The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-03-04
THE ALPINE GIANTS.
Exception to Rule That Familiarity
Breeds Contempt.


Breeds Contempt.
The Swiss Alps, known to the eau
casian race long before Hannibal and
julius Caesar led the Carthaginian and
Roman legions through their passes,
are an exception to the rule that ia
known for SO many centuries, it Is only
within the last hundred years that the
chiefest Of the great family Of noun
tain monarchs crowding the Swiss con-
federacy have been conquered. 1t was
not until 1865 that the Matterhorn was
the bumped up little republic with its
hundreds Of peaks more than 10000
feet in height their summer play
ground. They never tritle with the
SUBMITS, however, and the ascension
of some of the mountains today is con-
sidered a feat almost worthy Of more
than local record
There are many legends told of the
neighborhood of the Matterhorn. One
is about the origin Of the name Of the
Theodule pass. which joins Piedmont.
Italy, and the canton of Falais, be-
tween the Matterhorn and the Brett
horn, at an elevation Of 10000 feet. 1t
is supposed to commemorate the name
| of st. Theodule, who lived in the fourth
century and was the first bishop of
Sion, ruling for ten years, from 3S1 to
| 301. The remarkable manner OF his
passage, according to tradition, Of this
| elevated gateway out Of Italy on one
occasion was the origin of the name.
| The pope had given the preate fine
bell in recognition Of his efforts in OBJ
tanning the conversion Of the valley Of
the Rhone to Christianity. The bell
was for some time white elephant ON
his hands. He did not know how to
get it over the Alps into his see. At
this juncture Satan appeared and Of
fered to carry the bell and the bishop
OH his back over to Sion if the bishop
would agree to give over the dominion
of his soul forever to the prince OF
darkness In the event Of the compile
bargain H-..;;.s struck and the journey
begun. Long before dawn the devil
had reached the city walls and wa!
about to bound over when the bishop
fearful Of the consequences, cried
Grow, cocks, crow, or forever hole
your peacev' Immediately the rooster.
crowed and thus formed the habit o
growing betimes In the morning. Sa
tan. seeing victory slipping from hi
clutch, became so angry that he hurle'
the bell with all his force, and 1t wa
buried many feet in the ground.
Unlike the Matterhorn, the Jungfrat
, in the Bernese Alps, did not resist >
long the efforts to reach its SUNNI
In 1911 the Meyers of Aarau climbe
to the crest Of the slender. majestl
, white mountain. While In the cours
, of the succeeding forty years th
, ascent was made only four times. t
day it is accomplished not infrcquen
, ". The frowning crest Of the Ma
T terhorn was not attained till 1856
This feat was performed by Whympe
OF all the peaks that surround til
, picturesque valley in which Engelber
Hes HOHe Is 80 captivating " eye Ill
! mind as the giant form of the Titli
! 1O.G27 feet high. In the evening whe
! the village is clothed in cloak {
> shadows cast by the mountain chal
, the SHOWS Of the Titlis flush in the af
) erglow and the peak seems no long
! cold, but Illuminated by hidden fir
q the flames Of which threaten to bur
from it at any moment. 1t is typic
,, Of the scenic beauties of Switzerland.
> New York Tribune.