Switzerland

a republic of central Europe. Speaking roughly, it occupies the region of the Alps between the confines of Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. It has no seashore. Area, 15,992 square miles--twice that of New Jersey. Population, 3,463,609. The republic consists of twenty-two cantons. The capital is Berne. Each canton sends two members to an upper house. One hundred sixty-seven delegates, one for each 20,000 people, are sent to the lower house or National Assembly. Clergymen may not serve. Instead of a president, a federal council of seven members is chosen by the Assembly for a term of three years. These seven members form a cabinet and elect a presiding officer. Each conducts a department of the government. A vote of the people, a referendum, is necessary for the passage of any important measure. In 1908, for instance, the people forbade the further use of absinthe. As far as known to history, the early inhabitants of Switzerland were the Rhaetii and the Helvetii. About 58-15 B. C. the Romans subdued these tribes and established the province of Helvetia. The conquerors built military roads--one over the Great St. Bernard--and established fortresses around which many towns and villages grew up. Many traces of Roman occupation may yet be seen.

About 400 A. D. eruptions of barbarians swept over the land. The Burgundians occupied the western portion. This section of Switzerland uses the French language. The Ostrogoths settled in the south. This section now speaks Italian or an allied language. The Allemani occupied north Switzerland, the inhabitants of which, fifteen cantons strong, now speak German. The Swiss people are therefore of three quite distinct race elements. The Swiss republic is a product of the Alps, a confederation of diverse elements, owing its independence to the difficulty of subduing mountain-bred, mountain-loving people.

At times, Switzerland was divided up between surrounding nations and again the spirit of independence asserted itself. Notable victories were won over the House of Hapsburg and the Austrians at Morgarten in 1315 and Sempach in 1386. The national legend of William Tell belongs to this period. Charles the Bold and the Burgundians were routed with slaughter at the battles of Granson and Nancy in 1476. The Swiss bore home so much booty from their Burgundian campaign that a love of foreign luxury crept in. The Swiss became eager to serve for pay in foreign armies, giving rise to the saying, "No silver, no Swiss." They formed the best soldiery to be had for hire. The Swiss guards of Louis XVI immortalized themselves by dying in defense of the Tuileries.

Christianity was introduced at an early date from France and Ireland. At the time of the Reformation most of the German and a part of the French cantons became Protestant. Jealousy gave rise to bitter civil wars. After many vicissitudes the republic was established and guaranteed independence. The present constitution was adopted in 1848. French is the official language at the capital. Laws are published in all three languages. About fifty-one per cent of the inhabitants are now Protestant, forty per cent Catholic.

The dress, customs, and occupations of the cantons differ greatly. Some cantons are devoted to herding; others are engaged in manufacturing or agriculture. Lumbering is an important industry. By frugality a large population is maintained in comfort. Every square foot of productive ground is utilized. Husbandmen clamber down almost inaccessible precipices for an armful of wild hay. Patches of level stone the size of a bedquilt are covered with earth from the valley and are sowed to wheat. Bread, fruit, honey, vegetables, eggs, poultry, and dairy products are the food of the people. Good health and vigor are the rule. The houses are built chiefly of hewed or sawed fir logs which turn in the sun to a rich tan color. The appreciative observer and admirer of the natural and picturesque cannot fail to admire the wide-roofed Swiss chalet, as the mountain cottage is called.

The chief exports are honey, watches, silks, lace, cheese, condensed milk, leather, and wood-carving. Imports of glass, pottery, raw silk, woolens, oils, and shoes are heavy. The French franc is the coin of accounts. Lands are held in what is known as peasant proprietorship. About thirty percent of the country is too rocky to produce trees or pasturage. About $25,000,000 a year is derived from tourists.

The republic owns the railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, and the express system. There were in 1905 3,974 miles or railroad. Express rates are very low. A twenty-pound grip or box of merchandise may be sent by express from Berne to Geneva for twelve cents. Ordinary telegrams cost six cents with an additional half cent for each word. Telephones cost private users about $8 a year. The railways are owned by the state. Passenger coaches are of first, second, and third class, according to the degree of comfort. The third class coach has plain wooden seats, however, and is entirely respectable. The government sells a thirty-day ticket, good on all trains and on nearly all lake steamers, for $13.50 first-class and $9.65 second-class. A second-class ticket, good on all trains for one year, but not transferable, may be had for $90. There is no cutting of rates. In addition to government ownership, government control of corporations is very much closer than in America. Any two stock-holders in a corporation may call for an examination of the company's books. It is a penitentiary offense to obscure accounts or refuse stockholders the privilege of examination.

In educational affairs each canton maintains its own schools. There are six universities. Women are admitted. Owing to the comparative freedom from tyranny, Switzerland has been for centuries the refuge of thinking people, not criminals, who got into trouble at home. Geneva in particular has been the place of residence of a very large number of noted people.

Statistics. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See Alps; Arnold Von Winkelried; Berne; Chamouni; Como; Constance; Calvin; Engadine; Geneva; Lucerne; Mont Blanc; Rhone; Rhine; Rigi; Schaffhausen; St. Bernard; St. Gothard; St. Gall; Tell; Zurich; Zwingli, etc.