Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-21
Monastery and Monks of st. Ber-
nard.
BY N. S. DODGE.

the marches of Hannibal, Charlemagne
and Napoleon, we knew there was
nothing to compare with the Sierra
! Nevada, Arizona, or Yosemite. But
we were curious to see the monks
and the dogs,-the former represent
ing brave predecessors of nine hund-
red years lineage, for the h0spice Of
st. Bernard was founded in the tenth
century; and the latter, the courage,
endurance and skill that looks out Of
the eyes of a pure canine breed as
the soul Of man does from his. In
practicable, therefore, as we were
told the ascent was, we set forward
five ofus-each with his alpenstock,
a mule 20 carry our light luggage, and
a single guide. Crossing a deep
abyss, where the Drance forces its
way to the valley below; avoiding the
woods of st. Pierre, where Napoleon
encountered his greatest obstacles
during that extraordinary expedition
Of \. d. 1900, and rising by new
road to where pines and larches are
stunted from the altitude at which
tbev GROW. we reached the PLAN DE
7 Pro-, through which ayalanche5 sweep
nine months of every year. The plain
I is surrounded by heights. Blocks Of
/ stone are scattered in confpsion De.
bris Of sand rocky soil. roots and
+rnn,s of dwarf oaks ana boIIows If
slumninr snow almost nrovont nro-
rregs BorinniDo from hence to scale
the mountains vcootation oradnaIlv
6i.aunoar.s Pracinicas or naked ,ran-
itc are before yog- Glaciers stream
. into valley, far below Fields Of ice.
bare bIa1r- ro,,,s dom nr,cir;,os
wastes w-.ront rr2do + Grass or tnft
of mass ana , 5.,or- -+o7,;Io ~ cabo.
ra I'D r,~ ,ooro ror,.7 o~o on c.o,.,.
sil1 -
H. ,. ;-.rr.,,- or +or l,.,u. ~
sra LoT sat W. bo5 Tof- G,r LoL;n5
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~ ~, -, 80 -, f,a ,.l H. H.
-. t y - - 600 6on 90. = 90 .I IL ~
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torr ~ = D,roarI avn + '
Tr..,-,.-.--I - -. .l., Co... -. r.,
..oro -, al r-s.5 . MI -, tbo
tom rraftit.r to rsco;rou ~ Vavor had
n Neon mo-, ,ni.+oI-o, !, INV o,t;oina.
+ions T +horrht to SEQ tall baIa
rouob stern o,5 man bnt here was q
,,1oosant ru7d, sr,i1;rc oaD+laronIv
host about thirty wears ola who cave
me his hand and wci,ome with the
Grace Of q ,,r7,- rLer11;lr 7 told him
we were five and asked If all could
be accommodated "AII" he renlicd
aaDd we're # necessary ten times as
many more Bntvou are wet. Stock.
in9s shirts and drv outer garments
are ready for Won ALL | thanked
him and renIicj that we had chances
of Garments on onr, muIe He then
offered his holm to take off onr wet
, clothes ~, far anvtbino else he conId
do and conducted rs at once to our
rooms ,,iv;nCr ~ t,ro With tLroo hod.
, in each. The apartments were long
. enough to have the beds lencthwavs
5 with sufficient snace to dress between
, On the opposjtc side were three plair
= toilet tabIog. with ancient looking
, classes The sides and coilinr were
, all deal without q narticle Of naint
Y Al tho end was a small window vel
+ socared 70 hear the storms Tho
/ beds Stood abonf ronr feet hiob from
= the floor and had each two blankets
o thick coyerlcfs and a xout1et. or down
d bed to cover aU There was ever,
- roedrpI oomr,rt b1tnot the least lny
=, urv. With The execution Off prison
+ Ike atuosriaro that odor not nm
4 like what one catches unon entering
+ during til. cold soas.. tbo do.lle
? windoweG and r,rnas,-bc,tcj draw
j iqg-rooms Of a Boston mansion, eaus
: ed by the exclusion ol the fresh, cole
air,-thcre was everything the mos
fastidious could desire.
!. On descending to the common hall
4 we mingled with a dozen other travel
J. ers' of all sorts. around a large fire
n awaiting supper. Itconsisted of sour
!. three or four kinds Of meat. vegeta
Il bles, dried fruits, and nuts. Pur
n wine. nine wears old. closed the re
t. past. A second monk now ioined u
o and assisted in doing the honors c
i the table. The two had the duty {
It attending to travellers. Both wer
e. gentlemen. easy in deportment, read
l. to converse. afable to quests of ever
t. class, and attentive to all the wants {
y their guests. They presided. pal
q took of the fare. mingled in the col
a versatior, joined US in the wine, file
le our glasses, and engaged with US i
n the scientific discussions naturall
+ cur1nc+nd b,- tho rlooa