Huldrych Zwingli was born in Wildhaus, Toggenburg, in the
eastern part of Switzerland, on January 1, 1484. The village,
where visitors may still see Zwingli's family house, transformed
into a museum, is set on the mountain's flank, about 3600 feet
above sea level. This house is a typical Swiss chalet: low, thick
set, strongly held to the ground by heavy stones set on the roof
to secure the dwelling in case of avalanche. Down in the valley
runs the Thur, a tributary of the Rhine. From there, the pano-
rama is wonderful: to the north the Säntis and to the south the
Churfirsten. Life is hard but wholesome; winters last long. The
ground is not good for cultivation, but only for pasture. The
chief occupations are cattle raising and cultivating the forests for
the sale of wood. The air is pure and healthy and the people are
strong.

These folk love their country and the liberty they have, know-
ing how much it cost to be free from the landlords. At home, dur-
ing the long winter evenings, gathered around the fireplace, the
children listen to their parents' tales of preceding generations
to whom they owe what they are. The young are enthusiastic
when they hear of the heroic deeds of their ancestors who fought
to be free. It is here that our future Reformer began to love his
country so intensely.

Zwingli was a good specimen of this Alpine people: highly
colored, dumpy, strong, with energetic chin and lively glance. He
was proud to be a peasant and to be totally such. According to
him, those who work the ground resemble the Creator more than
other men. "Keep the nobility you inherited from Adam" ¹ (re-

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