"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 1883 · Genre: Children's Literature, Short Story Collection, Adventure Fiction