Evening star., 1926-11-14
SWISS HERE MARK
ANNIVERSARY DAYS
Club Keeps Old Customs
Alive and Aids Members
in Adopted Country.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

celebration Of independence day by
get some idea of what a festival day
means in the stout little mountain re-
public of Central Europe. August
IS the great day for the Helvetians,
for on that date 1648 they broke the
shackles Of foreign dominion and
have since governed themselves in a
way to win the admiration of the
world
Picnics are naturally chosen as the
way to celebrate the national holi
day, and that given this current year
IN West Falls Church, Va, was at
tended by more than 800 members
and guests Al fresco fare as it is
served In this country forms a foun-
datlon for this feaSt-ham, deliciouSly
spiced and baked and cut as required
and not made into the inevitable sand
wich; potato salad after a Swiss re-
cipe which is most delicious, and an
abundance of coffee. National pas
tries like ruchly are prepared and
there are the most famous of Swiss
cheeSes and breads, served all through
the afternoon and evening. 1t has
been said that yodeling is a lost art,
but to attend a Swiss picnic is to
know that this statement is decidedly
HIoiS, lOI IIIlS C6lcDEdIoO Singing
forms a part of every Independence
day celebration, and there is the chant
ing of the national anthem, folk songs
and stirring speeches recalling the
great days Of old.
Large Colony Here.
Washington has large and pros
porous colony Of former citizens Of
Switzerland who have been gathering
1c Ir{pa hn o,t
and commemorating the national
feasts and keeping alive the home ira
ditions. The Swiss Club, however,
now organized and conducting it's ac-
tive affairs, was founded only in 1922,
with 80 charter members, John
kirchofer presided over the gathering
which was held January IA, 1922, at
the Sunset Inn. Besides the usual
principles of mutual aid to each
other by social and business inter
course, the Swiss Club has as def
Mite purpose the mutual improve
ment of the members in the language
and customs of this country while
keeping touch with the mother coun-
try and observing al it's time -honored
ways. Two meetings are held every
month for nine months, one for busi-
ness. not only of the club but per-
tanning to it's members and their
progress in the material sense. In
div1dual cases are studied and every
aid is given those who have not sue
ceeded in making satisfactory con-
nections. The second meeting is for
social pleasures, and diversity Of en-
tertainment is offered on each occa-
sion.
The first officers selected in 1922
were John kirchofer, president:
Charles HerZog, vice president; Miss
M. Winter. secretary, and Adolf
Junny, treasurer. One of the earliest
activities of the club was to hold an
entertainment. and this has been an
occasion of equal Importance in the
annals of the association as the
August l picnic. In 1922 a celebrated
Swiss musician, Hans Indergand, was
making concert tour of this coun-
try with his orchestra and he had
charge of the program. Practically
the entire Swiss colony in Washing
ton, including the minister, Dr. Marc
Peter; the members of his staff and
many prominent Swiss from Balti-
more and Philadelphia attended On
this occasion, as at nearly all of the
concerts given by the Swiss Club.
yodeling formed a major part of the
entertainment.
Many Social Activities.
For the past two years. dancing
card parties and masquerade balls
have been generously included in the
social program. for the young people
now play prominent part In this di-
vision of the clubs activities and let
their elders conduct the business and
graver portions. The masquerade
balls are unusually picturesque. for
Alpine finery prevails, all the cos
tunes coming from the treasure
chests at home, preserved for lust
such frolics. Generally the supper
al these costume balls is served in
venerable Swiss dishes and consists
81 curds and sweets which would
form the repaSt in the beautiful noun
tain regions of the Bernese Alps.
Once year. the concerts which
sprinkle the schedule very literally,
contain one program entirely devoted
TO yodeling, and it proves a treat in
deed for those who never hear it other
wise. There are occasional banquets,
the place and date being assigned by
special committee, and the Swiss
minister and Nine. Peter with all the
members of their staff attend, and. DR..
Peter, who makes a forcible speech.
gives synopsis of the way things go
in the small republic of the Alps and
Nine. Peter is presented to all the new
members and greets the old ones
anew.
The first board Of officers held posi-
ZION until 1924, when the following
we're named and were reelected at
the annual meeting last January:
Rudolph Seigrist, president; Godfrey
Munter, vice president; Miss Anne
Widmer, secretary. and Rupert Zim-
mermann, treasurer Mr. Seigrist has
organized some Of the most success
full of recent entertainments, and the
picnic given on August ] was at
tended by several members of the
legation staff. Walter H. Rufenacht,
attache, recently arrived in Wash
Ington, made the principal address
1t was under Mr.. Seigrists direction
that the Swiss Club of Washington
made such an admirable showing at
the observance of Swiss day at the
Sesquicentennial in Philadelphia
Interested Other Clubs.
This was on September 25 ana the
Washington club had performed yeo.
man work in interesting various other
Swiss societies throughout the Union
to attend the reunion. The Swiss
minister, DR.. Peter, was absent in
Geneva. and the consul general of the
republic in Philadelphia, DR.. Charles
vuilleumeir. presided over the meet
ing He made a rousing speech, as
lid Mr.. Seigrist and the presidents of
other Swiss societies. The speeches
were made in the court of honor and
The celebration attended by a large
and enthusiastic aSSemblage.
The Swiss exhibition at the Sesqui
o familiar to all who have made even
passing visit and its great mountain
peaks cleverly offered in canvas are
visible from every part Of the
grounds. There was banquet in the
Alpine hall and a Swiss concert in
he auditorium in the evening. Prac-
ideally every section of the country