ON PLAIN AND PEAK 



Thus Andreas Hofer died. 



And, whilst his most faithful subject was being 

 done to death, the "good" Kaiser Franz was pur- 

 chasing the patronage of the Corsican conqueror 

 with the hand of his daughter ! 



The characteristics of the Tyrolese of to-day are 

 the same as in Hofer's time. Devotion to his 

 country, to his Emperor, to his God such are the 

 features of the simple mountaineer. He will never 

 cringe, however. The Emperor himself he will 

 address with the familiar du the "thou " of equality 

 and brotherhood. One's trdger will raise his hat 

 indeed, but then he will offer his hand. 



Roman Catholicism is the religion of the Tyrol. 

 The countless shrines that one meets with by every 

 road and footpath, and the uncovered head with 

 which every peasant passes them, testify to the 

 religious feelings of the people. 



And yet, as in most mountainous countries, im- 

 morality, according to our notions, is rife. Perhaps 

 they are a superstitious, rather than a religious, 

 people ; but the common virtues of truth, honesty, 

 and courage are nowhere found more generally 

 than among them. 



Romedius is one of the most popular Tyrolese 

 saints. Riding one day into Taur, a village of the 

 Inn valley, blessed with what is by no means rare 

 in the mountains a healthy appetite, he did such 



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