The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-06-13
VOLUME 81, NO I.
,.r, -ANDRAVI,
tHs sfner Or
THE IDIOT OF THE ALPS.
by W. o. EATON.

step, the preclpltate ueuieo "ulch MouiU haFS
bewildered and appalled, an unaccustomed trav-
eler, and now leaping with precise and energet
ic bounds, enormous gorges which yesrned be-
tween the mountansides, and where one care
less step might have sent them instantly to the
deep doom below. Yet familiar with these
passes from boyhood, and with his eyes and
limbs as expert as the chamois which they cha
sed, with hardy peasants made the echoes mer-
ry with their laughter; and ever and anon wo'd
their horns, till the music was reverbrated from
thousand peaks, and piercing to the valley be-
low, give pleasing signal to their expeciant fam
lilies that they were coming.
And thus in single file they proceeded, and
just as they achieved long and steep descent,
shout Of surprise from the foremost assem- :
bled his companions at his side, when they be-
held, deeply Embedded in huge snow Drift the
dark figure of n richly dressed stranger-eT-
IDENTITY not native of those hills.
ole has fallen from some heighh above us"
exclaimed one, "thc last of them, not less than
two hundred feet; and If he is not lIeless, even
from the swiftness Of such a deep fall, it is a
miracle.'' #t+
Cautiously venturing from their path across
the snow, to the place where lay the body, two
of the hunters knelt down, and after brief
examination, pronounced the man still alive,
but nsensible--the soft snow, upon which lie
had provdentally fallen, having saved his body
from being dashed to pieces.
ale has dug his own grave, but did not
choose to die in il" said one Of the hunters.
"Lst us see what little cau de Vie will do
for him" and Withdrawing flask from his
breast, he applied it to the lips OF the stranger
while others now rubbed his wrists and tenn
pies. ......
The man soon opened his eyes, and became
strong enough to stand, but his glance was a
vacant and unmeaning one. TO all questions he
simply muttered the word "Andravi," and point
ed, with treinulous fhger, to the dread height
from which head fallen.
''lIe is either a mute, unatc, orsimpleton."
was the conclusion Of his preservers. "Per-
chance the fall has unsettled his reason, and no
wonder But let us away or we may need aid
ourselves, for the sun is down"
Lifting the stranger along over their irregular
and still dangerous road, they left the spot, and
ere long arrived at the nearest home among the
mountains, where the stranger was provided
with refreshments and couch by the hospital
ity ofthe humble occupants; and the others sep
arated to their respective dwellings.
m Sleep and kind care soon restored Andravi,
for such was his name but whether his mfr
nifty Of mind was natural, or the result of his
fall, the shock and the fright-certan it was
that but lew words could be elected from
him, and these were not coherent. His mind
was wandering add imbeclle; and as he could
not give any Indication as to where his home
was, or had been, end was now comparatively
hopeless, he was suffered to remain among those
mountain homes, to de what he could l0arn to
do, in return for the aiftc ion afforded him and
he soon became widely known among the noun
taineers, by the unlisnii.d soubriquet of ale
Fou, or, the IDIOT"
Yet Andravi was treated by all with GER
tain respect, growing out of the surmise that
the rich dress in which he had been found indi-
Gated that he had been person of some rank
or riches in his country and then MISFORTUNE
when unleserved, always appeals to the hu.
man sympathy. And more than all this An
drsyi finally becoming familiar with the noun
tain paths and evincing the possession of remar-
kable strength, daring and agility, after having
~; al e. in lnl lty fast pf
saow and ice, learned sufficiently to become a
professional guide to travellers; and whenever
any journey of that kind, requiring especial
skill and ortitude was to be undertaken, it was
sure to bs entrusted to the hardy frame and
practice distinct Of the intrepid, though gener-
ally mute aud otherwise idiotic Andravi.
His quietude his usefulness in his adopted
calling, and his childlke devotion to those who
had been thus kind to him, made tho IDIOT Of
the Alps universally regarded, and many a
prayer went up, from rude but honest hearts,
among those frozen regions, that the All Seeing
Eye might watch over and prot ct, and some
dayrestore him to reason and home, .q
But still for, years he dwelt there, and none
knew who he was or whence he came. Yet, as
year after year rolled by, men learned to look
upon him with sort OF awe, as one especially
guarded by Providence; since he underwent
such risks in the most furious Alpine storms
in the deepest darkness, reckless ot the impend-
ing ayalanches, the most icy and preciptous
sleeps, the most mpetuous torrents, or the
most treacherous SHOWS His self reliance his
adventures, his escapes, like his looks and man
ner,seemed unnatural and the Idiot Of the Alps
was tho standing theme Of many thrilling
tale Of mountain life.
Once while guiding small party Of enthu
siastic tourists through an almost inaccessible
and seldom attempted region, while the travel
ers were facilitating themselves upon achieving
y such height, and beholding its sub!mities, a
\ lady Of the party, venturing near the dizzy
brink Of stupendous glacier, dropped costly
necklace, which fell over the edge far into the
~ icy and perpendicular chasm beneath. Her cry
of regret was heard and understood by An.
draw, who was instantly at her side and de
{, spite the urgent remonstrances Of all, he made
siens that he would descend and recover the
lost article; and fastening one end of o strong
cord to a hunters pole he bore, and which he
Y buried firmly in the ice above, he rapidly do
scending the fearful gull. H
"The man is an idiot, and we are idiots t,