KIRCHENFELD BRIDGE, Berne, Switzerland.—The above structure is a huge iron bridge, seven hundred and fifty-one feet long, built in 1882-1883, across the river Aare, from the town proper to Helvetia Platz, where a new quarter of the town is being built by an English company. In the foreground are the terrace-like hot-houses and gardens of the peasants, who earn their livelihood by supplying the inhabitants of Berne with vegetables from their little farms. From the top of the bridge, in clear weather, the Bernese Alps can be seen better than from any other point in the Oberland.
CLOCK TOWER, Berne, Switzerland.
PEASANT WOMAN, Switzerland.—Here is a photograph of a Swiss girl on her way to church. She presents a true type of her sex, being well-developed, refined and accomplished. These peasants are fond of georgeous apparel, and on holidays and Sundays present a very pleasing spectacle. Their head-dress is particularly striking, consisting of a cap adorned with fine stiff lace, so arranged as to form a sort of fan at the back of the head. They all dress in similar costumes, which are both comfortable and attractive.
INTERLAKEN AND THE JUNGFRAU, Switzerland.—The low land between lakes Thun and Brienz, is called "Brodeli." These lakes once probably formed a single sheet of water, but were gradually separated by deposit carried from the mountain-sides. On this piece of land, "between the lakes," lies Interlaken. The town is a favorite summer resort and is noted for its mild and equal temperature. The above picture gives a general idea of the place, with the Jungfrau nine miles in the distance.
GRINDELWALD, Switzerland.—Grindelwald is a large village of widely-scattered houses, in the heart of the Alps and near the snow-fields. It is an excellent starting-point for mountain excursions, and also a favorite summer resort, the situation being sheltered and healthful. The place owes its reputation chiefly to its glaciers close by. Three gigantic mountains bound the valley. In years when ice is scarce, these glaciers serve as ice-quarries.
A THOUSAND FOOT CHASM, Grindelwald, Switzerland.—The above picture represents a chasm over a thousand feet in depth, with an almost perpendicular wall of rock rising on both sides. It has been cut down to its present level by the waters of the melting snows and ice on the mountain above, and strongly impresses the beholder with the power of the wheel of time. The stream in the foreground is only one of the many that rise into the dashing torrents within a hundred yards from their source in the Alpine country.
BRUNIG PASS, Switzerland.—There is, perhaps, no other country in the world that can boast of such expensive and magnificent public roads as Switzerland. This picture represents the over-hanging rock of the Brunig Pass, on the way from Lucerne to Interlaken. High up, along the mountain-side, the road winds its way, affording to the beholder a magnificent panorama of the distant snow-fields above, and the green valleys and placid lakes below.
LUCERNE, Switzerland.—The above is the capital of the canton of Lucerne, and one of the three seats of the Swiss Diet on the Rense, located twenty-five miles from Zurich by rail. It is highly picturesque, enclosed by a wall and watch-towers. The principal edifices are a cathedral and other fine churches, several convents, a town hall, an arsenal with ancient armor, two hospitals, an orphan asylum, jail, theatre, and covered bridges adorned with ancient paintings. It is a very attractive summer resort, the above picture showing its principal promenade.
RIGI, Switzerland.—The Rigi is a group of mountains about twenty-five miles in circumference, lying between lakes Lucerne, Zug and Lowerz. The north side is precipitous, but the south side consists of broad terraces and gentle slopes, covered with fresh, green pastures, which support upwards of four thousand head of cattle; it is planted toward the base with fig, chestnut and almond trees. The photograph represents the Rigi inclined railway.
RIGI-KULM, Switzerland.—The summit of the Rigi, owing to its isolated position, commands an extensive view, three hundred miles in circumference, that is unsurpassed for beauty in Switzerland. In 1816 a very modest hotel was erected on the Kulm by private subscriptions, and in 1848 it was superseded by the oldest of the three houses on the Kulm. Since then the number of inns has been steadily increasing, and the Rigi is now one of the most popular Swiss resorts, and is visited by thousands of tourists yearly.