Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/17



First day's journey—Entrance into Switzerland—Morning at Berne—Evening at Enghe—That which the Alps and the Sun said to me—Thun—The Titans when seen more nearly—A bath in the Aar—Queen Bertha—Arrival at Lausanne—Chilly days—New acquaintance—Picture of the Confederate States of Switzerland—“Des Terneaux” Chapel—The Free Church—Questions and Cogitations which led me to Switzerland—A. Vinet—Sketch of Lausanne and its everyday life—“A la Montagne!” is a small country situated, as you see, in the heart of Europe; its circumference is insignificant, and insignificant its population, compared with the powerful states which surround it—France, Germany, and Italy; but its mountains are the highest in Europe, and there the mightiest European rivers have their head-waters. Its people, a pastoral people, have stood foremost in battle for what constitute the most valuable treasures of all people—political freedom and freedom of conscience.

Separated by mountains and valleys, by dissimilarity of origin, language, and religious faith; divided into States and into families dissimilar in race—yet is (33)