Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-01
Geneva---Home Of Peace
From the New York Tribune.

Geneva, to be the capital of the League Of
Nations, is described in communication by
Ralph A. Graves to the National Geographic
society as follows:
River Rhone where it leaves the limpid waters
Of Lake Geneva as placid stream, in contrast
to the muddy turbulence of its ingress at the
other end of the lake, Geneva is not the metrop-
oils of the miniature republic OF Switzerland,
for Zurich surpasses it in population by 50 per
cent and Berne is the capital. But it is doubt
full whether before the world war any other city
Of its size was visited by as many tourists, for
it was the main gateway into the world-famous
playground of Europe.
Although its recorded history goes back
beyond the Christian era, to the time when
expedition into Gaul, mentions it as a strong
hold of the Allobroges its growth has been
phenomenal only in its leisureliness. Today,
after 20 centuries it has less than onethird the
population of the century-old capital of the
United States
The city enjoys the distinction of being
the birthplace of the International 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, With
out him France could not have had her revolu-
ton, and the patriot Bonivard, whose trials
Byron immortalized as the Prisoner of Chilon
were Genevans. Farel, the Billy Sunday of
his day, who could not be made to desist from
preaching, even though the women of his con-
gregation dragged him gup and down the aisles
Of the church by his beard, made the lake city
his headquarters during his ascendency And
John Calvin who found Geneva bear garden
and left it docile school of piety' was virtual
dictator here for a quarter of century.
One of the most picturesque figures in the
els de Bonivard, who, when his victorious
friends rushed into the dungeon at Chillon, cry
ing. 'Bonvard, you are freedp who responded
with the query, And Geneva? Upon being as
sured that his city was also saved, he went
home rejoicing.
by one of those curious chances upon
which hinge events of monumental moment, the
young French philosopher, John Calvin, a ma
tive of Picardy, passed through Geneva one
evening on his way to Strassbourg. He had
intended spending only one night; but Farel,
hearing Of his arrival rushed to him and with
the fiery impetuosity which characterized every
act Of his life convinced Calvin that it was his
duty to remain and assist in the organization of
a theocratic state
THE austerity of the Calvin code presents
many amusing phases to the modern reader.
For example, hair dresser was imprisoned be-
cause he made one Of his clients too beautiful
Any man who swore without necessity was re-
CURED to take off his hat kneel down in the
place of his ofense, clasp his hands and kiss the
earth The wearing of silk or embroidered
HooS was PioHiDilCu, HkCWlSc tHe dQOIH1nent OF
ones person with chains of silver or gold and
eating or drinking in taverns outside of the city
Hosts and hostesses were enjoined to warn
their guests to be in their own lodgings after
the trumpet sound to the watch or the ringing
of the bell g o'clock at night.
There is no more beautiful picture Of Chris
tan charity than the scene in this city when on
August. 80, 1872, merchants of Lyons brought
news of the massacre of the Huguenots on St.
Bartholomew day. Pastors were dispatched
to the frontiers to meet the fugtives, who were
reported to be on their way to this asylum, and
the venerable Theodore de Beze, who had sue
ceeded Calvin as the spiritual head of the coun-
Gil, directed the whole population to fast and
pray for the sufferers.
Geneva has set aside as site for the per
manent home Of the League of Nations beauti-
tu wooded park bordering on the lake some FIVE
miles from the center of the city Behind the
park tower the snow-clad Jura mountains
While there are many villages in the vicinity
OF the park which are suitable for offices and
tor. quarters of the delegates and their secre-
built"