113 The western wing of the Bernese Alps presents broad pyramidal masses of a flattened character. The eastern wing exhibits a complete contrast in its tapering obelisks and rocky minarets, in its serrated crests and numerous horns.
114 Alpenglühen, or sunset-glow, is an exception to the general laws governing the disappearance of the sunlight by the gradual rise of the earth’s shadow; it is a kind of second or after-coloring in the snowy masses, making them stand out from the dark background, though the general light is constantly diminishing. The peaks are illuminated till the sun is from 20° to 30° below the horizon; then the general clearness diminishes, but on the western horizon is a clear segment of 8° to 10°; but as the air has much less reflecting power than the snowy mountains, the latter begin to be lighted up again. This second lighting may be so great that the mountains appear to be actually illuminated by the sun.
115 Since this was written and placed in the hands of the publishers Congress has passed and the President approved a copyright bill, aimed at securing reciprocal protection to American and foreign authors in the respective countries which may comply with its provisions. While the measure which has become a law is not entirely satisfactory to the friends of international copyright, and must be regarded as experimental as to its ultimate results or workings, all of its advocates feel that it is a huge instalment of justice, and a gratifying victory gained for the indorsement of the principle of international copyright. In answer to an inquiry addressed to Mr. A. R. Spofford, Librarian of Congress, as to the effect of the law on the relation of the United States to the Bern Convention, he has kindly made the following statement: “Under the rather uncertain (not to say ambiguous) meaning of Sec. 13 of the Act of March 3, 1891, two things seem to be necessary before a foreigner can be entitled to copyright in the United States: (1) His government must be one that already grants copyright to Americans (by law or international agreement) on the same terms as to its own people; (2) the President must certify by proclamation the fact just cited.

“Whether the new law was intended to be at once applicable to the authors of all nations who were parties to the Berne Convention of 1885-86; whether the Executive of the United States has authority now to accede to this convention, and join the International Union under the provisions of Article XVIII.; whether this would require the concurrent action of the President and Senate; or, finally, whether an act of Congress would be required (as Great Britain had to pass an act through Parliament to make that country a party to the Berne International Union), all these appear to me to be open questions, owing to lack of precision in the Act of March 3, which was passed in a crowded state of the public business, and not fully digested by a committee, especially with regard to the Berne Convention.”

116 An international arbitration agreement has been drafted by the nations of North, South, and Central America, and a copy has been sent to each European government, extending an invitation to signify their adherence to its provisions. The President of the Swiss Confederation has submitted to the Federal Assembly this pan-American treaty, with a recommendation that Switzerland accept the invitation given by the late International American Conference.
117 Adams and Cunningham, “Swiss Confederation.”
118 Though without a sea-coast or a ship, Switzerland has recognized rights even on the sea as a neutral nation; the treaty of Paris of 1856 respecting neutral flags, neutral goods on vessels of belligerents, and blockades, was also entered into by the Swiss government in the same year.
119 A hide cut into shoe strings was made to surround a principality under a bargain to buy,—Taurino quantum possent circumdare tergo.
120 The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine was really a violation of what is the sound basis of the principle of the sacredness of nationalities; a violation of the sacredness of self-government.
121 This term is employed to denote the seven nations which were parties to the Treaty of Berlin,—viz., England, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Italy, and Turkey.