HALF A CENTURY AGO AND TO-DAY. 



25 



foot from the Clamounix valley, a supposition which is dissipated 

 oil trial. There is, in fact, a stiff climb of about 2,000 feet in 

 order to reach the Chalet, where a good view of the glacier is 

 obtained together with needful rest and refreshment. I 

 will not stop to describe this glacier further than to observe 

 that a brief survey of its lateral moraine shows that the ice has 

 here retreated to a considerable extent (perhaps 200 feet) from 

 its former level. Along the top of the moraine large boulders 

 are perched, ready to fall from the slightest movement. These 

 were left when the ice reached that level ; but the moraine 

 itself is bare and destitute of vegetation, which apparently has 

 not had time to grow upon its surface since the ice retreated ; 

 evidence of the recenticity of the shrinkage. On descending 

 towards the valley of the Arve we passed some huge blocks of 

 granite, left by the glacier when it reached far below its present 

 limits, Some of these must have weighed 100 tons, and are 

 being quarried for building. 



Uemarhahle appearance of Mont Blanc, August 17th, 1908. — 

 Mooit Blanc U7uler the setting sim. —When approaching 

 Chamounix the day of our arrival we were favoured by a 

 scene of wondrous beauty which ought not to pass unrecorded. 

 The train was passing about sunset along the Valley of the 

 Ehone bounded on either hand by mountainous heights, when 

 •someone exclaimed, " Look at Mont Blanc ! " and casting our 

 eyes upwards in the direction indicated we beheld a scene 

 never to be forgotten. The great mountain dome, with some 

 of the adjoining heights and bordering snowfields, seemed to 

 have been converted into a mass of burnished gold, owing to 

 the declining rays of the setting sun which were flooding the 

 heights with their light, but were quite out of sight to us, being 

 intercepted by the intervening heights. This gorgeous scene 

 was fortunately visible from the railway for several minutes, 

 so that we had time to realize its supreme beauty, which words 

 fail to describe. The white fields of snow lit up by the setting 

 ■sun reflected in all their rich beauty their own resplendent 

 colouring. It was a rare coincidence — the splendour of the 

 sunset, the reflection from the snows, and our own position as 

 •observers ! 



Geneva revisited, 1908. — We may now go back to Geneva, 

 and note the changes which have taken place in this celebrated 

 •city within the last half-century. They have been indeed 

 remarkable. At the time of my flrst visit to the city of Calvin 

 there were no railways, nor, if I recollect, steamboats on its 

 great lake, the only ships being the pretty double-winged 



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