134 LECTURE ON SWITZERLAND. 



powers of government are mingled, and what strikes an American as 

 even more strange, wiiilc tlie representative council is elected for six 

 years, the judges chosen by them are elected bnt for live. 



One of the first steps of the new government was to reorganize and 

 renovate public insti'uction. A visit to the normal school established 

 by them mnst inspire bright anticipations of future improvement for 

 the country. Patriotism, religious and moral feeling, and intelligence, 

 are developed by precept and example in those who are hereafter to 

 have the training of the Bernese youth. The industrious life of these 

 future teachers, eleven hours being spent in the school-room, in receiv- 

 ing or imi>arting instruction, their frugal fare, meat of any kind being 

 l)laced before them but twice in each week, and their coarse clothing, are all 

 shared witli them by the director of the institution. Severe exercise in 

 the open air, tlirough the gymnastics so popular in Germany and Switzer- 

 land, ('ounteracts, in a degree, the effect of this sedentary life upon their 

 health. In addition to the bran(;hes usually cultivated in our schools, 

 nuisic is made a part of the teacher's education, that he may, in turn, 

 give instruction in it to all his pupils. The effect produced by the deep 

 toned and well tuned voices of the young teachers in this normal school, 

 engaged in singing, con amorc, some of the patriotic songs of their 

 country, was one of the most moving that I ever experienced. What a 

 fine material for republicans ! was the remark of the counsellor of state 

 who accompanied me, the echo of the very feeling which was thrilling 

 through me. Close by this school is Hofwyl, the celebrated institution 

 of Emmanuel Felienberg. But to venture within its precincts would 

 occupy you far longer than I am privileged to do. The system of this 

 establishment, for it is notone school, but is composed of several schools 

 of different grades, has served, in a degree, as a model for that of the 

 canton, and has exerted a greater intluenco in and out of Svritzerlaud 

 than any other single institution in the world. 



The new government has reorganized and improved many of the pub- 

 lic establishments of the canton, and created new ones. Thus the two 

 orphan houses of the city have already felt its favorable influence; a 

 school for the deaf and dumb, and one for the blind, has been estab- 

 lished under its patronage, and a new penitentiary has been erected for 

 the introduction of the modern improvements in prison. discipline. In 

 1811) women condemned for crimes swept the streets of Berne, and now 

 the government is nearl}- prepared to adopt the Pennsylvania system of 

 prison discipline. Surely the progress of this people has been worthy 

 of, if not above, all praise. 



On the eastern side of the town the bank of the Aar is quite precip- 

 itous, and from the parapet which crowns it a glimpse is had into that 

 fiiiry-land, the Oberland of Berne. The peaks of its snow-clad hills, with 

 their bold outline, cut sharply against the sky, presenting, in the course 

 of a clear day, a beautiful variety of aspect, from the dark shadows cast 

 by the rising sun, and the brilliancy of mid-day, to the delicate hues at 



