Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-14

SoIIlc Will me ana Walk through Inc
old wooden covered bridge which Spans
Lake Lucerne. This Chapel Bridge. as
it is called, was constructed in the
year thirteen hundred and thirty-three
and is one of the oldest and most Gu
rious buildings in Switzerland. In old
en- times it was nearly twice as long as
it is now, for then it went even
up to the cathedral, the land
where today so many splendid build
ings stand, being then covered
with water. This bridge still pre-
serves it's Zig-zag form, having been
built that way in order to avoid the
depths of the lake. The pictures which
have been painted on the triangular
cross beams at regular intervals are
certainly a very original ornament if
not artistic. They have been dedicated
by the gentry of Lucerne, and repre-
sent facts of Swiss history or events in
life Of the tutelar saints of the town,
st. Leodegar and st. Maurice. In the
midst of the bridge stands the octagon-
al WaSserthurin or water tower. where
in olden times the municipal treasure
was stored. 1t was also used as pris-
or, and it is said to have contained a
torture chamber.
So come with me and read in the pic
lures that face us the story of Lucerne.
Some are so effaced with TIME, that we
cannot see more than mere outlines,
thus we will only pause before the
more distinct ones. First giant
strides in front of us holding aloft the
arms of I.ucerne In the year 1917 a
skeleton of extraordinary size was dis
covered at Beiden, near the town. Pop
ular fancy attributes it to a giant who
thus has been adopted as the symbol OF
the prosperity of. the town and canton
of Lucerne.
Then we see next picture of the old
Lucerne with only the st. Nicholas
Chapel in the foreground 1t was cree
ted on the site OF the present cathedral
and was the first building of the vii
lage. Tradition says that for many
nights glory was seen over it. A step
farther and we see how little by little
the inhabitants came and built their
huts around the Chapel. The name of
the place, Lucerne, is supposed to have
been derived from that glory luce"
that was formerly seen over this Chap
el. Pass on to the next two pictures
and TO- the good Wickard. Duke Of
Suabia founded and endowed mon
astery in the place of St Nicholas
Chapel in Cos. Here the brethren of ST.
Bencdict's Order We're ordained to the
House of God of which the Dutch
Wickard was the first Abbot.
Slowly Lucernc' enlarged. We see
regularly laid out streets, redoutable
=. e @1l 49,, 4
completing the circle of wall and tow
ers which entirely surrounded the city.
Thus rapidly pass before us the banner
cts and the captain of the town sol
diery, the hannerets of the Archers and
Shooters, that of the County of Will
lisan and SO on, for now Lucerne has
become stronghold with well ordered
organizations.
After, these standard bearers have
passed SO proudly before US, there
stands forth the picture of st. Beat
alone on a hillside, in warfare with a
dragon which unwillingly draws back
before this saint. 1t is st. Beat who
was the first apostle sent by st. Peter
himself into Switzerland. He died in
the year 112.
linen 1Of some INSTANCE lnc PICTURES
portray the founding of monasteries
and religious orders. In a lonely spot
a rude chapel has been erected in the
ninth century by st. Meinrad. He ded-
icated it to the Virgin, and now it has
become the famous cloister of Einsie-
delu. A little more pretentious are the
church and cloister Of the Franciscans
in Lucerne founded and endowed at the
prayer Of ST. Francis by the Countess
Cutta Won Schauensee. ST. Francis in
the foreground of the picture is receiv-
ing the stigmata from heaven, while
slowly from the cloisters file out the
Brothers, two by two. The church and
cloister of Werthersstein from imme-
mortal times. place of pilgrimage, has
been enlarged by the town by the rea-