Semi-weekly herald., 1915-05-31


ters of the streets seem to be market
places. noticed everything for sale
in the streets, from agricultural i'm
plements down to shoes for babies.
One establishment had the largest
display of woodenware that l ever
saw. There were tubs, round and
long; there we're milk pals and
churns, rakes and harrows, shovels
and every curious thing that could be
made of wood, making regular ex-
position. All the vessels were white,
as if the workmen who made them
had clean hands. None of the wood
enware was painted. 1t would seem
to take a week to take the goods
back into the house. Possibly the
Swiss are so honest that they leave
the goods out.
Every Day Is Market Day.
All the buildings along the princi-
pal streets have colonades in front,
with a space, probably fifteen feet
wide, from the front of the store to
the outer edge Of the walk. Thus u
covered hall way is produced, and
through the daytime, this thoroughly
perfected space is filled with goods
and with people to look at them.
Berne, evidently, has a market day
every day. The idea is not bad one,
and this is possibly the author of the
arcade found in most cities in Amer
lea.
| have noticed but few soldiers on
the streets, but there are some of
them. / am told the Swiss army rs
mobilized to great extent. Every
man in Switzerland is soldier, un-
less he is too told or lame. The
Swiss army would be called the ma
tional guard If it were in America.
Every man takes his gun home with
him, and there is nothing required
to mobilize the Swiss army except TO
ring bell or blow bugle through
the streets or on the mountainside.
Swiss Soldiers on March.
While | am writing this, fully
equipped company of Swiss soldiers
has marched by. They march with a
swing, much like the German SOL
diers. Switzerland is only anxious to
be let alone, and only wishes to guard
her frontier. So far, there has been
no intimation of an invasion. The OPP
posing lines Of the Germans and
French have their starting point
northwest of Berne, just about five
hours ride. Looking on the map it
does not seem to be as far as that.
1t is so far away that the heaviest
gun could not be heard in Berne. But
1t is hard to get more than five or
six hours from the scenes of war #
you remain in Europe.
Switzerland illustrates what the hu-
man family can do when proper eff
fort is made. The general supposi-
ton has been that the differences in
race and language have been the
source of discord, and have resulted
in many wars. But here in Switzer-
land there are cantons of French, 9TH
ers of German and Italian, all asso-
eiated together in the government,
living at peace with each other.
A Pure Democracy.
/ presume Switzerland is the only
pure democracy in the world. The
people have learned to respect the
rights and to consider the rights of
all. l do not believe it would be pos
sible to conduct a country so large
as our own on the Swiss plan, but
certainly it has proved to be bless
ng to Switzerland.
Belgium was another illustration Of
conflicting races and languages. The
north part of Belgium is Flemish,
speaking Dutch, the south half is
Walloon, speaking French. In Bel
gihm both races of people are Cath
olics, and thus they have a bond bind
ing them together. They did not get
along well with Holland when they
were under one head, because Holland
is Protestant.
No Established Religion.
In Switzerland there is no estao-
lished religion, but the majority are
Protestants. All beliefs are to be
found here, and all live in peace with
each other. 1t was the dream Of John
Calvin to make a Protestant Rome
out Of Geneva. In other words, he
wished Geneva to be to the Profess
tant world what Rome is to the Cath
olic world. He did not accomplish
his purpose, but he did not accom-
plish his purpose, but he did much
toward making Switzerland strong
Protestant country.
/ have been in Switzerland several