The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine (June 1913) Vol. LXXXVI. New Series: Vol. LXIV. May to October, 1913

Imagine standing on the wind‑swept summit of the Great St. Bernard in early August, when a stream of twenty‑thousand travelers winds through the alpine valleys below. The magazine’s seasoned writer paints the rugged Dranse gorge, the pine‑clad cliffs, and the modest stone villages with a keen eye for both natural grandeur and the quiet customs of the mountain folk. He weaves in ancient layers—Hannibal’s marching legions, Caesar’s campaigns, and a Roman‑era temple to Jupiter—showing how the pass has long been a bridge between worlds.

Interleaved with the travel essay are vivid sketches, such as Jules Guérin’s rendering of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and a lyrical piece by Ernst von Hesse‑Wartegg accompanied by André Castaigné’s illustrations. Together these elements capture the eclectic spirit of early‑twentieth‑century periodicals, where art, poetry, and reportage mingle to transport listeners to distant landscapes. Listening to this issue feels like stepping into a time capsule, hearing the clatter of carriage wheels and the soft murmur of alpine hearths while the pages turn.