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THE FÊTE OF INTERLACHEN.

We must attribute to the German character a great part of the virtues of Germanic Switzerland. There is, nevertheless, more public spirit in Switzerland than in Germany, more patriotism, more energy, more harmony in opinions and senti

ing the winter session of 1853-4, and the numbers that attended each brauch:

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The teachers consisted of the following classes, viz.-1. Ordinary proLessors; 2. Extraordinary professors; 3. Honorary professors; 4. Private

ments; but the smallness of the States, and the poverty of the country, do not in any degree excite genius; we find there much fewer learned or thinking men than in the north of Germany, where even the relaxation of political ties gives free

teachers or tutors; 5. Language and exercise masters. The students consisted of

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"In the matter of education, Prussia is the ruler and guide, and whatever is established or pursued in that kingdom comes sooner or later into operation in other States. Since the beginning of the present century, education has occupied the attention and received a new impulse at the hands of the other governments; but it is only since 1848 that the school organization of Prussia has been transplanted into the Austrian territory, where, however, it still continues to experience the opposition of the nobles and clergy. The ignorance which formerly prevailed among the lower classes has almost entirely vanished in Northern Germany at least, and there is no class in which scholarly culture and scientific attainments may not be expected. The constant care, however, and determination of the government to make all partakers of a certain amount of education, has made it seem necessary to constrain all parents by fines or other punishments to send their children to school. Peculiar attention is at present being paid to educational institutions, and the governments are seeking to reform them so as to prevent the recurrence or continuance of those evils that are believed to have flowed from them, and to have occasioned, in a great degree, if not entirely, the popular outburst in 1848.

"Mental cultivation and the general diffusion of knowledge are largely promoted by means of numerous public libraries, established in the capitals, the university towns, and other places. The most celebrated publio libraries are those of Vienna, Berlin, Göttingen, Munich, Dresden, Hamburg, Wolfenbüttel, Stuttgart, Frankfort-on-the-Maine, and Weimar. Besides the public ones, there are throughout Germany many private libraries of extraordinary richness in literary treasures of all kinds. There are also numerous societies and unions, among which the most distinguished are the Academies of Sciences at Berlin and Munich, and the Society of Sciences at Göttingen, which are state institutions. With scientific collections of all kinds, every place is richly provided, either at the public expense or by the favor of private persons. The observatories of Altona, Berlin, Breslau, Göttingen, Mannheim, Munich, Prague, Seeberg near Gotha, Vienna, and Königsberg in Prussia, are distinguished for the pronotion of astronomy and other branches of physical science. The taste

dom to all those noble reveries, those bold systems, which are not subjected to the nature of things. The Swiss are not a poetical nation, and we are with reason astonished that the beauties of their country should not have further inflamed their

for astronomy is very great in Germany, as is evidenced by the existence of many private observatories, among which those of Olbers at Bremen, and of Beer near Berlin, are the most celebrated. In this department, Germany can boast of the names of Copernicus, Kepler, Herschel, Olbers, Bessel, and many others.

"The fine arts likewise are carefully fostered. There are academies at Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Vienna, whose object it is to spread & taste for painting, sculpture, architecture, and music, and to improve the technics of art. The taste for art has struck deep root among all the educated Germans, particularly in the north, and is directed and represented by three schools, those of Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Munich, which have produced some of the finest proofs of German genius. Besides the academies, there are numerous art-museums and collections of pictures and antiquities, particularly in Berlin, Cassel, Dresden, Munich, and Vienna. In sculpture, German genius has of late years greatly excelled, as in the works of Dannecker, Schwanthaler, and Kiss; and architecture has received the greatest encouragement in the erection of both public and private buildings of great magnificence, of which the late King of Bavaria showed the most munificent example in the embellishment of his capital Munich, and the erection of the German Valhalla, near Ratisbon, though the attempt to adapt the Grecian temple style, without regard to climate and other circumstances, to modern buildings, intended for very different purposes, has failed as completely there as it has everywhere else.

"The activity of the German mind on the wide fields of art and science has, through the effect of general intercourse and exchange of ideas, produced a liveliness of which the Germans believe there is no parallel to be found in any other country of Europe. The German book-trade, in respect of the position it has gradually acquired since the Reformation, must be considered as a prime mover in the mental culture of Germany; while, in a material point of view, it has acquired an extent and importance elsewhere unknown. Thousands of people find in it employment and maintenance, as printers, type-founders, machine-makers, paper-makers, and bookbinders; and the productions of the press are spread all over Germany with the most marvellous rapidity. Leipzig is the central point of this important branch of industry. The general taste for the beautiful has had its effect on the art of printing, in requiring the use of fine, close, white naper, clear type, and elegant binding, instead of the gray-brown blottingpaper, and worn-out and broken type, that were formerly used. The periodical press is very active; but political discussion is not free. On political subjects, freedom of speech does not suit the German governments, and offences of this kind are very severely punished, as happened in 1854 with Gervinus in Baden. On religion, however, and philosophy

imagination. A religious and free people are at all times susceptible of enthusiasm, and the daily occupations of life cannot entirely subdue it. If this could have been doubted, we might still be convinced of it by the pastoral fête, which was last year celebrated in the midst of lakes, in memory of the founder of Berne.

This city merits more than ever the respect and interest of travellers it appears since its last misfortunes to have resumed all its virtues with new ardor; and, while losing its treasures, has redoubled its beneficence towards the unfortunate. The charitable establishments in this place are perhaps the best attended to of any in Europe: the hospital is the finest, and indeed the only magnificent edifice in the city. On the gate is written this inscription: CHRISTO IN PAUPERIBUS. Nothing can be more admirable. Has not the Christian religion told us, that it was for those who suffered that Christ descended on the earth? And who among us is not in some period of his life, either in respect to his happiness or his hopes, one of those unfortunate beings who needs relief in the name of God?

Every thing throughout the city and canton of Berne bears marks of calm, serious regularity, of a kind and paternal government. An air of probity is felt in every object which we perceive; we may believe ourselves in our own family while in the midst of two hundred thousand men, who, whether nobles, citizens, or peasants, are all equally devoted to their country.

the utmost freedom of publication is allowed; and the effect has been almost to root out ancestral faith and dogmatic theology from the minds of most educated people, though of late years an evangelical reaction seems to have made, or to be making, considerable progress. The publication of Kalenders, which have been of late years vastly improved, is of much importance in the instruction of the people. Almost every town in Germany has its own daily newspaper, and of these, five have acquired a European reputation, if not for the excellence, at least for the importance of their contents. These are the Austrian Observer and the Prussian State Gazette, the organs of their respective governments; the Hamburg Correspondent, and the Augsburg and Leipzig General Gazettes. Of the number of weekly newspapers and popular instructive publications, their name says Dr. Berghaus, is legion. The higher tranches of learning and of art are equally well attended to by their respective journalists."—(Encyclope lia Britanica, article Germany.)—Ed.

In going to the fête it was necessary to embark on one of those lakes which, reflecting all the beauties of nature, seemed placed at the foot of the Alps only to multiply their enchanting forms. A stormy sky deprived us of a distinct view of the mountains; but, half enveloped in clouds, they appeared the more awfully sublime. The storm increased; and, though a feeling of terror seized my soul, I even loved the thunderbolt of heaven which confounds the pride of man. We reposed ourselves for a moment in a kind of grotto, before we ventured to cross that part of the lake of Thun which is surrounded by inaccessible rocks. It was in such a place that William Tell braved the abyss, and clung to the rocks in escaping from his tyrants. We now perceived in the distance that mountain which bears the name of the Virgin (Jungfrau), because no traveller has ever been able to attain its summit; it is not so high as Mount Blanc, and yet it inspires more veneration, because we know that it is inaccessible.

We arrived at Interlachen; and the sound of the Aar, which falls in cascades near this little town, disposed the soul to pensive reflection. A great number of strangers were lodged in the rustic but neat abodes of the peasants; it was striking enough to see, walking in the streets of Interlachen, young Parisians at once transported into the valleys of Switzerland. Here they heard only the torrents, they saw only the mountains, and endeavored in these solitary regions to find means of tiring themselves sufficiently to return with renewed pleasure to the world.

Much has been said of an air played on the Alpine horn, which made so lively an impression on the Swiss, that when hey heard it they quitted their regiments to return to their country. We may imagine what effect this air must produce. when repeated by the echoes of the mountains; but it should be heard resounding from a distance; when near, the sensation which it produces is not agreeable. If sung by Italian voices, he imagination would be perfectly intoxicated with it; but perhaps this pleasure would give birth to ideas foreign to the simplicity of the country. We should wish for the arts, for

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