The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-31
GENEVA.
Capitol of League of Nations and Birth
place of Red Cross.

I
h Geneva, to be the capital Of tn
league of nations, is described in
communication by Ralph A. Groves t
the National Geographic society, a,
follows:
Seated serenely on both banks OF
the river Rhone, where it leaves the
limpid waters of Lake Geneva as a
placid stream, in contrast to the muddy
turbulence of its ingress at the other
end of the lake, Geneva is not the
metropolis of the miniature republic
OF Switzerland, for Zurich surpasses it
in population by so per cent and Bern
is the capital. But it is doubtful wheth-
er before the World war any other city
/ of its size was-visited annually by as
many tourists, for it was the main
gateway into the world famous
playground of Europe
Although its record 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 .Allobroges, lis growth has been
| phenomenal only in its leisurelincss. M
| day, after centuries, it has less than
ono third the population of the century
old capital of the United States.
THE city enjoys the distinction of
being the birthplace of the interna-
tional Red Cross, but also has some
dark chapters in its past-the religious
excesses 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
Bonivard, whose trials Byron immortal.
lied as the Prisoner of Chillon, were
Genevans Farel, the Billy Sunday of
his day, who could not be made to de
sist 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 headquarters during his as
cendary And John Calvin who found
Geneva bear garden and left il
docile school of pietry. was virtual die
tator here for a quarter of centuary.
"One of the most picturesque fig
ures in the history of Geneva during
this period was Francois de Boniyard.
who, when his victorious friends |
rushed into his dungeon at Chill |
rushed into his dungeon at Chill |
Ion, crying, 'Bonh ard, you are
free responded with the query, !,
And Geneva?' Upon being assured that
his city was also saved, he went home
rejoicing
by one of those curious chances
upon which hinge events of monumen-
tai moment. the young French philoso-
pher, John Calvin, a native of Pieardy,
passed through Geneva one evening on
his way to Strassburg. He had in
tended spending only zone night; but
Farel. hearing Of his arrival, rushed
to him and. with the fiery impetu
osity which characterized every act
Of his life. convinced Calvin that il
was his duty 10 remain and assist in
The organization of a theocratic state.
The austerity of tfr Calvin code pre-
,ents many amusing phases TO the
modern reader. For example, hair !
dresser was imprisoned because he
made one of his clients too beauti- !
Jul ANY man who swore without
was required to take off his
nat, 'kneel down in the place Of his
,frense, clasp his hands, and kiss the
,arth." The wearing of silk or en-
,roidered hose was prohibited like
wise the adormcnt of ones person
With chains of silver or gold, and eat
nc or drinking in taverns outside of
he city. Hosts and hostesses were
TO warn their guests to be in
heir lodgings after the trumpet
ound 10 the watch or the ringing !,
+ The bell % O'Clock at night.
There is no more beautiful picture
( Christian charity than the scene in /.
his city when, on Aug. 30, i5I2, per-
hants of Lyons brought news ~ the |,
massacre Of the Huguenots on 81.
day. Pastors were dis
atched to the frontiers to meet the /.
ngitives who were reported TO he on
heir way to this asylum, and the ven !;
rahle Theodore de Beze,, who had sue :,
seded Calvin as the spiritual head N
he council. directed the whole popula- !.
on to fast and pray for the sufferers :
Geneva was set aside as site for
he permanent home Of the league OF
ations, beautiful wooded park Dor !;
princ on the lake some five miles
-om the center Of the city. Behind !,
ne park towers the snow clad Jura .
fountain While there are many vii. !
ges in the vicinity of the park which !.
re- suitable for offices and for quar-. "
RS of the delegates Of their score :.
rial stats, the capitol building IL /,
If must be built"