Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13
LEAGUES CAPITAL
MECCA OF TOURISTS
Geneva, Although Not Me.
tropolis of Switzerland, Is
Visited by Many

Geneva, to be the capital of the league
of nations. is described in a communi-
cation by Ralph A. Graves to the Ma
tional Geographic Society az follows:
Seated sersnely on both banks Of the
River Rhone. where it leaves the limpid
waters Of Lake Geneva as. placid
stream, in contrast to the muddy turou :
lence of its ingress at the other enc OF
the bake, Geneva is not the metropolis
of the miniature republic of Switzer-
land. for Zurich surpasses it in popula-
ton by 50 per cent and Bern is the capi-
tai. But it is doubtful whsther before
the world war any other city OF It's size
was visited annually by as many tour
lists, for it was the main gateway into
the world famous playground OF Eu-
rope
back beyond the Christian era, to the
time when Julius Caesar. in his com
mentaries on his first expedition into
Gaul. mentions it as STRONGHOLD noen o, ns tne
nomenal only in its leisureliness. To-
day, after twenty centuries. 1t has less
than one-third the population OF the
century-old capital Of the United States
Birthplace of Red Cross.
"The city enjoys the distinction Of
being the birthplace OF the lnterna-
tional Red Cross. but also has some
dark chapters tn its =. pa rsfo,mstio on
wben the Dersecuted became the per-
Rousseau, Of whom Napoleon said.
Without him, France would not nave
had her revolution, and the PATIO,
talized as the Prisoner Of Chillon,
were Genevans. Farel. the Billy sun
day of his day who could not De
made to desist from preaching, even
though the women Of his congresa.
aisies of the church by his beard.
made the lake city his headquarters
during his ascendancy. And John
Calvin, who found Geneva q pear
garden and left 1T q docile school OF
piety,' was virtual dictator mere 1of
quarter OF a century.
''One of the most picturesque ne-
ures in the history OF Geneva durin 9
this period was Francois de Bonivard.
who. when his victorious friends
rushed into his dungeon at Chiilon.
crying, Downward, you are free" re-
sponded with the query, And &c
neva? Upon being assured that his
city also was saved he went home
"By one of those curious chances
upon which hinge events Of monu-
mental moment the young French
philosopher John Calvin, a native of
Picardy. passed through Geneva one
He hal intended spending only one
night, Ebut Farel. hearing of his ar
rival. rushed to him and, with the
fiery impetuosity which character
lied every act of his life. convinced
Calvin that it was his duty to remain
theocratic state.
Hairdresser Imprisoned.
The austerity 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 required to take on his hat,
'kneel down in the place Of his offense.
clasp his hands. and kiss the earth
The wearing Of silk or embroidered
hose was prohibited: likewise the
adornment OF ones person with chains
Of silver or gold. and eating or drink
ing 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
6 o'clock at night.
There is no more beautiful picture
Of Christian charity than the scene in
this city when, on August 80, 1879.
merchants OF Lyons brought news of
the massacre Of the Huguenots on St
Bartholomews day. Pastors were
dispatched to the frontiers to meet
the fugitivea who were reported to be
on their way to this asylum. and the
venerable Theodore de Beze, who had
succeeded Calvin rs the spiritual head
of the council. directed the whole
population to fast and pray for the
sufferers.
Geneva has set aside a. a site for
! the permanent home Of the league OF
nations q beautiful wooded park Dor.
| dering on the lake. some nve miles
| from the center of the city. Behind
| the park tower the snow-clad Juru
| mountains. While there are. many
| villages in the vicinity OF the park
which are suitable for ofiices and for
quarters of the delegates and their
| secretarial staffs. the capitol building
| itself must be built" 80
Great Britain will have to pay to