Berne

Foreisn Correspondence of the Argus. Laüsanne, Bee. 22d. 1863. Never did Michigan see beautiful a winter as the people of Lausanno are now enjoying. It seems like perpetual spring. The air is mild, roses are in full bloom, and the gardener plants tho aeed in December that we plant in June. It s the very weather for traveling. "Let us off!" said a voice to me one day, "let us cease for awhile Vetnde du Francais ; let us throw aside the oid grammar, aud the lasting traduction, and the omnipreseutVinet; Iet ns forget this continual jargon in an unknown tongue which is buzzing about our ears, nnd which we try to make come out of our mouths ; and welcoming once more our old mother Eüglish, and setting off, let us away to see what we ban see, and hear what we can hear 1" The voico was that of a young Cincinnatian, another representative of America here, who at all times and uoder all circumstances will support with diojnity the title he bears, and will act, worthily tho part of a, man who hails from the New World. "Bravo!'' responded I, glad of an adventure, "Ho ! for Borne, the Capítol of Switzerland and the city of bears, where. wo can see their exoellenoics the G'ouncilmen, and, their dignities the bears." Accordingly we were off, and, upon the evening of the day on whioh we atarted, we were slceping soandly at the Schweitzerhof, in the capital city of Helvetia. On the morrow our first aot of course (of a public character) was to breakfast. And what think you we, had for our morning i'epast. Ye queens of the oulinary department, yo mastcr of the fork, give a guess. Coffee, bread, butter, and honey - this was the bill -of fare. And think not that the proprietors of the Schweitzerhof troated us with indignity, for at the Hotel du Louvre at Paris even, you would scarcely get more ! Go whcre you will upon the continent and you will fiud everywhere this simple morning meal. Ye American epicures, who rejoice in your grands dejeuncn, what say you to this ? ye paires familias, who grunible and look cross when the morning repast does not sweep itsolf into largo proportions, what think you of this simplicity ! But, O dyspoptie, come not hither hoping to find a sphere vrhere thy palato is not tempted with such an array of terrible djsbes; for, poor one, you will discover that the dinners and suppers here fully mako up for the deficiency of the braakfast. Our first desire was to visit the National Aseembly, or Congress of Switzerland, which is now in session. You know that Suisse is divided into tvyentytwo cantonr-, or statcs. Each eantoa 'sends two members to the Conseil d' Elctfs, a body corresponding to the U. S. Senate, and a certain number, nccording to its population, to the Conseil National, cor responding to our House of Representa tives. These two bodios elect seven of their number and a President who form the Conseil Federal. This President is also the President of the Swiss Confederation, ana he with the other seven, his cabinet, are the executive power in the government. The building in which the National Assembly sits, has lately been erected and is a chef d'ouevre of its kinds. Built of the liglit colorcd and beautiful Swi?s stone ; with its two immenge pavilions upon each end ; with its three entranees örnamented with C'orinthian pillars; with the fino grounds before it ; with the beautiful statue in bronze of Liberty-elevated upou a high pedestal, aud surrounded with a marble fountain, in front it is the very picture of beauty and propriety. Entering we passed through the beautilul halls and came first to tho chatnber of the Conseil d' Etalt. It is not large, but amply so for the forty-four mpmbers that here sit. Tho color of tho walls, eurtains, and hanginga aro dark green. The general appearance of the room is dark and sombre. Tho colored glass of the windows represent the armorials of the different cantons and the dates 1308 and 1848 appear conspicuously, denoting the foundation and completion of the Swiss Cïonfeileration. - Upon one end is the tribune, er publio gallery, elovnted and supportcd by larg Corinthian columns and pilasters. The wall above is beautifully frescoed and adorned with paintings of the Goddesses of Liberty, .Tustice &;. Tho seats of the members are in two rows, arranged in a semicircle. We heard here four speakers. Each ono remained seafcd, aud gave vent to j hisentbusiasm ns be sat. The firet made Iqotvd his thoagbte in Freneh, ths ond in high Germán, the third in low Germán, and the fourtli in Italian 1 What ! thought we, have we entered a Babel, and does confusión of tongues reign here ! We were compelled to ansTWjijes. Switzeriand, herself, employs these four languages - can her reprosentatives do othcrwise ? Froa tho Consoil d' Mats, we went to the other end of the building and entered the Conseil National. This chamber is larger than the other and i's general appearance ia lighier, but in particular features ita style of deooration Í3 like the other. Amongst theglöO members there were many good looking men, yet none did I sec that seemed to me to support the dignity that one soes in the U. S. Senato. The speakers here rose ; fou-t we heard none tbat had Webster's power, or Everett's eloquence, or Phillips' grace. From the Assembly we visited the second place of importance in Berne - the palaco of their excelleneies, t&o Beurs. Have you not not heard how Berchtold, the founder of Berne, sprinkled the foundations of the new city with the blood of a bear ? Do you not know that Berne means bear f Are y'ou not aware its escutcheon is a bear ? Ha7e you not heard how the statues, fountains, and buildings are decorated with the effigy of the bear ? Are you ignorant that bearg havo been kept here frora remote antiquity, living on tha appropriations of the government, in a sort of hon" orable yetirement ? Have you not read how the French army iu 1798 made prisoners of the bears of the city, and marched them off to Paria tQ adorn the Jardín des Plants? and how indignant all the Bernese were at this insult to their fayorttes, so fhat they rested not till tbey had, after a treaty of peace, restored these dignities to their fonner aTbode ? Oh ! wto hs not heard of tbe bears of Borne ? Where has not their fanie penctrated ? Honored by the citi?ens, visited by travelers, coinmemorated by historians, has not their name gone well nigh into all the earth ? Why is not their cup of happiesa fiil} ? Of course we joined the throng tliat went to pay their respocts to the celebrated. Wo could not expect the honor of being invited into their palaca, or of a personal in'roduction, so we had to content ourselvcs with standing outside the walls whieh enclose their domains, and with looking at them as thev took their afternoon walk. Thcy supported with modesty the honors which have been heaped upon tbatn. As they walked about they scarcely noticed the vulgar gaze that was fastened upon them, and thoy bore the stare of the crowd with the utmost nonchalance. What dignity, what self posession, what disregará for little things had tliey ! All honor to tho Bears of Berne ! Long may they live to enjoy the reputation they have gained. Itaving seon the two principal things of the capitel city, let us wait till another dav ere we see' more.