Identifier: switzerlanditssc00kuhn (find matches)
Title: Switzerland, its scenery, history, and literary associations
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Kuhns, Oscar, 1856-1929
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : T. Y. Crowell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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fficers on their way tothe north, and later, the merchant and colonistto Gaul and the Danuljc. After the intro<luc-tion of Christianity we see the long line ofpious pilgrims coming from France andGermany to tlie sacred shrines of Italy; thehordes of northern barbarians, pouring downon the sunny fields of Italy; the armies ofCharlemagne to save the Pope against theLombards; the students of the whole northernworld on their way to the universities ofBolpgna and Padua; and finally the ever risingstream of modern tourists. It is difficult to appreciate the fear andtrembling which must have possessed thelonely traveller in the Dark and Middle Ages.The rocky caves hid bandits and robbers;there was always danger from Slav or Magyaror Turk; while still more heart-quakingwere the strange monsters with which niedi-seval superstition peopled these wild retreats.There were especially the various kinds ofdragons, dwelling in caves or glaciers, or flyingthrough the air, emitting sparks like an15i
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MOUNTAIN PASSES, RAILROADS, TUNNELS anvil. Men remembered the story of St.Bernard of Menthon; how he climbed themountains and drove the dragons back andimprisoned them in a deep abyss. It isastonishing how late this belief in dragonsand devils persisted. One obstacle that earlymountaineers found in scaling the Matter-horn, was the fear on the part of the guides ofthe demons inhabiting the summit; and Mr.flummery tells us how, in his ascent of theFurggen Ridge, his guides Burgener andVenetz were sure that they saw evil spirits. We have no time here to do more thanmention the principal passes of the Alps.Among the oldest was Mont-Genievre, nowforgotten, but once the principal path be-tween France and Italy, probably crossed byHannibal, and surely by Caesar, 58 B. c.;there was also Mont-Cenis, over which theFrankish kings came to Lombardy, whereLouis the Pious founded a Hospice (814-825), and which Henry IV crossed in January1077, on his way to Canossa; there is theLittle St. Bernard, cr

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