Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-10-05
EVENING STAR.
From the Correspondence of the N. Y. Observe
MONKS OF ST. BERNARD

The weather was threatening when we
set off from Martingy, and we had many
forebodings that the dogs of St. Bernard
might have to look US up, if the storm
should come before we reached the hos
pice. A char-a-banc, a narrow carriage
in which we sat, three in q line, with the
tandem horses, was to convey US to the
village of Liades. Onleaving the valley,
and crossing the river Drance, we soon
commenced the ascent, by the side of the
raging torrent, with me- jestic heights on
either hand. A terrible tale of devasta-
ton and misery, of sublime fortitude and
heroic courage, is told of the valley Of
Bagnes, where the ice had made a NIGH Y
barrier against the descending waters,
which accumulated so rapidly that q
tunnel was cut through the frozen dam
with incredible toll, wi hen it burst through
and swept madly over the country below,
bearing destruction upon its bosom. In
two hours some four hundred houses were
destroyed, with thirty-iour lives, and hall
a million dollars worth ot property. We
were four hours and half getting up to
Liddes, where we had wretched dinner,
and then mounted horses to ride to the
summit of the pass.
The rain, which had been falling at in
tervals all the morning, was changed into
snow as We got into colder regions. The
path became rougher and more difficult,
and it was hard to believe that even the
indomita bic spirit Of Napoleon could have
carried an army, with all the munitions
of war, over such route as this. Yet
the passage now is smooth and easy COM
pared with what it was when, in 1909,
he crossed the Alps
After leaving the miserable village OF
St Pierre, through which Roman Cath
Olic procession was passing, and we had
an opportunity of refusing to take off our
hats, though some of the peasants in
sisted on our so doing, we came up to
heights where no trees and few shrubs
were growing, flowers sometimes would
put their sweet faces up through the snow
and smile on us as we passed, and [
stopped to gather them as emblems OF
beauty and happiness in the midst of des-
olatiOn and death.
the most of the travellers on their up
ward way, were mounted on mules, but
few were on foot, and among these was
one of the monks of the Hospice, who with
couple of blooming Swiss damsels, was
returning to his quarters from visit be-
low. We passed one or two cottages,
and house of stone which has been built
away up here for the reception of benight-
ed travellers, and after toilsome jour
ney of four hours just at sunset, we came
upon the Hospice, large three story stone
house, on the height Of mountain more
than 5000 feet above the sea, the highest
inhabited spot in Europe. To shelter
those who are compelled to cross this for
mdable pass in winter, when the paths
a.e far down underneath the snow, and
travellers arein danger of being overtaken
by storms, or overcome with fatigue and
sinking in the depths Of the drifts, this
hospice has been founded, and sustained
IN the summer season, as now, it is
merely large hotel, where pleasure par.
ties are drawn by curiosity to visit the
monks and their establishment, famed the
world over for its hospitality and self-de-
nying charity. The snow was falling fast
as we ascended the rugged path, and at
least six inches of it lay on the ground
at the top. was glad to have reached
it, in the midst of such storm. 1t gave
me vivid picture of the hospice when
its walls and cheerful fires and kind sym-
pathies are needed for worn and exhaust
ed pilgrims. Such were some who ar
rived here this evening. Father Maillard,
a young monk, received US at the door,
and after pleasing saluta,ions conducted
us to our chambers, plainly furnished
apartments with no carpets on the floor,
but with good beds. The house was very
cold. AS the season is not yet far ad-
vanced, perhaps their winter fires were
not kindled, and as no fuel is to be had
except what is brought up from below OR
the backs of horses, it is we'll for the
monks to be charry of its use. Our host
led us to the chamber in which Napoleon
slept when he was here, and my young
German friend occupied the same bed in
which the Emperor lay. He did not tell
me in the morning that his dreams were
any better than mine, though | had but a
humble pilgrims.
After we had taken possession of our
quarters, we were at liberty to survey
the establishment. We began at the
kitchen, where small army of servants
were preparing dinner over immense
cooklng-stoves. The house is fitted up
to lodge seventy guests. but oftentimes a
hundred and even five hundred have been
known to be here at one time. To get
dinner for such host, in a house so
many miles above the rest of the world.
is no small affair. We came up to the
Cabinet, enriched with a thousand Gu.
rious objects of nature and art, many of
them presented by travellers, grateful for
kindness they had received, and some of
them relics Of the old Romans who once
had temple TO Jupiter on this spot. The
reception room, (which was also sitting
and dining room, was now rapidly filling
up with travellers, arriving at pightfali,
One English lady, overcome with the ex-
ertion of climbing the hill on horseback.
sank upon the floor and tainted as soon
as she was brought in. A gentleman
who had but little more nerve in him,
was also exhausted. The kind.hearted
priests FASTENED to bring restoratives,
and speedily carried off the invalids to
their beds-the best place for them. 1t
was quite late, certainly seven in the
evening before dinner was served, and
with edged appetiteS, such as only noun