Note 40 — Chapter VIII

The drinking habits of the Swiss people extend unhappily much above the poorer and working classes. The fact that the Canton de Vaud is sometimes styled “le pays des veuves” (the country of widows), has a melancholy significance. It is said that the evil institution established by certain vineyard proprietors of the Cave, or cellar, well fitted up, to which the master of the house retires with his male guests after dinner to drink until a late hour, has found its way to Berne, and that the degrading custom is even encouraged by some official persons, as a help to the attainment of personal political ends.