Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/315

Rh glorious it was! Even Secretan was enlivened thereby.

Like a little town of Nuremberg toy-houses, which one takes out of a box, and places in stiff formality upon a table, lies the town of Chaux de Fonds upon its elevated plain, without trees, and without beauty, surrounded by bald, and not very lofty hills. One can hardly find a more unlovely situation. Nevertheless, a flourishing, well-to-do population of fifteen thousand souls lives within the town. Watch-making is the soul of its activity. Even the unpleasing character of the scenery and the severity of the climate contribute, I was told, to the success of the life of labor there. It is cold; it often rains; the people have nothing to divert them out of doors; they prefer rather to be in their houses at their work-tables.

I had intended to have paid the town merely a passing visit, but it turned out otherwise, owing to the hospitality which was shown me by the young couple, M. and Mme. Gerdt. I remained with them eight days, during which time I received from them, and several other cultivated persons of the place, a degree of cordial kindness, the memory, of which I retain with a grateful heart.

My impression of the life of the industrial population may be thus summed up:

Fresh life, fresh labor. Amongst the working classes a considerable degree of self-confidence and no want of levity. Too little thought for the morrow, and none for eternity; but good dispositions as fellow-citizens, mutual good-will and helpfulness. Marriages are numerous, and, mostly, early in life; divorces are