The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

accept natural causes as an explanation
of the phenomenon and account for the
catastrophe in this manner, which is cer-
tainly quite poetic in conception: In the
center of the lake, far below the surface
of the water, is palace inhabited by
mixes and water nymphs paved with gold
and silver and lighted by the sparkle
of precious stones encrusting its walls.
The fairy inhabitants of the palace never
come to the surface of the lake except
at night when they may be seen in the
moonlight dancing over the waves or
spreading out upon the margin of the
water their white wells of mist. The son
of a magistrate of Zug fell in love with
one of these nymphs and after brief
courtship was told the nymph's parents
had forbidden her to hold further COM
munion with a mortal unless he would
come and dwell at the bottom of the
lake. The young man stated that he
could not live under water but was adj
vised that humans might live submerged
by partaking of certain magic draught
which the nymph then proffered him. He
quaffed and sank witlDhis bride to The
bottom of the lake. Here he lived for a
while in perfect bliss. but as time wore
on he became homesicl for a sight of his
parents and friends of earth and he con-
fessed his homesickness to his fairy wife.
That night she left him for the first
time since he had entered the palace,
and visiting the city of Zug she replaced
the drinking water of all the houses IN
the f.Vp hv 40 cria
draught she had given her lover. The
people drank of the fluid the next day
and the ensuing night the entire two
streets sank to the bottom of the lake.
The youth could now commune with his
former acquantances and when the
waters are clear the spire of the sunken
church and the gables of the submerged
houses may be clearly described in the
depths of the lake. Indeed there are
some in Zug who solemnly aver that they
have heard church bells ringing beneath
the waves and the sounds of an organ
softly accompanying the chants of the
sunken congregation.
Just an hour from Zug by rail and
the traveller is in Zurich most mag
nifcent city of nearly 100000 souls hid
den away in the Swiss mountains. The
lake of Zurich, upon which the city Is
situated, is also noted for Its laeustrina
finds, or remains of the lake dwellings,
These lake dwellers who lived In the
bronze age were familiar with the forge
and within their isolated homes wrought
their weapons of warfare and imple-
ments of crude industry. Their villages
were evidently erected far out in the
lake as a means of defense from the
enemy and were connected with the main
land by bridges. Here they fished, dried
the pelts of wild animals and piled theif
simple craft, while the women wove,
spun, churned and performed their house.
hold duties just as the light housekeepers
live today with their families far out at
sea. The remains of these dwellings are
yet visible beneath the water.
Zurich is superb city. Its Tonhalle is
a marvel of architectural beauty and un-
surpassed by any in the various cities of
Europe. Its boulevards initiate those Of
Paris, its quays are remarkable produce
tions of engineering skill, its banhof (rail-
road station is most magnificent struc-
ture, its museums are superb and It's
university instructs nearly 2OOO students.
Here, as In all other Swiss centers or
gan recitals are given every afternoon
and their music must be heard to be
fully appreciated. The finest organ is to
be heard in Bern, but the largest in
strument in the world is at Friberg, hay-
ing 1000 pipes and 70 stops.
Pestalozzi was a native of Zurich and
the city was long the home of Zwingli.
handsome heroic statues of whom in
bronze and marble adorn the thorough
fares of the place. Yet in odd contrast
to all this civic beauty and splentic- are
the provincial characteristics which are
in evidence on market days. Upon these
occasions the principal street is lined for