ces as soon as refreshed.

The close of the _Landsgemeinde_ was one of the most impressive
spectacles I ever witnessed. When the elections were over, and no
further duty remained, the Parson Etter of Hundwyl ascended the
platform. The governing Landamman assumed his black mantle of office,
and, after a brief prayer, took the oath of inauguration from the
clergyman. He swore to further the prosperity and honor of the land, to
ward off misfortune from it, to uphold the Constitution and laws, to
protect the widows and orphans, and to secure the equal rights of all,
nor through favor, hostility, gifts, or promises to be turned aside from
doing the same. The clergyman repeated the oath sentence by sentence,
both holding up the oath-fingers of the right hand, the people looking
on silent and uncovered.

The governing Landamman now turned to the assembly, and read them their
oath, that they likewise should further the honor and prosperity of the
land, preserve its freedom and its equal rights, obey the laws, protect
the Council and the judges, take no gift or favor from any prince or
potentate, and that each one should accept and perform, to the best of
his ability, any service to which he might be chosen. After this had
been read, the Landamman lifted his right hand, with the oath-fingers
extended; his colleagues on the platform, and every man of the ten or
eleven thousand present, did the same. The silence was so profound that
the chirp of a bird on the hillside took entire possession of the air.
Then the Landamman slowly and solemnly spoke these words: "I have well
understood that--which has been read to me;--I will always and exactly
observe it,--faithfully and without reservation,--so truly as I wish and
pray--that God help me!" At each pause, the same words were repeated by
every man, in a low, subdued tone. The hush was else so complete, the
words were spoken with such measured firmness, that I caught each as it
came, not as from the lips of men, but from a vast, supernatural murmur
in the air. The effect was indescribable. Far off on the horizon was the
white vision of an Alp, but all the hidden majesty of those supreme
mountains was nothing to the scene before me. When the last words had
been spoken, the hands sank slowly, and the crowd stood a moment locked
together, with grave faces and gleaming eyes, until the spirit that had
descended upon them passed. Then they dissolved; the _Landsgemeinde_ was
over.

In my i