Epilogue

Abstract

At the beginning of the 19th century, Zurbriggen (cf. 308) closed his chronicle with the following sentences, cast in an old-fashioned language, and giving the impression that he almost had to justify his lifelong work, “Some people will say that I valued this valley too highly. Perhaps. But then I ask these critics to tell me which other mountain valley has so early won its freedom? Which valley has produced so many scholars of an ecclesiastic or worldly type? Which one has produced so many important persons who have given so many founds (Pfrumbden) and prebends (Gotteshäuser), although being poor, and which one has produced such a great number of wise men for the Church and of intelligent men for the high political positions and so many warm patriots and industrious people?”