The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-22
Funicular, Montreux

of Lausanne or the outlook of Sauvabelin and heard the beating of the little steam CTS upon the surface of the water, as the heart of affrighted bird, many hun dreds of feet below me and several miles away.
 It is opportune here to speak of rather unusual experience upon my first visit to Lausanne. Frenehman who during the winter received for instruction English youths, rented the cottages of the stu dents to visitors during the summer, and l had taken one of them for six weeks , sojourn. The group of buildings is charm fngly enscenced at the edge of the woods of Sauvabelin and the forest is reached by using a steep funicular that sheers up from the waters edge. I had written for accommodations, but as 1t was raining in torrents upon the day designated for my arrival, I was not expected and no host met me in the downpour was a stranger, and in quite a quandary as to know how to proceed Eventually I noticed q large, shaggy St. Bernard dog, drenched to the skin who eyed me continuously and start ed through the forest casting every few moments an anxious glance at the over his shoulder. The spirit moved me to follow him, and I did so, and whenever I halted at a crossroad or diverging path the animal also stopped, and with an almost human expression in his eyes in-
 
 low him. Once when I deemed his guid- ance positively wrong and whistled for him to accompany me, he responded with such evident reluctance that yielded the point and following the faithful canine I found myself at the door of the de- sired pension. I later learned that it was the habit of the creature to accom- pany his master to the funicular to well come guests and that day, the indictment weather keeping his owner indoors he had undertaken to play the part of host himself. and had gone alone to the ip- cline in search of visitors
 Lausanne contains the handsome build ing where the tribune or supreme court of Switzerland holds its sessions and in the city's cathedral was held. in 1886, the famous disputation in which Calvin, Farel and Viret participated, causing the down. fall of the supremacy of Savoy and the separation of the canton of Vaud from the Catholic church.
 Among the peculiarties of the popuace noticed the use of baby carriages by the market women for the hauling of vegetables to the market. many of the vehicles being filled With tomatoes, peas, potatoes and similar garden truck
 From this city to the extreme east ern end of the lake the shore is lined with villa magnificent villas and palatian hotels The names of Mont reux, Glicn, Territet and scores of oth- CTS are too we'll known to my readers by reputation. if not personal associa- tion. to dwell upon here
 At the first mentioned resort is erect cd a superb monument to the late Elm press Elizabeth of Austria, who was assassinated in Geneva while she was guest of one of the Montreux hotels and in the very act of boarding a steamer for her place of sojourn The empress is represented in a most mag nificent court toilet and regarding in pensive attitude the blue waters of the bay at her feet.
 Here is also the most perpendicular funicular railway in all Europe It is much sleeper than the famous incline at Lookout mountain in Chattanooga and represents a rise of one foot in every one and three- fourths foot, and In the positively terrifying ascent the car literally hangs upon the side of the cliff for more than mi1e I know of no greater hair-raising journey ex- cept probably tho one up Corcovado in | the center of Rio de Janeiro in Bra gil
 Most of the hotels are supplied with | private funiculars for appro aching them | operated by water power. There are no !! and guests elevate them selves by merely pushing a button aft CT being seated and a stream of water | does the rest.
 The gem of the lake is unquestion- | ably the ancient imposing castle of Chiffon, so old that it's early history is lost in the mazes of the past and upon an isolated rock crowned | with legend and romance. There is most singular coincidence connected with this venerable keep. Byron has Invested the spot with undying inter- st by his poem, the Prisoner of Chill fon," which he wrote at Ouchy. the anding port of Lausanne, and yet his hero has no connection whatever with he victim of the tyranny of the, Duke ,f Savoy who was for six years con ]. fined within the castle walls. Byron his story fable and con .esses that at the time of its penning ie was not aware of the history of l(