The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-02-20

l@T| school of experience; nor must he
- hope by any argument to convince
those who have not yet learnt the lesson.
Thousands are now accustomed TO take
nual holiday in the Alps but most OF these. hav-
Ing only few short weeks at their disposal, stay
at hotel There are however maryland their
number is ever .increasing-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 a fur
nished chalet in the hills. There many such
TO 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 well-appointed chalets in good sit
uations that many have recently been built and
others being adapted
Those thinking OF taking such chalet for the
winter months would be well advised to see that
It stands at altitude OF not less than $500 feet
above sea level Should it be lower there will be
risk of fogs from the plains and lakes ris-
ing above it, and OF wet mud taking the place OF
firm, dry snow. II may be remarked in passing
that for housekeeping purposes 1t is useful to
choose a place within easy reach of some town
such as Montreux or Interlaken, 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 ii Is asked for. The average Swiss
village let it be said does not usually provide the
luxuries of Capua, but the visitor will quickly
discover where to obtain everything that he needs.
He will soon find that his chalet be managed
with remarkably little servant power. Central
heating" may be called a necessity, and In a
private house where the ventilation be proper
ly attended to, it does not produce the stiffness
that is such undesirable feature in many
hotels.
AT Rome at Rome" is a useful motto for
those who live away from their country. The
Swiss peasant has his opinions and his
way OF looking at life. Therefore visitor should
not be angry with him when he finds that he has
fixed notion that all foreigners semi-mil-
lionaires Is 1t surprising that the villagers be-
ing intelligent If 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 inexhaustible gold mines? They would
hardly be human If they did not use their oppor-
tunties 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 dweler in hotels but side of Swiss
characterize outside; for though the Swiss may
be businesslike, he is emphatically not obsequ-
ious by nature On the contrary, he is vigorously
independent The father of large family will
be grateful TO receive any crumbs from the rich
mans table, in the shape Of discarded clothes for
as from equal TO an equal for he is very SEN
sitive. But in a short time one of the boys will
probably bring basket of eggs ito thank mon
seur and madame" The writer was once asked
to photograph some girls, and few days later
message came from the childrens mother: Might
she do some OF the household washing free OF
charge in return? That is not such bad kind
OF independence, At least, II compares favorably
with a variety that is to be met with. which
thinks to show its independence in rough
tol-s hfayf loan Unf
without making any adequate return Take him
all round the Swiss peasant is an 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 a
possible chalet dweller is: VIII there be plenty
OF congenial society. or shall be dull?" To
which the reply must be made that the amount OF
society depends largely on the place selected, and
its nature ones self. II is always possible TO
ascertain 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. IL has been the writer's ex-
perience that hotel keepers. far from looking
askance at chalet dweers, welcome them and
willingly allow them the OF their skating
rinks and toboggan runs very moderate terms.
Many chalets are now built with an open fire.
place in the drawing room, where cheerful wood
fires may be lighted. And, let II be remembered.
that I'm most places, wood is plentiful that
within a few minutes walk OF the chalet sackfuls
OF fr cones and armfuls OF sticks and logs may be
collected is II possible to exhaust the supply.
Yet in the daytime artificial heating can often be
dispensed with Day after day the sun shines in
coudless beauty. and IL is possible TO sit out on
the balcony reading hour after hour. So dry Is
the air that snow evapoTates with the beat more
r. pidy than II melts. 50 that unless the thaw be
very pronounced there is total absence OF
'slush." Laet winter. a week OF snow at the be-
ginning Of December followed b. 81 weeks Of