I
Far up among the Alps, in the very heart of Switzerland, are three
districts, or cantons, as they are called, which are known as the
Forest Cantons and are famous in the world's history. About two
thousand years ago the Romans found in these cantons a hardy race
of mountaineers, who, although poor, were free men and proud of
their independence. They became the friends and allies of Rome,
and the cantons were for many years a part of the Roman Empire,
but the people always had the right to elect their own officers
and to govern themselves.
When Goths and the Vandals and the Huns from beyond the Rhine and
the Danube overran the Roman Empire, these three cantons were not
disturbed. The land was too poor and rocky to attract men who were
fighting for possession of the rich plains and valleys of Europe,
and so it happened that for century after century, the mountaineers
of these cantons lived on in their old, simple way, undisturbed
by the rest of the world.
In a canton in the valley of the Rhine lived the Hapsburg family,
whose leaders in time grew to be very rich and powerful. They became
dukes of Austria and some of them were elected emperors. One of the
Hapsburgs, Albert I, claimed that the land of the Forest Cantons
belonged to him. He sent a governor and a band of soldiers to those
cantons and made the people submit to his authority.
In one of the Forest Cantons at this time lived a famous mountaineer
named William Tell. He was tall and strong. In all Switzerland no
man had a foot so sure as his on the mountains or a hand so skilled
in the use of a bow. He was determined to resist the Austrians.
Secret meetings of the mountaineers were held and all took a solemn
oath to stand by each other and fight for their freedom; but they
had no arms and were simple shepherds who had never been trained
as soldiers. The first thing to be done was to get arms without
attracting the attention of the Austrians. It took nearly a year
to secure spears, swords, and battle-axes and distribute them among
the mountains. Finally this was done, and everything was ready.
All were waiting for a signal to rise.
[Illustration: TELL SHOOTS THE APPLE FROM HIS SON'S HEAD]
The story tells us that just at this time Gessler, the Austrian
governor, who was a cruel tyrant, hung a cap on a high pole in
the market-place in the village of Altorf, and forced everyone
who passed to bow before it. Tell accompanied by his little son,
happened to pass through the marketplace. He refused to bow before
the cap and was arrested. Gessler offered to release him if he
would shoot an apple from the head of his son. The governor hated
Tell and made this offer hoping that the mountaineer's hand would
tremble and that he would kill his own son. It is said that Tell
shot the apple from his son's head but that Gessler still refused
to release him. That night as Tell was being carried across the
lake to prison a storm came up. In the midst of the storm he sprang
from the boat to an over-hanging rock and made his escape. It is
said that he killed the tyrant. Some people do not believe this
story, but the Swiss do, and if you go to Lake Lucerne some day
they will show you the very rock upon which Tell stepped when he
sprang from the boat.
That night the signal fires were lighted on every mountain and
by the dawn of day the village of Altorf was filled with hardy
mountaineers, armed and ready to fight for their liberty. A battle
followed and the Austrians were defeated and driven from Altorf.
This victory was followed by others.
[Illustration: TELL'S LEAP]
A few years later, the duke himself came with a large army, determined
to conquer the mountaineers. He had to march through a narrow pass,
with mountains rising abruptly on either side. The Swiss were expecting
him and hid along the heights above the pass, as soon as the Austrians
appeared in the pass, rocks and trunks of trees were hurled down
upon them. Many were killed and wounded. Their army was defeated,
and the duke was forced to recognize the independence of the Forest
Cantons.
This was the beginning of the Republic of Switzerland. In time five
other cantons joined them in a compact for liberty.