The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-01-26

to the muddy turbulence Of its ingress
at the other end Of the lake. The city
is not the metropolis Of the miniature
republic Of Switzerland, for Zurich
surpasses it in population by 80 per
cent, and Berne is the capital. But ii is
doubtful whether, before the World
war, any other city OF Geneva'S size
was visited annually by rs many tour
lists, for it was the main gateway into
the world-famous playground of Eu-
rope.
Although its 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 Il stronghold of
the Allobroges, its growth has been
phenomenal only in its leisurellness.
Today, after 20 centuries. it has less
than one-third the population Of the
century-old capital of the United
States.
The city enjoys the distinction Of be-
ing the birthplace Of the International
Red Cross, but also has some dark
chapters in it's past-the religious ex-
cesses Of the Reformation, when the
prosecuted became the prosecutors.
Geneva's Noted Men.
Rousseau, Of whom Napoleon said,
without him, France would not have
had her Revolution; and the patriot
Bonivard, whose trials Byron immOr-
taliZed as the prisoner OF Chillon,"
were GenevanS. Farei. the Billy sun
day Of his day, who could not be made
10 desist 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
cendancy. And John Calvin, who
found Geneva a bear garden and left
it Il docile school nf piety," was virtual
dictator here for II quarter Of Il CEN
fury.
One Of the most picturesque figures
in the history Of Geneva during this
period was Francois lie Bonivard, who,
when his victorious friends rushed in
to his dungeon at ChillOn crying.
"Bonivard, you ore free!" responded
with the query, "And Geneva?" Upon
being assured th8t his city was also
saved, he went home rejoicing.
BY one Of those curious chances up
IN which hinge events of monumental
moment, the young French philOsO-
pher, John Calvin, Il native Of Picardy,
passed through Geneva n evening on
his way to Strassburg. He had intend
ed spending only One night but Farel,
hearing OF his arrival, rushed to him
las in the vicinity Of the park which
characterized every act of his life, con-
vinced Calvin that it was his duty to
remain and assist in the organization
of Il theOcratic state.
There Is no more beautiful picture
Of Christian charity than the scene in
this city when, on August 30. 1872,
merchants of Lyons brought news Of
the massacre Of the Huguenots on st.
Bartholomew day. Pastors were dis
patched to the frontiers to meet the
fugitivcs who were reported to be on
their way to this asylum. and the ven
cradle Theodore de Beze. who had sue
cceded Calvin as the spiritual head of
the council, directed the whole popula-
ton to fast and pray for the suffer
ers.
Geneva has set aside rs n site for
The permanent home OF the League OF
Nations, a beautiful wooded park bor-
dering on the lake. some five miles
from the center OF the city. Behind
the park tower the snow-clsd Jura
mountains. While there are many vii
has in the vicinity Of the park which
are suitable for Offices and for guar
ters of the delegates and their secre-
tarlal STATS, the capitol building itself
must be built.