Russia had lent troops to Prussia, and put
them into Prussian uniforms; otherwise there could not possibly be so
many of them. But Rome, too, was responsible for the misfortunes of
France; the Jesuits had planned it all, because the country was so
educated; they never liked anybody to learn anything.
After Culoz commenced the journey through the lovely Jura mountains. On
both sides an immense panorama of high, wooded mountain ridges, with
poverty-stricken little villages along the mountain sides. At Bellegarde
our passports were demanded; no one was allowed to cross the frontier
without them--a stupid arrangement. The Alps began to bound our view.
The train went on, now through long tunnels, now between precipices, now
again over a rocky ridge, whence you looked down into the valley where
the blue-green Rhone wound and twined its way between the rocks like a
narrow ribbon. The speed seemed to be accelerating more and more. The
first maize-field. Slender poplars, without side-branches, but wholly
covered with foliage, stood bent almost into spirals by the strong wind
from the chinks of the rocks. The first Swiss house.
XXXI.
There was Geneva, between the Alps, divided by the southern extremity of
Lake Leman, which was spanned by many handsome bridges. In the centre, a
little isle, with Rousseau's statue.
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