Recollections of a Diplomatist Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...the full grandeur of Alpine scenery, though unfortunately prevented by an unconquerable tendency to vertige from attempting anything like real mountaineering. There is much pleasure, nevertheless, to be had in some of the less difficult excursions, or in walking over the many beautiful passes, and a light-weight, with a serviceable pair of legs, ought, as I did, to get a great deal of enjoyment out of these, without aspiring to scale impossible peaks and aiguilles. But, at the time I speak of, Alpine climbing had not attained its later development, and was more or less confined to the daring exploits of the earliest masters of the art, such as Whymper, poor Hudson, and a few others. Since then it has been made comparatively easy, and reduced, as it were, to an exact science. It assuredly is a noble form of sport, and calls forth all the best qualities and energies in those who have the requisite physical gifts to indulge in it. And this reminds me that the catastrophe on the Matterhorn, which had occurred very shortly before this, must be put down to the imprudence of the veteran Hudson in allowing an inexperienced youth like Hadow to join in the perilous attempt on a peak which till then had baffled the most highly trained climbers, including Professor Tyndall himself. I well remember the news of this fearful catastrophe, which was then unique in the annals of Alpine adventure, reaching Berne on the afternoon of the 17th of July. Indeed, the beautiful solemn mountains were cruelly exacting during that summer season of 1865. Only a few weeks earlier, on the 21st of June, Alice Arbuthnot had been killed by lightning on the Schilthorn while on her wedding tour. I was still in England at the time, and only two days before had been at a dance...