Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-06

We jumred ahead an hour upon laaV-
| ing Chamonx, for once more we were
| in Switzerland, though the difference
| in the customs and language WAS not
noticeable as we were in French
| Switzerland, that part of the republic
where French is the acknowledged
| language. Previous to this We had
heard continually the harsh gutterals of
| the German language, and at one time
| the musical Italian dialect sounded
pleasant to us. In one train they had
signs in the three languages. People
of all rank are talented linguists i'll
switzerland.
| It was our ambition to live in a real
historic old chateau. A friend had
given us an introduction to the pro-
prictress of such one, situated right
On the very shore of Lake Geneva, or
as it is called over there Lake Leman.
Madomoisele and crowd of her
boarders We're on the same steamer
that sailed for twenty minutes before
landing us right in the very woods
| almost. Then we had a ten minutes
walk before reaching the chateau.
What a blessing that it was pleasant
on our arrival, for we did not see the
sun again during our stay there
Bellerive is 4 rambling old chateau
| fanked by two -tllWart towers, built
after the I:rn:. .,lce style of archi-
lecture, abuJ, t., hundred years ago
| by the Duke e .,:'.,v. and it has been
| handed down from &. n"iatipn to gencr-
alton until it has d. ~. d to Madem-
oiselle, but it has me ;.riy impoverished
| her to keep the imr.' use place up, 50
| that she is denendclt upon her board
ers.
One evening after dinner when a
rainy day was followed by clear
sunset, we strolled about the gardens
There was pleasant little pond with
row boats upon it, and half hidden
mathis lead us to the shore Of the lake,
n perfect calm such as the GoneEesc
philosopher Amiel felt when he wrote
these words, Deep peace; mountains
are hushed in spite of a houseful OF
people and a neighboring village. The
tlv alone goes on humming. Such an
impressive calm. Midday is like mid
night. Life seems at stand-still when
its pulse throbs highest. Then are you
conscious of infnity and of things
pnutterable.
and dscrpdited all claim the chateau
had to exciting adventures OF bold
deeds. But she said that Rellerive was
once used by Napoleon Bonaparte as a
custom house, and she lead us t" a tree
under which, he had frequently stood,
and rointed to nearby trough from
which his horse and the horses OF MS
soldiers had frequently drunk.
We had rooms in one of the towers,
and the chateau was so large that we
got lost every time we endeaFored 10
go from our room to the dining-roon
or the drawing-room. If it had been
warm and sunny | am sure we would
have enjoyed our stay there, But as
it was damp and rainy, and our floors
old stone floors. the prospect was
rather gloomy. We escaped one day
by going by steamboat all around the
lake. and although they told us that 1t
rained hard on land, we mad only an
occasional shower on the water.
How nroud the Swiss are, of this,
tboir largest lake. Noltairc writes,
"rvcrvthing is hcwildering. The
nure and pellucid waters of a peaceful
ocaan leaves the howery banks OF
b,nnv fields crowned with countless
hills. Foremost and unmatched is
1.ln Icman On it's blessed banks
ayvells mans perennial Goddess, the
soul of great works. the goal vi '''p'S
warnings. the passion. the rapture ','t
fascination of Humanity, the secret 'oo'
even at the tyrants court. Oh -
blessed banks dwells Liberty. bt.'.'"
this stern goddess fairly pouh.i' w.
>,,arriorclad, sWooping DOWN iio'',
ucrat. her Eands red with scoi II, III
Ans trian blood and with that OF A'lrr'9
the Sold, Avaunt We spears ''fo" -
commons. and scaling ladders win.
broke at I.ibertys touch VIA oi.
rescued Geneva's threatened Wai'e'
ON thrt sail over the lake 'Fe sa"
MANY an interesting spot. 1.i're wa
the villa where Byron lived " III ds'''.
we saw in the distance the Castle oi
Clillon.
There were pleasant tourists stop
ning NJ the chateau. tennis tourna-
ment had been planned and doubtless
we would have enjoyed the o'u p'a'u'
but the rain spoiled it all and we ieH
like saying with Browning
IAN the year long at the villa, nothing
to see though you linger, lilo
E.>cent Won cypress that points IKE
DEATHS lean lifted forefinger.'
So we fastened from the creepihs'
cold chateau to Geneva, where we we, g
comfortably established in . holei VIZ,
all the modern convenlences' anu
where we could participate as i'uci' aS
we pleased in the gayety AROUND Us
We were never weary of looking at the
watches displayed all over the Guy
There were watches even In. .he se''
rings. watches in all concelvapie loii,'S
and places. and we fell victims " 'l'-
watch mania that seizes the touiis' o''
seeing such display OF them.
At Geneva our little party or lotir
so,av. cd to Elcct again in Paris; MY
MOI her aud / Ttarted out on our
,atcau trip md excursions in the by