The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-02-27

Il
l@F school OF experiences; nor must he
hope by any argument to convince
those who have not yet learnt the lesson.
Thousands are now accustomed to take an an
nual holiday in the Alps, but most OF these, hav-
ing only a few short weeks at their disposal stay
ut a hotel. There are, however. maryland their
number Is ever ncreasng-who go out with
their families and spend the whole season in the
mountains. yet who grow weary OF continual hotel
life. and seek after something that shall be not
only more Independent but less expensive, for to
many the question OF expense looms larger every
year Such can hardly do better than take fur
nished chalet in the hills There are many such
10 be found. and although rents tend to increase,
they cannot yet be said to be excessive The
Swiss have realized the fact that there Is grow
ing demand for wellappointed chalets in good sit
nations, so that many have recently been built and
others being adapted.
Those thinking of taking such chalet for the
winter months would be we'll advised to that
ID stands at altitude Of not less than $500 fee
above level. Should it be lower there will be
some risk of fogs from the plains and lakes rs-
ing above it, and of wet mud taking the place of
firm, dry snow. 1t may be remarked in passing
that for housekeeping purposes 1t Is useful to
choose a place within easy reach of some town
such Montreux Interaken though much
shopping is best done by post. If the house is
large it will sometimes happen that the owner will
retain few rooms for his own personal use. In
this case he will almost always be glad to give
help whenever it is asked for. The average Swiss
village let it be said does not usually provide the
Injuries of Capua, but the visitor will quickly
discover where to obtain everything that he needs
He will soon find that Ills chalet can be managed
with remarkably little servant power. Central
heating may be called a necessity and. In a
private house where the ventilation can be proper
ly attended to. it does not produce the stiffness
that is such undesirable feature in so many
hotels.
"a Cal for
those who live away from their country. The
Swiss peasant has his own opinions and his
way of looking at life. Therefore visitor should
not be angry with him when he finds that he has
a fixed notion that all foreigners are semi-mil-
lionaires. Is it surprising that the villagers, be-
ing intelligent IL somewhat narrow and unedu-
Gated, should look upon the gems de sejour who
come from afar and live in nice houses, and, so
far they see do no work whatever, as
almost inexhaustbe gold mines? They would
hardly be human IL they did not use their oppor-
tunities of making hay while the sun shines; only
II rests with each visitor to that he does not
personally contribute an unreasonably large share
of the hay
The dweller in hotels sees but one side OF Swiss
character--the outside; for though the Swiss may
be business-iike, he is emphaticay rot obsequ
ious by nature. On the contrary, he is vigorously
The father of large family will
be grateful to receive any crumbs from the rich
mans table, in the shape OF discarded clothes for
the Of his boys provided that they are offered
as from an equal to equal, for he Is very SEN
sitive But in short time one of the boys will
probably bring a basket of eggs ito thank mon.
sieur and madame The writer was once asked
TO photograph some girls, and few days later
message came from the children's mother: Might
she do some of the household washing free OF
charge in RETURN That is not such bad kind
of independence! At least 1t compares favorably
with variety that is to be met with which
thinks to show its independence in rough
ners but is not above taking everything il can get
without making any adequate return. Take him
all round. the Swiss peasant is interesting and
a good man to deal with. Suspicious at first and
sensitive always, he responds warmly when he is
treated with tact and sympathy.
One OF the very first questions that occur to n
possible chalet dweller is: "Will there be plenty
of congenial society. shall be dull?" To
which the reply must be made that the amount OF
society depends largely the place selected and
its nature on ones self It Is always possible TO
scertain beforehand the number and size OF the
hotels In the village. and these may be looked
upon as fairly reliable index OF the visiting pop
ulation. Moreover, 1t has been the writer's ex-
perience that hotel keepers far from looking
askance at chalet dwellers, welcome them and
willingly allow them the use OF their skating
Kinks and toboggan runs very moderate terms.
Many chalets are built with open fire.
place in the drawing room, where cheerful wood
fires may be lighted And, let II be remembered,
that in most places wood Is so plentiful That
within al few minutes walk OF the chalet sackfu1s
OF fir cones and armfuls o. sticks and logs may be
nor is It possible to exhaust the supply.
Yet I'm the daytime artificial heating can often be-
dispensed with. Day after day the sun shines in
cloudless beauty, and it is possible to sit cut on
the balcony reading hour after hour. So dry Is
The air that snow evaporates with the heat more
rapidly than ii melts so that unless the thaw be
very pronounced there is total absence of
'sueh." Last winter, week of snow at the be-
ginning Of December was followed by six weeks OF