The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-08-30
Il SWISS NzLA0E

Is the day OF national thanksgiving.
when the Swiss return thanks for the
good harvest. The churches are dec
Grated according to the season, ap-
pies, grapes and vegetables of all
kinds being used In place Of flowers
to adorn the interiors. During the
long prayers of gratitude the air is apt
to resemble that OF the market place.
In the afternoon a brass band goes
about playing in front of the different
churches, and all the world and his
wife follow it until dark. So the day
ends in cheerful goodfellowship,
All this rustic simplicity exists with,
in sight and hearing of Montreux. Ter
ritet and Clarens, where thousands OF
foreigners, speaking every tongue, vie
with one another In dress and jewels
and fashion, where famous casino
amuses those who care for 1t, and
where there are many other kinds OF
diversion for those OF more quiet
tastes. The stone quay running Tor
several miles along the lake is one OF
the gayest of promenades. Comfort
able benches under the clipped plan
tains which border it, invite one to loi-
ter and watch the thrOng of idlers, to
feed the swans clamoring at the low
wall, or to wait for the boat coming
down from Geneva and stopping at
Lausanne and the smaller towns.
They are gay little affairs, these lake
steamers, with their bright awnings
and stringed orchestra, and Oh holi-
days and afternoons are crowded with
school girls from many pensionaats, An
ever-changing throng, the people meet.
mingle and separate, Germans, French
men, Italians, Russians, Americans.
and many Englishmen. for the res
ident population is half British.
vevey Most Ancient.
Of all the towns along the lake, We
vey, linked by trolley to Montreux. Is
undoubtedly the most old world. In
spite of the 5000 English who 1.-Two
there the year round and the crowd
OF other nationalities who are tran
silent. Vevey has kept her narrow,
crooked streets with tagged pavings
and little byways, her old place with
its fountain, her slow-going barques.
In a nook sheltered by breakwater.
the peasant women beat and dip the
family linen in the cold waters Of the
lake.
In the center of town Is big square
cleared and called La Place du
Marche. Here on Tuesday mornings the
country people for miles about flock
and bring their wares 1t is very pic.
turesque, crowded with stalls, where
one can find absolutely anything.
Near the entrance are banked flowers
Of every kind-faming chrysanthe-
NUNS, delicate roses, modest cycla-
men-everything, rivaling the flower
markets at Aix-les-Bains in variety.
There is stand after stand heaped
with every kind of fruit and vegeta-
bles, and each husky peasant woman
assures you that her wares are the
best to be found in the Marche today.
Next there is piled enough cheese, but
ter and eggs for a regiment Every
housewife in town is here. her market
basket on her arm, haggling over the
price of a slice Of cheese, or kilo Of
butter. Voices rise in shriil jargon
Madame leaves the stall and the but
ter with an offended air. The mar
ket woman repents of her formel
price and calls Madame back AS usu
al, Madame gets the best end OF thu
bargain.
1t is an interesting scene, full o
i. color and movement. and usually re
suits in your carrying back 10 you
pension a lot of trash you bought 10
the fun OF buying and then have NJ
Idea what to do with However. 20
, have had & delightful morning. a goo
I object lesson in French and German
I and q splendid opportunity OF seein
at close range the various types OF e'
). cry nationality that go to make up ID
cosmopolitan whole Of Switzerland.