The Washington herald., 1908-02-16

up in Grindelwald. We had just come
down into the village from an all-day's
tour on the Busenalp. Such as were
feminine Of the party had on knee
high skirts. heavy leggings. and boots
with pointed hLonails. The men were
IN heavy tweeds, with puttees. We all
had pointed canes.
As sc tramped-clumped wouel be a
better word, up the principal street Of
the village. we saw three gentlemen
mincing down the middle of the road
They had no irons on their shoes, and
they Simply had TO mince. as all the
roads in winter In and around Grindel
wald are worn CLASSY by sleds.
As VIC came nearer, they ali saluteG
us. and we stopped to chat. 1t was a
remarkable trio The handsome gray
haired. gray-bearded man. was Mr.
Emil Frey. once minister from Switzer-
land 10 washington. afterward President
Of Switzerland. and now chief Of the IN
ternationalen Telegraphen Bureau.
One Of the others. Mr. Rufy, was
also once president, and is now chief or
the International Postal Bureau.
The third the one with the smsll-pointed
beard and the very marked Basler ac-
cent. was Mr.. Brenner. the present
President Of Switzerland IS we stood
there talking. now and theN meneuver-
ing and side-stepping out OF the way
Of the passing sledders they told Us
funny thing that had happened 10 them
IN the train on their way uD 10 Grin
delwald
Hungarian count. seeing that they
were Swiss citizens began TO question
them about the government. After
/ commenting on the fact that the eouH-
try is guided by a council Of seven.
called the federal council. the Hunga-
riau said.
But you have never had a Presi-
dent from the French part Of swltzer-
! land. have your
"Oh. yes. answered Frey ard BreEner.
indicating RuTy, Here he is"' Great
astonishment on tie part Of the Hun
| garian nobleman. When he had recovered
/ he said.
Very interesting, very interesting
Then I suppose you are the only ex-
| President in Switzerland"
oh. no. laughed Bremen ard Ruffy
pointing 10 Frey. Here's another one"
Surprise Of The Hungarian. mixed with
/ suspicion Finally, after much thought,
/ be veBtured,
and who is the actual President Of
switzerland
"Why. Brenner here" roared Frey and
Ruffy and the Hungarian count. much
afronted. arose and left the compart-
ment, thinking himself the victim Of a
Swiss joke.
Grludelwald was filled with English peo-
pie. coasting-or. as they call it. 'tobag-
gaming on those high little Grindelwald
sleds, and calling out with great vehem-
ence. "Achtung which corresponds 10
/ fore" In golf. Lots OF them skated, the
/ girls in the pointed Grindelwald hood OF
/ ali colors that is Sc becoming and coquet-
/ tsh with short skirts to match. The
| Scotch element stuck to curling on the
/ ice. But the favorite sport seemed TO
/ be skiing. and the snow fields all around
were scored and zig-zagged and CROWS
/ footed with their tracks.
/ GrindelwaId is heavenly place. 1t is
bitter cold in the village, for the sun is so
low in the winter the shadow Of the Eiger
! covers the place till late in the afternoon.
/ But once started off on a tramp up one
/ IF the hills. YOU are soon in the sunshine.
and. one By one. of come glove. coat,
and whatever else is practicable That
/ was oar experience on this trip 10 the
! BusenaIp. When, after a stiff climb OF
three hours, we finally reached the tiny
chalet we had decided on as our hating
place. we were glowing as il in midsum-
mer. But wisdom directed US to put on our
/ coats again. as we sat down on the sunny
side Of the tiny brown building and un-
packed the lunch. One OF the men had
! had the energy 10 pack up a bottle Of
l champagne in his "rucksack." and made
mild little joke by sticking it, unob-
| served into the snow behind the chalet
and then apparently knowing nothing
about it when il was discovered.
/ I believe. it would be impossible for q
/ foreigner Il speak now from the stand
point Of a Swiss to feel the same rever-
encA and admiration for the high Alps as
do the inhabitants Of the country them
selves. The members Of our party we're
Ian Bernese ladies and gentlemen. Sea rec
lIy seated. and not waiting to take breath
they began TO exclaim over the marvellous
panorama spread out before us: The Wet
terhorn. jagged and cruel; the Eiger, I'm
posing. fOTbidding; the Jungfrau. rocky
and austere seen from this side, with here
and there patches Of snow cliugIng to the
rock; the Silver Horn. dazzling white: th'
long stretch of the Scheidegg. with its boz
of a hotel perched so perilously near tbs
edge: and, far of 10 the left. the glaciers
cleaning green. one of the men. peeTinG
through his excellent Zeuss binoculars
gave a Joyous cry: ~Chamois a band oi
FIVE of them Look, lookr' One after the
other. we all looked, and exclaimed. The
timid wild things seemed very neal
through the glass. They were on patCf
Of snow on the WetterhOrn, paving away
10 get at the grass beneath. We could ses
their markings quite plainly, and tht
beard of the father of the flock waved IL
the breeze as he lifted his head TO gaze
suspicioUsly on the direction OF SOUND
caused by a small avalanche. We were
so glad there were no hunters in the vi
cinity; the animals looked so free anC
happy We were told that they are on th'
increase. in spite Of rUmors to the con
trary. and in spite Of the depredations Of
pOachers
The luncheon finished. we disposed our
selves to rest and contemplate more
nearly the beautiful view. In a few mo
ments came shout from below.
"Gruss Euch.' and a peasant. in tha
peculiar mountain stride that knows n,
fatigue, hoisted himself into view. H,