A REMARKABLE COMMUNITY

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1236, 1 June 1880, Page 2

A REMARKABLE COMMUNITY

A very remarkable community was described in the columns of a contemporary the oilier day. It almost, so to speak, out-Edens Eden. It is perched up among the Swiss Alps, and is a kind of new Andorra in its pnmitiveness and the perfection of its manners. The name of the place is Ablandschenen, which being interpreted, signifies an out-of-the-way locality, whereof the people live in strange contrast with the rest of hum.vi kind. They have no standing army, and, therefore, never go to war. They have no fleet, being hundreds of miles from the sea in every direction. They have no publicans, and consequently their elections, if they have any, are completely pure. They have no doctors, and —we do not repeat "therefore" on this account — there has not been a death among thr-m for several years. Such is the .story we are told. But it is not all. That happy congregation of Swiss Protestants j>ossesses no newspaper of its own, is vexed by the postman only once a week, does no trade, and occupies itself with little industry. It is tormented by neither the ring of the blacksmith's hammer, the fumes of the baker's oven, the clatter of the wheelwright's shop, nor the importunities of shop-keepers. Noi does a notary spoil parchment, or an advocate confound justice, or a policeman terrify the night in all that mountain Arcadia. This is really ai surprising as it is delightful. \ cheap-jack once a fortnight — " a man he is to all the country dear" — brings the good folk all they want in the shape of sundries, their own herds, flocks, and poultry -yards supplying them with the rest. The AblaucLcheneners, having little money, are not blessed with a bank, but they have a church, with a single-bell, which is tinkled, like a railway signal, at the birth of a boy, though it goes into ecstacies at that of a girl. Surely it was wrong to reveal the secrets of this Alpine Utopia because tourists for the future will be finding it out, and vulgarising it, as they have vulgarised the Enghaden. But, as the French nay, • • Nothing is sacred to a Sapper," and so nothiug can be kept out of th 6 guide-bcoks now. Hence, the Ablandschenoners may, before long, have to establish an hotel and even a policeman.

Tiir, m:<n who loot both arms in the m,ichh»cij r htiike, as he has noticed th it whenever theie is a strike they .ilways initon nevhaml s*.5 *. A TUi key never iivds fault wiHi his dvetsaing. It ia thyme this was said fcr Vird,