Evening journal., 1906-10-25
Nan-zQEux

ing steamers AFOREMENTIONED after
~ long summer holiday spent
abroad. They are coming from many parts
Of Europe and the British Isles with
pleasant recollections Of Scottish heath,
German ruins on the Rhine and the COS
mopolltan gayety OF the Partisan capital,
but they are one IN the opinion that
Switzerland Is the playground Of the
world
The nrst picture evoked by the name
Switzerland is one Of mountains, white
and shining IN their eternity Of snow. and
of lakes as clear as lapis lazuli set in
frames Of dazzling emerald But this Is
soon followed by n varied kaleidoscope Of
tourists from every part Of the known
world. who come % spend their holiday in
this small though beautiful republic. Be
hind the French auto enthusiast, the Eng
lish sportsman and the American pleasure
seeker stand the Swiss folk welcoming
strangers to their land. with the beauty
Of their country. comforts and amuse-
ments
The Swiss cater to foreigners and have
learned through necessity the art Of being
excellent hosts Their great riches are
their scenery. But men cannot live on
towering peaks. on snow-clad mountains,
rnnres and fertile valleys. The very gran
deur OF this scenery has impoverished the
country as far as the essentials OF life
are concerned Switzerland Is poor; its
natural resources are few compared with
those Of adjacent countries. Much OF the
land Is too sterile and high 10 be used
for farming and IN many parts where the
land Is fertile the climatic conditions are
such ms to permit OF farming only n few
months Of the year.
Just as these sturdy, courageous folk
struggled TO get and maintain their free
dom they have likewise toiled. lnbored
and tolled to change their cold hnughtlly
sublime mountains into gardens Of smiling
beauty They have pierced the bowels OF
the earth 20 link their country with Italy
and France They have blasted the hard
est rocks, making roadways along the seas
and up the steepest sides Of their noun
tains.
Through observation they learned that
only genuine sportsmen enjoy ascending
high mountains with pick and stan; there
fore. scientists and engineers have worked
energctically 90 perfect the cogwheei and
mountain railroad. so that tourists might
be carried up Pilatus, Stauserhorn and
Rigi and heavenward toward the summit
Of the snowciad fmgfrau. They have
adorned their cities with splendid prone
pades. rich IN howerheds and fountains.
They have erected handsome places or
amusement and hotels that compare ia
voraby with any found in the largest Eu-
ropean capitals.
The Swiss are excellent hotelkeepers.
whether they run a costly establishment
or a small inn The lodgings they offer
are always Immediately clean and the
board Is good. They are much more anx-
ious 10 please a guest than to quibble over
a frame OF room tariff reckoning II they
please their guests they viii come back
another season.
Before the season opens these hotelkeep-
ers come together and discuss points Of
common interest, such as improving the
promenades, the tarin OF room and board
the amusements they shall ofer their
guests, and II the roads are in good condi-
ton for driving and automobninr. A
keeper Of small pension makes his place
attractive with window-boxes and an old
fashioned garden, while the large hotel
Keepers have French chefs ana servants
who speak many languages: an orchestra
and a program three or four nights week
with talent supplied from the best the
aters and concert halls OF Europe. Almost
every large city has a kursaal. where ,
band plays during the afternoon. Hero IN,
promenaders retreat from the heat OF th,
day, chat with their friends. nauut tboi
handsome frocks and furhelows. sippin
wine, eating fee and listening TO music i
tho a..
son, the proprietors OF these kursnols o.,
gage the best talent OF Europe. and Il
not unusual 70 hear artists from the Aca,
emie Franchise IN Luccrne. Intcriaken an
ST Mortz. All these places have roulet
tables. where gamblers from all parts
Europe and America gather TO gain al
lose large fortunes
Automobiling is another favorite anus
ment for strangers IN Switzerland; mai
American aud French people ship IN,
own machines and visit the dirore
parts OF the country IN a touring ca
Others locate I'm Lucerne or st. Morli
and, making one OF these places ia,
center. ride many miles daily along d
sen, across rich valleys aud over hi,
mountain ranges The beauty OF q
Swiss scenery and the comforts al
pleasures provided by the people ha
resulted In making Switzerland a pcrfe
Mecca IN summertime
The English come early and stay LAT
They wait imDatiently for the snow
stop falling from the mountain so the
can climb the Rie1 and Pllatus: the
cross the glaciers at Chnnonix aud MOI
Blanc, and even dare such heights 1