Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 255, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1919 — Geneva: Capital of the League of Nations [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Geneva: Capital of the League of Nations

ENEVA. Switzerland, is to be capital K ’ of the League of Nations—ls there is a league of nations. It seems rather an appropriate selection. c ity is cosmopolitan and has fCFWSjCA historical, literary and philosophical VS||ry traditions in keeping with the purpose of the league. Switzerland (1 F/ has P reserve(l its neutrality in a XAJK/ way t 0 be above suspicion. And finally the Swiss Confederation is in itself a sort of League of Nations. . From the practical viewpoint tlm city of Geneva is attractive, not too large, and centrally located for many of the members of the league. In fact, the enthusiasts say that considering Geneva's past, its long history full oi struggles and suffering through which it won its freedom, it would appear that from all time tills city has been predestined to become the capital of the intangible , kingdom of all free peoples, united to defend, not only their rights and liberty, but also the rights and liberty of others. The requirements for a location stipulated fifteen hundred meters along the edge of the lake, embirge properties; a purl foi tie>l*l 1 *. facing the Alps and having access by land and warer. AVfthin -the Wails of tiie small territorial... dlatrictof Geneva, amid the country adorned with parks and decked with gardens, several estates were available to'the representatives of the different nations. . The parish of Genthod, about four miles out from the town, perhaps the more readily fulfills these conditions. Genthod, one of the oldest villages, was a part of the bishop of Geneva’s property. In 1585 it became the property of the’republic and is inclosed in the land that the-Bernese took from the duke of Savoy. An unusually beautiful spot, looking down upon the lake from time immemorial, it has been a chosen place for the Genevans. In the tenth century the noblemen replaced the ..country estates; were laid out and planted^—Two—of these estates with the houses intact, rendered all the more beautiful by the passing of time, with avenues and venerable woods, were first chosen. The Creux de Genthod belongs to the family de Saussure and the de Pourtales estate. The Bartholoni estate adjoining was added; ft is occupied by a large modern house called the ChateauRouge. On the other side is the. property of Elward Naville, the Egyptologist, temporary president of the International Red Cross. Spacious grounds that belonged to the estate of the naturalist and philosopher Charles Bomit’r. were also secured. Incidentally, one of the eighteenth century houses on the Bonnet property was taken stone by stone to Geneva and scrupulously reconstructed. Crowning this long hillock with its gentle slopes Is a plateau inclined toward the Jura mountains, the crest line which fills the horizon. This presents a magnificent panorama for a distance of over a mile along the lake shore, and a mile and a half,.lnland, half of the township of Genthod, bounded on the north by the Versoix river and on the south by a road and crossed by the Geneva-Bqjne railroad and the route to Lausanne. The most ancient of these estates, and the most symmetrical, is the Creux de Genthod. It was built by Ami Lullin, theologian, professor and collector of rare manuscripts. Blondel, the great French architect, drew the plans. In 1723 he planned the gardens and park. This house became the property of the naturalist, Horce Benedict de Saussure, who fnarrled the granddaughter of Ami T.„inn De Saussure's house adjoined that of his

uncle, Charles Bonnet. De Saussure, tilled with a passionate love for the high Alps, the outline of which he gazed at every day, went exploring, climbing Mont Blanc, writing his “Voyages dans les Alpes” (1779-1786). His daughter, who became Madame Necker de Saussure. grew up in this delightful atmosphere. Charles Bonnet continued to carry out his study of nature, and when he lost his sight gave up his time to philosophical problems, strengthening his scholars’ belief in an after life H'plw weed tn nnnw from PeTe to Wnrk withhim. Learned men and scholars came from all parts- of Europe to visit them. Tn Ihis way Ihe small circle of Geill.iod. passion-" ately interested in scientific culture and Christian philosophy, became a European center in direct opposition to the one at Ferney, where Voltaire derided the austereness of Geneva and tried his best to destroy it. .After the death of Charles Bonnet his property returned to the de Rive family, which was connected with Madame de Stael (1776-1817). Her house is near Genthod, and Corrinne came often on fine summer days to sit on the terrace of the philosopher and writer. The de Pourtales house was,built apout 1750 by Jean Louis Saladin, a diplomat of Geneva attached to the court of Louis XV, who as a mark of appreciation gave him Jhis full-length portrait in oils, a" wl. Te viewbf the lake. ITTs”tb T»e“ seen in the center of two broad avenues with its simple gray front, its semicircular outbuildings, all magnificently located. Beyond the fields that slope gently are the trees of the Creux de Genthod, the ’ rare species that Ami Lullin had collected at a great cost, chestnuts that were brought from Lyons in carts, immense vistas of foliage, wonderful tree architecture Infolding the old French garden. Along the walks where the two scholars meditated. around that house of pure lines, the meeting place of so many distinguished men, a breath of European thought seems to float in this Genevan atmosphere, say the enthusiasts. An intimate communion seems to unite all these grand and simple homes to the grand old trees, the gentle distant slopes behind which appear the Alps, the long, clear stretch of lake. To all this vista, at the same time se big and so complete that it would seem impossible to destroy this incomparable harmony —certainly these homes and historical grounds will remain as’they are and the new buildings will be erected inland on the plateau. Geneva is an old, old city. Its origin Is lost in antiquity, but it was of sufficient importance in Caesar> time to be mentioned In his "CommeiHares.” It was early the seat of a bishopric. It was one of the df the Burgundians. In the sixth century it passed to the Franks. In the eleventh century It became incorporated with the German empire. About that time the temporal was added to the spiritual power of the bishops. The dukes of Savoy began to encroach on the temporal power and at the same time the burghers took a hand lii affairs. The struggles between the dukes of Savoy and the citizens ended in favot of

the latter in the early days of the sixteenth century. Geneva is the capital of the canton of It contains possibly 60.000 people —a little over 100.000 with Its suburbs—and the canton has a population of about 135,000. There are 22 cantons, with a total population of about 3,350,000. The Romans made themselves masters of the country in the first’ century, B. C. Their dominion lasted about four centuries. A succession of masters

followed. When it became a part of the German (Holy Roman) empire in the eleventh century it was a hodge-podge of petty stares ruled by dukes, counts, bishops and abbots, together with little city-states. The beginning of the confederation of cnntonswas in the "thirteenth century. In 1276 Rudolph of Hapsburg, Holy Roman emperor, secured control of the duchy of Austria and threatened the liberties of the Swiss. To resist its aggressions the three forest cantons of Uri, dJntorwalden in 1201 entered into_a= league. In the fourteenth century five other cantons joined. The house of Hapsburg' found the ynoimtaineers invincible. At tlie close 01 the middle ages the connection of Switzerland with the German empire came virtually to an end. The confederation was enlarged by fresh accessions. In the sixteenth century, as stated, Geneva shook off the authority of the dukes of Savoy and of the bishops. After the reformation in the peace of Westphalia (1648) Switzerland was formally de- ‘ dared independent *of the German empire. In 1798 the French occupied the country and established the Helvetic republic. In 1803 Napoleon restored the cantonal confederation and new caatons were added. The congress of Vienna In 1813 decreed the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland. Geneva, of course, at once suggests noted men and ..fam ti ie Geneva convention, the AlabaTha claims, etc. Modern Geneva is an exceedingly attractive city. It is beautifully situated at the-southwest end of Lake Geneva, which here narrows and pours out into the Rhone, which is shortly joined by the Arve. The Rhone is crossed by nine fine bridges which join the old town on the left bank, with the principal residence quarter of the foreign colony on the right bank. There are many fine structures of interest. The College de St. Antoine, founded by Calvin, has nearly 2,000 students, over half of whom are foreigners. Geneva Is noted as an educational center. The Cathedral of St. Peter is Byzantine in character and is said to have been built in 1124. The botanical gardens are interest ing. There are several museums, including th* Musee Ratin; the Fol museum, with coilections ol Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities; the Atheneum, devoted to the fine arts, and the Museum of Natural History, containing de Saussure’i geological collection. The lie- Jean Jauques Rous seau attracts many visitors. Tourists are showi the house of Calvin, on whony the possibly chiel historical fame of the city rests. Lake Geneva is one of the beauty spots of the world. It is about 45 miles long and is eight miles wide at* its place of greatest width. Its northern "" and western shores afford striking views of Mount Blanc and its chain. The lake is very deep and a • beautiful dark blue. New boulevards encircle Geneva; they are laid out along the lines of the old fortifications which were demolished in 1851. Handsome villas crown the surrounding heights. Altogether the tourist seldom visits a more attractive city and ope nunv Interesting historically.