New Britain herald., 1920-11-26

''tailing" expeditions. when a whole
 row of sielghs are hitched together and in serpent fashion wind their way along the country roads; gymkhanas,
 representing any funny stunt or com-
 petition which can take place on a rink
 or run. Then again there are tho
 brilliant displays of the ski-jumpers,
 figure skaters and other opponents of
 winter sport varieties developed into
 an art, and at night even the rinks
 arc frequently illuminated for fancy
 dress balls and carnivals. vleing in
 splendor with the brillians social af-
 fairs held in the hotels.
 And those who do not clamor for
 socal life and gayetes spend their days
 In the great outdoors. where. provided
 they are proficient on skis. they can seek tho edifying solitude of the loftier
 regions.
 Winter is at tho same time a period
 of friendly vsits among the peasants and If one stays sufficiently long in
 one ditrict to form a few acquaint- anccs with the natives, invitations to spend an evening with the family arc
 not seldom, for the Swiss delight to listen to ties of foreign lands and they especially liko to hear about tho United States. that far-away wonder
 
 countrymen have journeyed to seek their fortune. Homegrown wine or cider. with delicious homemade bread and cheese arc presently served as re- treatments. for the Swiss have a very generous strain of hospitality, and grandfather or grandmother. who in- variably occupy a seat near the com fort-providing tile stove, know a few old stories or legends connected with the Christmas and New Year days to come
 Yuie days in Switzerland, where tho decorations of nture themselves are suggestive of Christms. are full of po- etic charm. Instead of the American Santa Claus. it is Christkindli, an angel in respiendent robes of white. who is regarded as the bringer of all the festive happiness and gifts. and every home. no matter how humble or primitive 1t may be, has on that night of nights a fragrant pine tree decked with glltterng threads of silver and gold. tempting apples. nuts and danty cookies.
 While Arosa, Klosters, Davos, Sam aden, Pontresina and St. Moritz occu- py stellar positions among the many enchanting winter stations n the can ton of the Grisoons. Rigi Kaltbad, Andermatt and Engelberg figure as the leaders in central Switzerland and wengen. Murrcn, Beat enborg. Adelbden and Kandersteg are n picturesque group n the heart of the Bernese Oberiand. Another chrming row of resorts is dotted along the cenic Montreux-B Oberland railway with zweisimmen. Gstaad, Chatau d'Oex md Les Avants fin the lead. Southeast of the lake of Gen. lake of eva arc viliars-C -Chesieres and and higher up the val Montana. while Ste. Croix-Les Rasses, | Le Pont and Mont Soleil are favorites In the Jura district
 But Switzerland is a land of dual | a land of striking con- .rasts where northland and southland | meet For as winter sports arc at !! heir best in the mountainous regions | lbove mentioned, there are also dis | ricts in the same country where King | pro cannot exist. Thus one can fit | o the canton of Ticino. Ialian Switz- | sriand, with Locarno at the head of | Lake Mggiore and Lugano on its own | lovely lake at any time when one | desires a change of surroundings. Here. within a few hours railway jour ney from the realm of winter sports. | one finds the refreshing verdure of | spring in the height of winter, with a | profusion of sweotly scented blossoms l and the lakes of a caresing, tender l blue. Truly. winter ha its fascina- lions Switzerland. |