JOYOUS TIME IN SWITZERLAND

Evening Star, Issue 19270, 8 June 1926, Page 4

JOYOUS TIME IN SWITZERLAND

The loveliness increased with every mile travelled. First there was the panorama as we climbed the mountain side from Montreux. Then there were the fields of snow as we reached the crest. Rushing rivers followed, with glorious glens as w r e descended _ the other side; but the crowning majesty was provided when, close to Interlaken, we saw the setting sun turning Jungfrau as pink as polished coral. Then we scorned the picture postcards for their inadequacy. Previously we scorned them for their exaggeration. The Siviss are exceedingly hospitable, and the sojourn there was full of pleasure. There wore snow fights when ever snow was encountered, generally between Now South Wales and Victoria; there were motor ridos to superlative beauty spots; there was yodelling by the champion yodellers of the country; there was a never-to-be-forgotten trip to the Rigi, providing seemingly a panorama embracing the whole of Switzerland, with its lakes, its clusters of glaciers, aud amazingly green plateaus and hillsides. Thor© were incidents by the thousand, of course, during the tour. Gregory was chaffed when in one hotel he announced that he would buy Everett’s English breakfast, and he was charged the equivalent of 7s. This for four eggs, two or three slices of bacon, and the customary tip ‘‘beat the band.” There was a roar when, upon the train stopping during the climb of the lov,ely Rigi, Bardsley, whose voice would make him favorite for any town-criers’ competition, shouted “ Footscray.” And everyone was amused by'the huge eiderdowns, a foot thick, which they found on their beds as soon as they came into the shadows of the eternal snows.

Collins was chaffed unmercifully when, having almost missed the boat to the Rigi, he did miss it on the return to Lucerne. But no one seemed to be surprised when they learned that he had fallen on his feet, because a rich American, learning of his diecom-

fiture, entertained him to dinner after a launch trip over the lake, accompanied by his lovely daughter and her friend.

Wherever the Australians went they took sunshine with them, delighting their courier, who, with thirty years' experience, declared that only the elect could be so favored. Many people, after months of waiting, had fnlJecl to see all the glories the Australians saw in their stride.

Paris, I am afraid, did not impress anyone as much as it would had it been the first port of call instead of the last. Perhaps it was evidence of genius to place it so far down in the itinerary, but everyone seemed to ho a little bored with the beauty by the time they reached the Pavilion, and even Versailles, with its wonderful paintings and its gorgeous ceilings, left the visitors cold. The sights of Montemartrq intrigued without a doubt, but one of the tallest members of the team will because, going to the races, he backed the lowest-priced of the only two horses in the steeplechase, saw the favorite romp home, and learned tho next day, when he was close to Dover, that the winner had been disqualified, and that if he had remained on he would have collected a not.-inconsiderahle stake.

And now the team is in London, lionised more than any other team ever was. Wherever they go crowds follow them, but the adoration must soon cease. Collins will not be able to stand the strain, Nearly every day he has to make a speech. He was not selected for his oratory H© is a cricketer. And though ( his oratory is adequate, indeed, pleasantly surprising, he knows that there is work to be done, and that, unless the job in hand is begun seriously, it will be extremely difficult to return to Australia with the ashes. The weather has not commenced kindlyEvery practice has been on sodden wickets; but, nevertheless, sufficient •has, been done to convince the English cricketers that, the team will take some beating. ■