WOOD IN SWITZERLAND


produces no coal. Fire wood is precious.
The cold of winter is severe, and every stick
of'that which gives warmth and life is made
to yield its full value.
  There is that in the character of the Swiss
which makes of him the true craftsman.
Shoddy goods do not come from Switzerland.
For centuries the people have been known
for their honesty. They have been doing
honest work for themselves in the construc-
tion of roads which vie with the famous
Roman roads of old, in terraced vineyards
that serve for many generations, in watches
and machinery of wonderful accuracy and
solidity, in mountain engineering, which
for daring and safety is the admiration of
the world, and in wooden homes that need
no paint to hide the deficiencies of work-
manship.
  Of late years, wood carving has taken a
new impetus and grown extensively. In
the Oberland the peasants have for cent-
uries, during the long evenings of winter,
devoted themselves to the production of
articles in wood. The Swiss pine grew at
hand and lent itself to the ingenious and
skillful use of the knife.
  The center of the industry has long been
about Interlaken, and near by, at Brienz,
a wood carving school has become a great
success. It has not only turned out many
scholars who can make good things and a
good living, but the influence on the people
has been elevating and beneficial. Draw-
ing inspiration from this school, more than
800 persons are at work, and the number
is constantly increasing.
  The work is, however, almost entirely
done in the homes. Factories do not flour-
ish in Switzerland. Tiffany tried this in
watchmaking and failed.


  The school itself is well managed and
has the confidence of the people. It is
equipped with a faculty of able teachers,
workrooms and proper apparatus. The
Canton and Parish contribute liberally to
its support. The course is either three or
four years. There is a small entrance fee,
but otherwise instruction and material are
free. From the second year pupils receive
one-half the proceeds of sales of their work,
and also premiums for meritorious work.
  Brienz has, in connection with the school,
an Industrial Arts, which holds a sample
exhibition during the summer, when the
tourists visit the town.
  One of the teachers says: "Without the
wood carving industry, the people would
have to emigrate wholesale. Not only do
we keep our population, but other people
come from different parts of the country,
learn the industry at our school, and settle
here for good. I myself am an outsider."
Wherever tourists resort, there is on sale
the product of the carver's knife. While
far behind the exquisite work of Japain or
even of Italy, the work is yet good enough
in its way to find ready sale to the travellers
from many lands. Every piece is just
what it pretends to be. There is no pre-
tense to fine art. The articles are mostly
f6r household use, such as salad forks,
plates, chairs, clocks, canes, book-racks,
shelves, frames, etc. Most of the work is
done in the village homes. Father and son
work together in the front room of the
chalet, while the product of their tools is
spread out to catch the attention of the
passing traveller. Often the little bench
and its worker are moved out on the side-
walk to gain more light and advertise the
work more fully.
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