Evening star., 1909-08-29
SWITZERLAND.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
GENEVA, August 10, 1909.
1t would be safe to say that the entire
district known as the region Of the lake
of Geneva Is just now the rendezvous of
American tourists. Your correspondent.
accompanied by some home folks. has
just returned from pleasant tour of the
lake, visiting Lausanne, Vevey and
Montreux, and then proceeding along the
Rhone valley. and calling at Zermatt.
Everywhere I found that with the re-
turn of fine weather the number of
Americans has sensibly increased. and
hopes of a good after season are now
entertained. At Lausanne. upon inquiry,
was informed that the latest figures
showed 1.OO5 Americans registered during
the course of a single week. One meets
them everywhere. on the lake steam
boats and in the trains along the valley.
the fair sex predominating.
The city of Geneva Is always popular
with Americans, who, because of its
cosmopolitan character. liken it to Paris.
only smaller and perhaps for that reason
more comfortable. The prevailing habits
and customs are distinctly French. the
chic, while the street life has the gay
and animated character that so distin-
guishes these old-wOrld cities where the
pursuit of pleasure Is OF equal impor-
tance to that of commerce. In such cities
it is possible to promenade In the true
sense Of the word, the philosopher and
student Of human nature finding much to
observe.
Miss Gibson, the sister of the well
known artist. has been here since last
the season. She enjoys the distinction
Of being the most stared at American
girl in Switzerland, and Is in great re-
quest at charity bazaars since her recent
successful sale Of flowers. when she took
in more than all the other women to-
gether. She recently told an acquaint-
ance that whenever stranger is intro
duced. one Of the first questions she Is
asked is, Are you one of the original
girls?''
those possessing a genius for art and
literature. Voltaire said that 1t was here
that he had spent the happiest days of
his life. Many are the great writer's who
have admired the quaint hooks on the
shores of fair Lake Geneva, and SO. one
ing places excite the admiration OF the
thousands Of Americans who yearly come
here. No matter at what season. wheth-
er in the springtime, when everything Is
with the perfume from the fields of
narcissus. which extend for miles along
the shores, notably in the neighborhood
of Vevey and Montreux. or whether dur
ing the summer months, when nature
displays her fully developed charms. the
resorts on the mountain sides have al
ways their American colonies.
Among the Americans who have lately
made Vevey their headquarters are: Mr..
and Mrs. Charles D. Cryder of New
York; Mrs A. H. Fowler and her daugh-
ter of Washington.
On the new electric line from the
Rhone valley to Chamonix service of
auto carriages has just been introduced,
and because OF their comfort and adapt
ability for sightseeing are proving very
popular conveyances. This new line is
gaining in favor very rapidly. and the
number of Americans who choose this
way Of reaching Chamonix Is steadily
increasing.
I was particularly impressed by the
journey from viege to Zermatt. which
is one of the most picturesque in this
land of scenic marvels. At every turn
Of the road one encounters something
awe inspiring, and the line is a clever
piece of engineering skill On the occa-
sion of my visit found the little village
transformed into a veritable metropolis.
and on every side could be seen outland-
ish costumes, and one heard a babel of
foreign tongues. Among those registered
from Washington were DIR. and Mrs.
Wall