22 Rambles with a Fishing-Rod. 



many of whom, from the nature of their occu- 

 pations and studies in this country, would find 

 an inspection of this ancient and flourishing 

 trade a source of long - continuing pleasure. 

 Without an actual visit, it is almost impossible 

 to understand the wonderful hold which clock- 

 making has taken over this ingenious people, 

 and how thoroughly the Schwarzwalder must 

 be identified with the clockmaker. His trade 

 is an hereditary and ancient heirloom, handed 

 down from generation to generation since re- 

 mote medieval times. 1 But even the most 

 interesting industry would not be a sufficient 

 attraction for the stranger without those nat- 

 ural beauties which are one of the chief 

 pleasures of the holiday-maker. The country 

 has a certain sternness and wildness which 

 are quite different from the grander beauties 

 of Switzerland, or those alternations of mag- 

 nificence and sweetness which are presented 

 by the mountains and valleys of the Tyrol. 

 It may be that this is one of the reasons 

 why this tract of country is so little visited 

 by the English tourist. He is here com- 

 paratively unknown; but schools from Heid- 

 1 See Appendix "The Clockmakers of Schwarzwald." 



