By the time he had reached the heart of the valley it was nightfall. He
traversed the hamlet of Cresta, crossed a bridge, found himself at the
entrance of the village of Cellarina, about twenty-five minutes’ walk
form Saint Moritz. After taking counsel with himself, he resolved to
proceed no farther; and so he put up at a neat, pretty inn, which had
just been freshly white-washed.
The air of the Engadine is so keen and bracing that the first nights
passed there are apt to be sleepless ones. Count Larinski scarcely slept
at all in his new quarters. Would he have slept better on the plains?
He became worn out with his thoughts. Of what was he thinking? Of the
cathedral at Chur, of the Vallee du Diable, of the tufts of aconite, the
campanulas, and the meeting of the two post-chaises, one ascending, the
other descending. After that he saw no longer anything but a red hood,
and his eyes were open when the first blush of the morning penetrated
his modest chamber. Eagles sleep little when they are preparing for the
chase.
CHAPTER II
The Baths of Saint Moritz are, according to the verdict of a large
number of people, by no means an enlivening resort, and here tarry
chiefly genuine invalids, who cherish a sincere desire to recover health
and strength. The invigorating atmosphere, the chalybeate waters, which
are unquestionably wholesome, although they do taste like ink, have
wrought more than one actual miracle; nevertheless, it is said to
require no little philosophy to tolerate existence there. “I am charmed
to have had the experience of visiting the Baths,” we once heard an
invalid say, “for I know now that I am capable of enduring anything
and everything.” But this, let us hasten to assure the reader, is an
exaggeration--the mere babbling of an ingrate.
The Upper Engadine Valley, in which Saint Moritz is situated, has, as
well as the Baths, its detractors and its admirers. This narrow valley,
throughout whose whole length flows the Inn, shut in by glacier-capped
mountains, whose slopes are covered with spruce, pine, and larch trees,
lies at an altitude of some five thousand feet above the level of the
sea. It often snows there in the month of August, but spring and early
summer in the locality are delightful; and dotted about are numerous
little romantic green lakes, glittering like emeralds in the sunshine.
Those who slander these by comparing them to wash-bowls and cisterns,
are simply troubled with the spleen, a malady which neither iron,
iodine, nor yet sulphur, can cure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account