scenery i'll the Jura mountains, as one
has fine view of some Of the valleys, es-
pccially near Nallorbe valley of the
Orbe), where the train runs alcnS the
edge Ga a i,recipitous ravine for quite a
distance. Lausanne is well situated on
the Lake of Geneva, SO that from the Sig
nal a considerable hill in the rear of the
town ives a fine view of almost the ell
tire lake. as we'll as the Alps of Savoy to
the south. This is an especially interest
ing sight, as the waters Of this lake are
blue, while most Of the Swiss lakes are OF
grcenish east. 1t was at the Hotel Glib
bon, i'll Lausanne. that Gibbon wrote at
least the concluding portion OF his DE
cline and Fall OF the Roman Empire. "
Next | went to Geneva, the great watch
making city, and on to the Vale OF Cha
mounix. This was the finest scenery of
nv whole trip The country through
which We passed was not very interest
ing, but after we left the train and had
boarded 4 narrow gauge electric car the
scenery became simply overwhelming.
II produced Il greater impression on me
than anything have ever yet seen. The
Yosemite Valley, i'll California, is truly
magnificent with its perpendicular edges
and beautiful waterfalls, but it lacks the
glaciers and mountains capped entirely
with snow which tower G,O0O feet above
losemite's highest peak. A thunder
storm here prevented lie from getting Il
very complete view of the Mcr de Glaze,
but we passed one other very large Ila-
cier. then went by Il rather Circuitous
route to the Mt. Gents tunnel, which is
7la miles long and which it required 3
years to dig. our train was almost eX-
actIy one half hour in passing through.
but it was fortunately not necessary to
close I he windows, and the cool air was
very pleasant Beyond this the country
is very mountainous the greater part of
the way to Turin. On the slopes of these
mountains, however, every available foot
of land seems to be cultivated. This is
possible in most places only by the ter
races formed by stone walls. The build
ings are mostly very small. and there is
every Indication of a mere struggle for
existence in dcnscly populated country.
This does not give us a very good idea ot
Italy, however, which is in some parts
the garden of the world. The milk cow
is here often seen drawing acaTt or Cul.
tivator. ! had little time for Turin, but
hurried to Genoa where one SEES the
monument of Christopher Columbus inn
mcdiately on leaving the depot. The city
itself Is active and has many fine build
ingS. Pisa was the next place visited
Its buildings are principally very old.
The leaning tower is interesting and
seems 20 he falling as one looks up to-
wards the clouds. In height it is rather
disappointing in these days of high build
ingS. Before reaching Pisa the railroad
is built so close to the Mediterranean
that the alternate flashes of bright light
and of darkness in tunnels is really very
unpleasant. After passing Pisa the coast
becomes more level. On reaching Rome
the train goes to the south of the CITY,
makes Il circuit about the old wall and
comes into the depot.
was now in city which Was intense
" interesting to me, but could give it hut
4 dav and half Even that waa enough
10 gain an idea of the seven hills, the To-
rum, the arches, and the Colosseum
which years Of study could never furnish.
Here they can only he mentioned, but
when one sees the very ruins that the
once masters Of the world have left he
hind, he must reaizt ;hat they were not
the merely mythical race that they may
seem to some assembled the dome of
St Peters. the largest cathedral in the
1 ,,I tl,a Entirn, p1ln
Library.
From Rome took the train for Flor
cnce. The weather on this sixth day OF
August was very hot. This was now
really turning towards home and felt
that had indeed long way to go, but
i'll the train happened to occupy the
same compartment with two young
ladies' from California, who seemed as
glad us to find some one who could
talk English AT Florence | visited the
two great art galleries, j'ztizzi and Pitt.
The latter is considered the finest collec-
ton of paintings III the world. Here
was glad to meet three ladies who had
crossed the ocean with ne on the Moor
dam
Next passed through the Apennincs
and over the Pc to Venice. The train
passes over Il NSi h'ilS DlluSS " iN''N u
the city, and the depot is situated on the
Grand Canal. 1t was a little after dark
when approached the city. and the
lights were very impressive shining into
the water. Next morning took a long
ride ON the Grand Canal up under the
| Rialto So as to see the city and the nu.
| mcrous smaller canals which lead into
this main one AT the depot gnnd"las
arc waiting for passengers just as cabs
| do in other cities. could then only take
time to ascend tower whence had q
fine view of the city and down into the
| Adriatic.
then passed through a very hot but
fertile country to Milan by way OF
| Padua, the seat of once famous univer
sity, and Verona, the home of the Capu
let's of Romeo and Juliet fame. Milan is