Switzerland -- Description and travel -- Juvenile literature
"Yes," said Mr. George. "But as to the fourth, I do not know whether you
will consider it an advantage or not."
"What is it?" said Rollo. "I've no doubt but I shall."
"Why, in getting up and down to and from the banquette you will have a
great deal of hard climbing to do."
"Yes," said Rollo. "I shall like that. They are all advantages--very
great advantages indeed."
So Rollo fully determined in his own mind that he would take places on
the banquette. He thought that there was one disadvantage in that part
of the coach; and that was, that in case of storm the rain would drive
in directly upon them; but he found in the end that an excellent
provision was made against this contingency.
The young gentlemen had now finished their breakfasts; and so they rose
and went out to what Rollo called the gallery, to see the embossed map
of Switzerland which he said that he had seen hanging there. The plan of
this hotel was very peculiar. In the centre of it was a very large,
open hall, almost like a court, only it was covered above with a roof
and lighted by a skylight. Around this hall there was, in each story, an
open gallery, with a railing on one side, over which you could look down
to the floor below; and on the other side, at short intervals, there
were doors leading to the various apartments. Between these doors, and
against the walls, were hanging maps, plans, pictures, and other
embellishments, which gave to these galleries a very attractive
appearance. Here and there, too, on the different stories, there were
sofas or other seats, with persons sitting upon them. Some were sewing,
and some were attending children who were playing near. At the two ends
of the hotel there were broad staircases connected with these galleries
and leading from one to the other. Besides the galleries there were long
corridors, extending each way from the centre of the building to ranges
of apartments situated in the wings. The hotel, in fact, was very
spacious, and it was very admirably arranged.
Rollo conducted Mr. George to the third story; and there, hanging
against the wall, he found the embossed map of Switzerland which he had
described. Mr. George and Rollo took this map down from its nail, and,
seating themselves upon a settee which was near, they held it before
them and examined it very attentively for some time. Mr. George showed
Rollo the great central valley of Switzerland, with the ranges of
mountains on each side of it. He showed him, too, the great slope of
land which extended over the whole northern part of Switzerland. It was
bounded on the north by the River Rhine and the frontier, and on the
south by the great range of mountains which separated it from the
valley. He showed him, too, the numerous lakes which were scattered over
the surface of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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