Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/55

Rh also danced. They were mostly of the artisan classes; all were well dressed and looked well to do; a certain gravity and calmness prevailed even in their enjoyment.

The view from the height of “la Sauvabellin,” was very extensive over this glorious region, but who can attempt to describe its beauty as seen under a bright sunset? It is beyond all description. The festival of nature was to me more beautiful than the festival of the people, and the latter, it seemed to me, ought to have had a higher purpose than was the case. I could fancy that I saw the Druids come forth from the ancient wood, lifting to Heaven their venerable heads, gilded by the bright descending sun. Thus they took leave of each other, the sun and the beautiful wood, in silent solemnity. Below, was the buzz of the dancing crowd, altogether too thoughtless! But I will not be a member of the deposed government! I, too, was once young and full of thoughtless life!

July 6th.—In two days time, I leave Lausanne, to betake myself, like every body else, “à la montagne,” in the Pays d'en haute. But before I leave Lausanne, I will take a hasty sketch of the town and its life. Lausanne “la jolie” is, it must be candidly confessed, really an ugly little town, with narrow and winding streets, gray and dismal-looking houses. Picturesque it is, unquestionably, from situation, with its gray, irregular masses of houses, grouped round the foot of the stately old Cathedral “Notre Dame de Misericorde,” one of the oldest and noblest Gothic churches in Switzerland. This, standing aloft in the middle of