The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-08-17
A SWISS MYSTERY
II Looked For a Time as if 1t Were
Beyond Penetration.
BUT IT WAS ALMOST SOLVED.
An American Visitor In the Republic,
Who Wanted to Know About Its
President, Finally Came Near Get
ting the Information He Craved.

President, Finally Came Near Get
ting the Information He Craved.
Switzerland is a republic that runs
with the exactness Of Swiss watch.
its machinery as Theoretically conceal
ed. had heard that the Swiss repub-
lie set the pattern Of government for
the world, and | was anxious to know
something Of its methods and person
mel.
I was sorry that I was so ignorant.
I didn't even know the name Of the
Swiss president and for q week was
ashamed to confess It 1 was hoping
might see it in one Of the French
papers puzzled over every evening,
but at the end Of the week / timidly
and apologeticary inquired Of our
friendly landlord as to the name OF the
Swiss president
But then came a shock. Our land
lord grew confused. blushed and coz
fessed that he didn't know 1t either.
He had known 1t. he said, Of course,
but 1t bad slipped his mind
Slipped his mind, Think OF the name
of Roosevelt or Wilson or Taft slipping
the mind of anybody in America-and
a landlord
l asked the man who sold me cigars.
He had forgotten too. | asked the
apothecsry, but GOT no information
/ was not so fimid after That l
asked a fellow passenger-guest. l
mean-an American. but Of long Swiss
residence. and got this story. l be-
neve most OF It. He said:
when l came to Switzerland and
found out what wonderful little
country II was its government so eco
nomical. so free from party corruption
and spells. from graft and politics. so
different from the home life Of our
own dear Columbia. | thought The
man at the head of this thing must be
a master hand; III find out his name
So / picked OH a bright looking subject
and said. What is the name of the
Swiss PRESIDENT
He tried % pretend he 6iin't under
stand my French. but he did. for ! can
tear the language of all right-learned
it studying ar in Paris. When pinned
him down he said he knew the name
well enough. parfaitement, but couldn't
think of it. at that moment
That was surprise. but asked the
next man. He couldn't think of il
either Then l asked a police officer.
OF course be knew it al right, oh,
oui. certainement, mais' - then he
his head and scowled, but he
dig up that name. He was
just a plain liar-tout supplement
like the others.
Il asked every man | met. and every
one Of them knew it. had 1t right on the
end of his tongue. but somehow II
seemed to stick there. Not a man in
Vevey or Montreux could tell me the
name of the Swiss president 1t was
the same in Fribourg. the same even
In Berne, the capital
Il had about given up VIXEN one even
ing in Berne | noticed sturdy man
with an honest face approaching. He
looked intelligent. too. and as last re-
sort | said. Gould you by any chance
tell ME the name of the Swiss presi-
dent?
THE effect was startling. He seized
me by the arm and after looking up
and down the street. leaned forward
and whispered in my ear:
"'Alon Dieu. C'est MOL | am the /
Swiss president: but-ah. non. don't I
tell any one. I am the Only man in
switzerland who knows it
"'You see.' my friend continued he
S elected privately; no torch1ight cam
Daigns. no scandal. and Only for a
7ear'
He IS only e sort Of chairman
.hough of course his work as impor-
ant. and the present able Incumbent
las been elected "a number sef times
3Is name is-is-E- All. yes. that's
ny tram So sorry to have 20 hurry
lway-see you tonight at dnner."-
Albert Bigelow Paine In Harpes,s Mag
,r,r