Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-07-26
IN THE DAYS NEWS
GENEVA.

Geneva. to be the capital of the Lea
que of Nations, Subscribed in "a com
munication by Ralph "A. Graves to the
NATIONAL Geographic Society, as fol-
lows: $780,
..Seated sereneIy on both banks OF
the River -Rhone: where it leaves the
Tii1pid waters of Lake 1Geneya5 as "a
placid stream, in contrast to the muddy
turbulence of5itS> ingress at the other
end of the lake Geneva is not the
metropolis of the miniature Republic
of Switzerland, for Zurich surpasses
it in populat ion- by 90 per cent and
Fern is the capital But it. is doubtful
whether before the world war any
other city ofxits size was visited an
nually by as many tourists, for it was
the main gate way into the world
famous playground OF: Europe
Although it's recorded history goes
back beyond the Christian era, to the
time when julius Caesar, in his COM
mentaries. ON his first expedition into
Gaul mentions it as a stronghold OF
the Al1obrogess its growth has been
phenomenal only in. it's leiSureIness
Today. after twenty centuries, it has
the. century old capital of the United
States. x-5< tzc
1.-THE. city enjoys the distinction of
being the birthplace of the -Interna-
tionaT Red. Cross, but also has some
dark chapters in its paSt-the religious
excuses of the Reformation, when the
prosecuted became the prosecutors.
Rousseau, of whom Napoleon, said,
Without him, France would not have
had her Revolution; and the patriot
Boniyard whose trials Byron i'm
nortalized as the Prisoner of Chiffon,
were Genevans. ..F'arel, the Billy Sun
day of his. day, who could not be made
to idesist from preaching, even though
the women of his. congregation dragged
him up and down the aiSleS of the
church by his beard, made the lake
city his eadquarfers during his ascen-
And John Calvin, who found
Geneva a bear garden and left it a
daci1e school of piety,' was virtual die
tator here for a quarter of a century.
"One of the most picturesque figures
in the history of Geneva during this
period was FRANCOIS de. Bonivard, who;
when his victorious friends rushed
into. his dungeon at Chillon crying
sBonivard. you are. free.' responded
with the query, And 4Geneva?' Upon
being assured that his city was also
saved, he went home rejoicing. :.
!. by one of those curious chances
upon which hinge events of monu-
John Calvin, a native of
Picardy, passed through Geneva one
evening on his way to Strassburg. He
had intended spending only one night:
but Farel, -hearmg&of his arrival, rush
ed to him and, with the fiery iTnpetuo-
sity which, characterized every act --of
his life, convinced Calvin that it was
his duty ito remain and assist in the
ofsa tfleocratie State
The austerfty of the Calvin code
presents many Amusing phases to the
modern reader: For example. a hair
dresser was imprisoned because he
made one of his clients too beautiful.
Any man who swore without neces-
sity' was reqnired to take :off. his hat.
kneeI down in the place of his of
clasp his hands, and kiss the
earth The wearing of silk of ems
broidered hose was prohibited; like
wise the adornment of ones person
with chains of silver or gold, and eat
ing or drinking ia taverns outside OF