eGeneva Aug 23 1871
My dear Frederick
I wrote last to William from
Naples on the 14^th. we embarked
there on the 15^th for Genoa, Although
our steamboat gave us ample time
to stop at Leghorn and make an
excursion to Pisa, a violent thunder
storm the first we had encountered,
since we were in India deprived
us of that expected pleasure. We
spent only 24 hours in Genoa but
they were busy hours. We saw
that Genoa deserves the title she
wears of the superb. We saw the
home the autograph correspondence
and the monument of Columbus.
Strange to say Genoa, Naples and
even Rome are renewing the prosperity

which they lost four hundred years
ago by the discovery of the Cape of
Good Hope. All Italy alike all
Austria seems to be enjoying a re-
naissance. I wonder whether it is so
throughout Europe. I wonder whether
it is due to steam on land and
water. If Europe can only keep the
peace for 20 years emigration, to the
United States from this continent
will cease to be an invigorating ele-
ment for us. We came from Genoa
without stopping at Turin, and crossed
the Mnt Cenis by the temporary Rail
Road over the summit. The tunnel
Rail Road is now completed and in
20 days the Rail Road we travel will
cease to be used forever, but how sug-
gestive of modern wealth and enter-
prise. We found the passage of the
Alps exhilarating and impressive. Re-
posing one night at Chambery we ar-
rived here on Sunday the 20^t h. Desirous

to improve our time we visited Fierney,
Voltaire's chateau by moonlight. We
find Geneva a modern city about equal
of Utica. The lake scenery about it less
beautiful than that of our own lakes, if
you leave out the distant view of M^t Blanc
On Monday morning we went by carriage
50 miles to Chamonix in the Alps. On
Tuesday morning we climed the mountain
5000 feet, ‘till we made good our footing
on the Mer de Glace, surrounded by snow
and naked rocks destitute of vegatation
The glacier (Mer de Glace) has shrunk since
my visit here in 33 to dimensions meaner
than those of any glacier we found in
Alaska. In the evening we descended
from the mountain and returned to our
resting place here. This afternoon we look
through Geneva, and tomorrow we expect
to make our way to Bern the famed capital
of Switzerland. It will delay us a day, on
our homeward journey but I dare not
think of seeming to slight Switzerland in
what the world will think is a political
nunnery of the world. All the Italian cities
are being rapidly Americanized. We Americans

literally swarm in Switzerland. I meet
nearly as many acquaintances here as I
would in a similar journey at home.
I have become reconciled at last to Amer-
ican travel in Europe. It stimulates
European emigration to the United States
and exerts a modifying influence over
European systems of Government. I
think my next letter will be written
from Paris, and will announce to you
the day on which we will sail for
New York.
Affectionately
W.H.S. by Olive