. A complete geography. thestory of William Tell. Thus we find that,as early as 1291, an agreement was madeamong a few of the small Swiss states, orcantons, for mutual protection against op-pression. Many a time since then for-eigners have attempted to conquer theSwiss; but, aided by the difficult ap-proaches to their country, and by themountain fastnesses to which they couldretreat, they have been able to maintaintheir freedom, although the entire areaof the country is only one-third that ofPennsylvania. Their twenty-two can-tons, united somewhat as are our ownstates, now constitute a republi
. A complete geography. thestory of William Tell. Thus we find that,as early as 1291, an agreement was madeamong a few of the small Swiss states, orcantons, for mutual protection against op-pression. Many a time since then for-eigners have attempted to conquer theSwiss; but, aided by the difficult ap-proaches to their country, and by themountain fastnesses to which they couldretreat, they have been able to maintaintheir freedom, although the entire areaof the country is only one-third that ofPennsylvania. Their twenty-two can-tons, united somewhat as are our ownstates, now constitute a republic, whoseneutrality is guaranteed by the Great Powers of Europe. lan.^rj^Th!^ ! °^ *^^^ government, there is not one commonW ?? / ^^^ ^°^ °P^^ *°^^^d ^^^ orth, for the plateau ofSwitzerland merges into that of Germany. Naturally, herefore Germanpeaking people are most abundant, making up 72 per cent of tL p Xtion The approach from France is much more difficult, and the French l^ttZZ!-- ^-^- -^-^^ -^^^ b- ^^ 1--t 2f. Fig. Swiss peasant costume. 434 EUROPE Farming. — Owing to the mountainous condition, only one acrein nine is fit for the plough. Yet agriculture is the principal indus-try. On the lower lands grain, grapes, and the silk-worm are raised,as in the neighboring countries; and on the lower mountains dairy-farming is important, as might be expected. The population is sodense, however, that much food must be imported, though someproducts, such as cheese and condensed milk, are exported. Manufacturing. — Switzerland is very poor in mineral deposits,and coal is entirely lacking. This scarcity of raw materials wouldsuggest that there is little manufacturing, but the inference is false. l^p^^ ^^^K 1|h|H HKK A view of Lake Lucerne. Fig. wall on the left bounds a road which is cut in the rock onthe mountain side. That the Swiss possess marked mechanical skill is indicated by theremarkable wood carving for which they have long been New Englanders,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgeograp, bookyear1902
