The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-31
II SNKzxGS I7ZLAGE

w T variety is the spice Of lie,
then Switzerland indeed lives.
Nowhere, probably, within the
W space Of forty-fve miles, can one
find greater variety than along
the shores Of Lake Lemon, from cos
mopolitan Geneva down to sleepy Vii
leneuye. Nowhere are the old and
the new, the native and the foreign
thrown in more striking contrast.
That small Paris, Montreux, scintil-
lates a stones throw from Veytaux,
which suns itself on the mountainside,
content with the simple life Of three
centuries ago. Its one narrow turn
ing street twisting uphill, is crowded
with old stone houses. Over many
doors are cut dates 1861, 1870, 1778,
and the old regime continues, untouch-
ed by tho modernness Of Montreux
1 and Territet.
The people of this enierprising lit
ITO country have cleVerly met the de-
nands Of the fashionable crowd Of
tourists who invade them all the year
round. They have built magnificent
hotels and pensions, smart shops and
pretty tearooms; they have made
mountain climbing easy by the funi-
i culaire; they have made boating on
the lake delightful. The old barque
with slant sails has given place to the
swifter launch; rowboats with striped
awnings and cushions fly the flag OF
every nation. The bronzed boatmeu
sizes you up and pays you the compli-
ment OF putting your flag at the bow.
IN short, the Swiss have made their
beautiful country attractive to the
most fastidious traveller, but back of
the alluring wares they offer in the
way Of most elaborate modern conve-
hlences, they have strictly kept their
Own simple mode of living and their
q lent customs.
Harvesting Quaint.
What is more quaint, more pictur-
ssaue, than the harvesting in autumn?
Oaaen OF an evening we walked on the
country roads among the vineyards.
me sunset light touched lake and
mountain, on every terraced slope the
peasants were gathering and pressing
inc grapes; their laughing and sing
ing echoed clearly through the still
ness, and the red handkerchiefs knot
ted on the Women's heads made a bit
#5of color here and there; the men were
. Dent double by the heavy hotties"
they carried on their backs. Every
one was at work from the Oldest to
the youngest, for it is considered an
omen OF good luck If the entire family,
rom the grandfather down to the
Youngest babe, participate in the gath
erlng and pressing of the grapes.
After seeing the making Of the wine,
you fancy you will never care to taste
any again: The dirty hands that han
we the grapes, the discolored hotties"
they are pressed by a dirty man and
dirtier ladle, are bad enough. But
Wien you see the mass Of pulp and
JUICE left standing at the roadside for
q week or more in big uncovered watts
exposed to the dust and swarms Of
nles and dabbled in by all the ragged
gamins who happen along, it is dis
gushing. And you don't feel entirely
treasured that 1t all comes out In the
aasEmencation, as the simple peasants
nasten to tell you.
switzerland Id more beautiful than
ever In the autumn. The wooded
mountains rising abruptly from the
Akeshore are strongly colored in
: srlght reds and yellows and deep
u browns The orchards are laden with
apples. chrysanthemums bloom in COR
seous profusion in every garden, and
eae yigne de Canada has turned Grim.
son on the walls. And the sunsets,
iney are exquisite beyond aescrin-
slon! Besides the marvellous beanty
q # there is a something, | can't
tel what, that gives one feeling Of
perfect peace and rest in this country
s. auleting hand seems to be over ey.
erything. =