BASEL Then we drove into the town and commenced searching for the hotel. After many different directions by as many different people, we finally found it, about midnight. We were thoroughly tired out. Hotel Three Kings (des Trois Rois) is a fine and very old house. We were given good connecting rooms with bath. The hotel is situated on the banks of the Rhine river, the water lapping its foundations, and our rooms front the river. We slept soundly. The next morning, Wednesday, August 24, we spent resting and gazing on the swiftly rushing river. Gaston had reported that the car would have to remain in the shop all day for repairs. In putting the car in repair for us before we left Paris, new and heavier plates and chains had been used, and therein lay the cause of all our trouble, as they were too heavy for the rest of the machinery and caused the breaking of the plates. every time. Gaston, having discovered this, was confiIdent when the car was fixed this time we would have no further trouble. He told Gusty before coming for us, he would test the car himself. The river here, as I have said, is very swift and no boats are seen on it. I noticed a small ferry in one place not far from here that made regular trips over and back, and I wondered how it was done, till I discovered a trolley wire overhead that carried it over and back. We saw also a long, narrow excursion steamboat, but no small boats of any kind. In the afternoon we took a carriage and drove all over t found it quite interesting. We went, of c cathedral and saw a fine monument of Era the great philosophers of the middle ages. old towers and the old bridge with its little el in the middle. We saw the Rathaus, bright-colored frescoes on its tower and fa we drove back to the hotel. Gaston reported about 9 P. M. that the right, having put on heavier plates and lig of which he had duplicates in case of furth and he had tested the car, which worked wel he would be ready for us at 9 A. M. SWITZERLAND BERN Thursday, August 25, we left at 9 A. M. as scheduled. The car did work finely and we had a beautiful trip. We stopped at Lagenthal for déjeuner. Here we had a boiled dinner and it was very good. We left at 1:30 P. M. and reached Bern at 3 P. M., stopping at Hotel Bernerhof. We freshened up a little, then, taking a bellboy from the hotel as a guide, we "did" Bern. It is a beautiful city, with fine public buildings and handsome residences. There are fountains on nearly every square, and each fountain has its public washing place, with boards at each end for the women's accommodation. We visited the cathedral, which has a handsomely sculptured interior and has a tall, ornamental spire. One feature of Bern is its arcades. There are squares of them. The houses extend out over the sidewalk, and stores of all kinds are in the buildings. No need for umbrellas while shopping in Bern, as everything is under cover. It reminds me a little of Chester, England, but the arcades are quite different. We went to the bear pit and fed the bears. They are the mascots of Bern, and bears are always protected. In here we saw seven or eight great fat, lazy fellows. They climb trees, dance, sit down and fold their hands, or lie down and look up at you in a lazy way and do all sorts of antics for visitors, who feed them everything, st fruit, cake, etc. The Rathaus here is very attractive, hav outside stairway leading up to the entranc We motored down to see the old clock west gate. We waited till the clock struc There are several mechanical figures on it and a cock that crows. With the exception I think it fully equal to the Strasburg clo cock and its crow are very poor imitation enjoyed seeing this clock because it was air and we were not crowded. Returning t we had a good dinner, a good bed and a goo INTERLAKEN We left here a litt Friday, August 26. A. M. for Interlaken. ride. I have enjoyed many fine rides, but th all; the sky is so blue and the lake majestic. along the shore of Lake Thum, then through of Thum, and saw Spiez, with its tower, on th side of the lake. We reached Interlaken ab stopping at the Grand Hotel National. It is best hotels here and is well located on the rive the promenade we had a splendid view of with the Jungfrau (Young Maid) tower above the other peaks. We left at 1:30 for Pass and Lucern, motoring along the shore Brienz. We had a beautiful drive over the car making the steep climb perfectly. We stopped at Brunnig, the village at the top of the pass, to get our permit for going down on the other side. We were obliged to take two hours in which to make it. This law was made to compel slow driving. Consequently the chauffeurs kill time in every way possible. Soon after commencing the descent, it clouded and looked very like a thunder storm. I am afraid of these storms at any time, but particularly in the mountains, where they are always terrific. It did rain quite hard, but the thunder only grumbled. We stopped under shelter of some rocks and ate a little gouter of crackers and fruit, and then motored on, reaching our station in good time. Here we turned in our permit, and found we had taken ten minutes over the two hours allotted. This amused Gaston, as he had been so afraid he would arrive before his two hours were up. The Swiss houses and chalets are very attractive, and so quaint. The Swiss are extremely fond of flowers, and they have them. everywhere, both in beds and window boxes. Their houses, except the modern ones, are built with the stable in one end and the living part in the other, all under one roof. They fertilize with manure, and you see great piles of it neatly stacked in their front yards, not far from their houses. This no doubt accounts for the fearful odors that we noticed very frequently while traveling through Switzerland. The chalets are perched everywhere, on mountain sides and in the valleys, and are very picturesque. They are generally painted white or light tan in color and the roofs are |