The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-03
SWITZERLAND CELEBRATES FESTIVAL
 OF INDEPENDENCE

eyE lI&NPELEy FIN ADILI1%tk1
 nahfs Sunday. the first of August, c6znnaenorates the Independence of gitzerland, and although the little rapublic is now entirely surrounded by warning powers there has been no disposition on the part of any of them to violate the neutrality of the nation svvfSeh has maintained is freedom for more than six centuries. The Swiss, e4lfirelv surrounded as they are by the beIligere1lt Germans, Austrlans, French and Italians have naturally s1lEered much from the conflict in x1ffich their sneighbors are engaged 7s5ss tourist sscrop. which in the past has beenf a source of much of the country s prosperity. has been almost entirely ruined, and many other ln- dustrfes have been severely injured. In addition, Switzerland has been put to great expense to defend it's bor- ders which are lined with the gallant s61diers who are the descendants of tlie hardy r1ountaineers of the past wS3o preserved Swiss liberties against many and powerful enemies. France ana Italy have shown disposition to befr4e4ad svvi4zerla1ld in every possible way however, and imports and ex- ports have been permitted to pass as freely as in more peaceful times. Thanks to the magnanirnity of It's nefghbors. and to the excellent man. agement Of the Swiss government and peepIs there has been very little real esl1fferfxasz from lack of physical n eces- sifies. Switzerland has not only cared for it's own people, but it has welco1n- ed many refugees from other iands. 7a Tn the early days of the war thous- ands of American tourists lied into Switzerland from Germany and Aus tria, and few Of them had anything but praise for the hospitality offered by the Swiss in those critical days
 T<S 4snrTz+ 1f n naEghbors the rejoicing of this Swiss undergraduates day will be tinged with sadness. The glorious first of August, the anniversary of the foundation of the confederation, has never been ob- served in any but a solemn and quiet r11anlter.s Thee hurchs bells are rung, but there is no booming of cannon nor explosions Of gunpowder. Sole mnity cIlaracterizes thief ormal patriotic and religious ceremonies of the day. The rising generation finds joy in lighting bonhres along the heights, and on the night of the sdrst of August the hills and mountains are ab1aze with these lights of freedom The orators, in ti1eir addresses, call upon the people to remember and emulate their sturdy. brave forefathers. Probably no other nation celebrates it's inde- pendence day with such so1emnity and manifestations of heartfelt grati- t51de for the heroes of the past.
 The observance of this year is of special significance. for this year marks the centennial of the past by which Switzerland assumed it's pres e1it form and extent consisting of 22 cantons or states
 The history of Switzerland since that memorable first of August in 1291 affords an inspiring lesson in patriotism. The ancient Helvetia was conduered by the Romans in I5. B. C., and was successively subject to the Burgundians. Franks and Germans, The Alpine country was subjected to bitter expressions by other nations, but most of all by the Austrians. Tn 12g1 the men of schwyz invited their neighbors of Urf and Lower Inter walden to join them in a defensive league, for protection against their common enemies. On the first o1 August the compact was made. and the foundation of Swiss liberty was laid by the humble herdsnen of the hills and valleys. The men of the Schwyz Valley were Cimbrians who before the beginning of the Christian era az1efE their original habita ton in Scandinavia and swept down upon Italy Defeated in battle by the Ro- man general Mari11s, they fled into Helvetta, about 100< B.. C.. and set tied there By leading the first move 1nen1 for the confederation of the mountain tribes. the Sehwyz gave their name to the whole country Swiss and Switzerland being derived from Sehwyz.
 The original confederation of three cantons gradually obtained the ad- herence of others. Soon after the formation of the league of the Three Forest cantons the Austrians attmpt- ed to put down the rebellion. The Austrian governor Of Switzerland, Herman Gessler, pushed his insolence so far as to demand that his subjects uncover their heads before his hat William Tell refused to comply with this order, and. according to legend since declared by many historians te be mythical, he was ordered to shooi an apple from the head of his owK son. Tell was successful. but con. fessed that he had concealed on his person anotEer arrow intended fol 4hk punishment of the tyrant, in case his son was Injured. Tell was there fore kept a prisoner, but while 2 skil1fuf he1msnan, was released te steer theb oat Upon landing he zprang upon 2. rock-since called ths Rock Of Tell. and naarged by me, mortal chaps1=-aud pushed off ths boat When Geas1aE escan ed tlas