EUROPE TO-DAY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12399, 12 July 1938, Page 2

EUROPE TO-DAY

ST. MORITZ December to the end of March, during which period the dryness and purity of the atmosphere, combined with the warmth of the high-Alplne ' sunshine, make it an ideal resort for every kind of winter sport, this is the time to see St. Moritz. St. Moritz is indeed proud of its Italian-blue skies and the great number of hours of sunshine it enjoys / throughout the year. It is interesting to note that St. Moritz Spa was well known as a health resort as far back as the 15th century. The place was then known as St. Mauritius, and it is recorded that Pope Leo X issued a bill extending absolution to all who visited it =;■ The iron springs of St. Moritz were known to the Romans and even long before their time. In 1907 a prehistoric well was discovered which, i according to an expert view, was in use 3,000 years ago. Two bronie swords and a pin were found in this well and these are now preserved in the Engadine Museum. The famous ! Swiss doctor Paracelsus, who flour- Jj ished in the 1C in century, described the St. Moritz wells, which he re- ti garded as being better than all others.

There are three chief runs for tobogauning, the first and the second being as it were, stepping-stones to the third. The Village Run is for novices grown out of childhood. As soon as they acquire a certain skill, they advance to the Dimson Run, the curves of which are sharper and the descents steeper than those of the Village Run. Graduated Dimson, the full-fledged rider wor y the Cresta Run which has fame than any in the world: o£ | three-quarters of a mile in k.j sons I with a drop of 514 feet, and abouh> nT I in hazards which afford keen sport * to the votaries of the run, so keen that the Cresta rider returns to St. Moritz winter after winter for the joy experienced in the descent. The average speed is 45 miles an hour. The maximum speed on the fastest part of the run is 80 miles an hour.