Danger Cliff, and Other Stories: Interlaken
"Interlaken" is a brief geographical and cultural sketch included in Pansy's collection *Danger Cliff, and Other Stories*, offering young readers an informative introduction to the Swiss village of Interlaken, situated between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in a valley of the river Aare. The piece describes how the residents of Interlaken sustain themselves primarily through the crafting and selling of carved wooden toys and Swiss lace, goods displayed in the shops lining the village's principal streets. Tourism drives much of the local economy, as travelers drawn by the region's celebrated scenery purchase these handcrafted curiosities to carry home. The author directly addresses young American readers, predicting with warm humor that even those who intend to resist unnecessary purchases will inevitably find objects they feel compelled to buy. A significant portion of the sketch is devoted to the natural grandeur of the surrounding landscape, which the author counts among the finest scenery in all of Switzerland. Special attention is given to the Jungfrau, a mountain nearly fourteen thousand feet in height, visible from the windows of local boarding houses through a gap in the lower mountain ranges at the peak's base. The author explains that the name Jungfrau means "the maiden," noting that the origin of the name is disputed, though one popular explanation attributes it to the spotless, perpetually snow-covered appearance of the summit. Readers are informed that the Jungfrau was first ascended in 1828 by a party of local valley inhabitants, and that a subsequent scientific expedition led by the renowned naturalist Louis Agassiz also made the climb. The sketch also directs readers' attention to the Staubbach waterfall, whose name translates as "sky born," and which ranks among the highest waterfalls in Europe. The author encourages readers to consult their geography lessons or maps to locate Interlaken, framing the piece as both an imaginative journey and an educational exercise suited to a young audience. Overall, the piece functions as a lively, affectionate travel essay aimed at children, combining factual geography and natural history with an engaging narrative voice that anticipates the readers' own future travels and sense of wonder.
By Pansy · First published 1884 · Genre: Children's Literature, Short Story Collection, Adventure Fiction · 423 words
First lines
INTERLAKEN means between the lakes, and is the name of a village in Switzerland. It is situated between two lakes called Thun and Brienz. All you geography scholars will be able to turn to it in your minds, or if not so, on your maps. The village is in a plain and on the river Aare, and you have in the picture a view of the bridge across the river. The people who live at Interlaken lead quite uneventful lives, gaining the means of living by carving toys in all sorts of quaint devices, which are sold in the shops which line the principal streets. The wonderful scenery brings large numbers of visitors to the place, and these visitors are the purchasers of the curiosities of the shops.
What this Textopian page supports
Danger Cliff, and Other Stories: Interlaken is listed on Textopian as a short story by Pansy, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Pansy
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Short Story Collection, Adventure Fiction, Moral Fiction, Victorian Fiction
- Length: 423 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Danger Cliff, and Other Stories: Interlaken by Pansy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Children's Literature — Pansy was a prolific 19th-century author known for writing moral and educational stories specifically for young readers, and this collection reflects that primary audience.
- Short Story Collection — The book is explicitly structured as 'Other Stories,' indicating it contains multiple short narratives rather than a single novel-length work.
- Adventure Fiction — The title 'Danger Cliff' suggests action and peril, indicating adventure-oriented plot elements that would appeal to young readers seeking excitement.
- Moral Fiction — Pansy's writing style characteristically embedded moral lessons and ethical instruction within narrative, a defining feature of her educational approach to children's literature.
Tags
Christian fiction · children's literature · juvenile fiction · short stories · Victorian literature · moral instruction · religious themes · Sunday school fiction · family life · friendship · coming of age · adventure