The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-11-28
pressed with them and with the country
which exceeded my expectations.

pressed with them and with the country,
which exceeded my expectations.
We took the train for Zurich, Switzer-
land, ride of hours. We soon came
to Como Lake, very beautiful sheet of
water. Como is very fashionable re-
sort and the banks of the lake are cover
ed with fine residences, the homes of
the wealthy. We passed Lake Lucerne,
which is nestled in between high noun
tains and IS very picturesque and lovely.
We went through the famous St. Goth
ards Pass and several long tunnels, and
arrived in Zurich, the largest city in
Switzerland. 1t is as fine looking city
as have seen in Europe, or anywhere.
1t has magnificent buildings of Swiss
architecture, which has no superior for
beauty and variety. Zurich is situated
on Lake Zurich, a beautiful sheet of
water. The scenery through Switzerland
is simply grand and has no superior for
beauty and variety, with its pretty build
ings, neat farms and lovely villages,
grand and majestic mountain scenery.
Our train winds through gorges, through
many tunnels, around mountain sides,
over precipices and alongside of rushing
rivers, with lofty mountains rearing their
heads on high.
All around us are these peaks, covered
with eternal snow The view of the Alps
is grand beyond the power of tongue to
tell. The people were busy cutting their
hay and grain. The women were out in
full force, moving. raking and pitching
and carrying it in large baskets on their
backs. 1t was amusing to see them at
their work. Everything here seems to
be done by hand in the good, oldfashion.
ed way. Their pitchforks are all made Of
wood, their scythe snaths are straight
sticks. They do not seem to have many
of the modern implements and tools that
we have in this country.
The next day We took the train for
Lucerne. 1t is a great summer resort
for tourists from all countries and very
fashionable place for the wealthy. 1t is
lovely city and has many attractions.
1t is situated on beautiful Lake Lucerne,
with its many pleasure boats and steam
ers going and coming all the time with
fine bands of music on board and on
shore. There are throngs Of pleasure
seekers of all nations on the walks and
piers. With the August sun beating
down so warm and lovely, the beautiful
steamers going and coming, the sweet
music floating over the water and the
gaily dressed crowd Of people promenad-
ing, the scene was most attractive. And
only few miles away the lofty Alps
reared their hoary heads on high, all
white with eternal snow. 1t surely was
grand sight and seemed almost like
Paradise here below. 1t would quicken
the pulses of the most cold blooded to
see and hear such beautiful sights and
sounds. The lion of Lucerne is great
attraction to tourists. 1t is cut in the
side of solid perpendicular granite
mountain, geo feet high, and is wonder
/ full and life-lke.
/ l now take the train for Berne the
Capital of the Republic of Switzerland
We were in sight of the snowy peaks Of
the Alps the whole way. Waterfalls
were dashing down the mountain sides,
sometimes falling hundreds of feet and
were wonderful sight to behold. The
mountain sides were covered with icy
glaciers. l visited the capitol building
of Berne, fine and attractive structure.
The street cleaners here are all women.
| 1t seemed odd to see crew of women
sweeping and cleaning up the filth of the
streets. When you order coffee or bread
here you do not get milk or butter with
it unless you pay extra for it. The bread
is hard enough to knock person over
and you can hardly break or chew it. l
do not like the living here in Europe
nearly as we'll as l do at home. The
food is so different. didn't see piece
of pie, hardly bit of cake, and not a
baked bean in all my travels.
We now take the train for Basic, a
large city so miles from Berne. 1t is a
fine place with many attractions. The
city is divided by the river Rhine. After
short stop here, during which our lug
gage was examined by the custom house
officers, we took the train for Strasburg,
Germany, and were soon over the boun-
diaries on German soil in the valley of the
River Rhine, very level. fine productive
looking farming country. In a few hours
we are in the fine, strongly fortified city
of Strasburg, which was taken from the
French during the Franco Prussian war;
together with the Provinces of Alsace
and Lorraine. Strashurg is fine looking
old town. 1t is famous for it's large ane
magnificent Cathedral, which is very
grand, and also forts fine museum. The
milk dealers here, as we'll as the fruit
and vegetable dealers, are mostly women
They haul it around in hand carts, some
times having large dog or two to hell
pull. 1t is very amusing sight to SEE
+ them. The next day we took the trair