Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-21

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Food and fuel are brought, during the
summer months, from the valleys be-
low. They can lodge two hundred
guests without inconvenience.
While we were conversing over the
fire, one of our company was sudden
ly taken i'll. We feared he was dy-
ing. The medical monk was summon
ed. He assured US that it was only
the effect of the rarifed atmosphere,
an attack by no means uncommon,
and, rubbing him gently, admins
tering sugar water, and putting him
in warm bed,-showing US, mean
while, great bell il the passage, to
be tolled in case he became worse
bade US good night. ! de was right.
The patient slept well, and in the
morning was hearty as ever. For
myself, anxiety about him kept me
awake for awhile, listening to his
breathing and to the storm raging
without, when l also dropped off and
awoke in the morning, saying to my
self, "Wcll, this beats all [ have
been sleeping in the Monastery of St.
Bernard"
We had a good, plait breakfast
with eggs. There was nothing re-
markabIe about it except that the
coffee cooled rapidly, as it must nee
es8arily do when it boiIs at 1877 deg.
Farenheit. Issuing from the Hospice,
after visiting several Of the monks in
their cells, we saw around US a scene
deSolatc beyond description. Upon
this highest inhabited spot il Europe
there was to be seen neither tree nor
shrub, wild flower nor blade Of grass.
Soil in the most minute quantity there
was not. Animal life also shuns this
waste Of rocks. The Businesses hide
no wild beasts, nor do tie riyen pin
uaclcs tempt the eagles to build nests
in their cliffs. 1t was fine day in
the height Of midsummer, and vet
iciclcs were hanging from the caves
and thin crystals Of frost shooting
over the waterpools. Snow was in
/ sight on every side. Hoar mountains,
SCARED by avaIanchcs, formed huge
amphitheatre around the dull stone
hosplce. We were almost within the
gates Of perpetual winter, upon rocks
bare of all soil, and yet we found
thirteea varieties Of moss, each with
It's minute but distinctive flower Of
exquisite beauty.
Of course, we were prepared to
Judge our hosts generously. They
gave US no scant welcome; it would
be churIish to speak Of them with mig
gard praise Aside from all that,
however, they appeared to US to be
good men, leading godly lives. They
were free from asceticism. The trials
of their lot they bore cheerfulIy. No
! devOtees were ever more faithful to
their shrine than these Augustinian
monks are to their duties. They were
correct in opinion, so far as we could
Judge, and liberal in sentiment. One
of the brethren remarked that the Ho-
ly, Catholic, Apostolic Church con
sisted simply of those, and those only,
IL every denomination, who possessed
faith in Christ. They spoke warmly
Of English and American Protestants,
because they had feeling in religion.
Upon our asking if singing in our own
worship would be allowed, the reply
was, "Ou: ccrtaiament!' accompaui-
ed by graceful offer of their chapel
for our morning exercise. All the
Fathers were young men of mild and
gentlemanly manners, dressed like
ourselves, except long lIack gown
buttOned from top to bottom, with a
diagonal band of white, and a similar
band on their tall, black caps.
Along the Pass, within short dis
tances, are low browed stone novels,
meant for temporary shelters the per
ishing may seek during a storm. On
the summit is a larger hovel, similar
in construction, used as a tomb for
the dead. OF course, upon the solid
rock, there can be 10 burial place
You look into the revolving receptacle
through grated windows. The monks
who die here, the travellers who ncv,
. cr recover from the su1erings of the
ascent during the winter months, and
the bodies reclaimed from the ava
lanchc5. are deposited in this mausO
> iCum. The constant frost, combined
= with tie rarity Of the atmosphere, pre-
= vents Iisintegrauon. AS death found
= the Laplcss victims, they remain
The floor is thick with skulls and
bones and human dust, Slowly resolv
ing, without offensive corruption, in
to. the elements. Alike those who
: died in their beds, and those whom
, when the storm fell thick and fast, the
, hurricane of snow wound up in one
= white Shroud they remain here await
= ing the Resurrection morning.
+ OF the St. Bernard dogs there were
nine of different ages at the hospicc
+ They are too well known to need de
8cription,-all of white rough hair
e with tawney spots, large,limbed, deep
mouthed and broad-chested, thei
bodies thick set, heads large and blunt
1 and mouths black as night. Thei
: sagacity has probably not been over
+ stated. With cordials sluag arounC
d their necks, four, in their turn, accom-
n pany the monks in their daily sallies
summer and winter, in storm and sun
shine. Bred for a single purpose, the,
l. know their errand hardly less thai
e their masters, Will cir instinct ot
: ten serves in better n than huma
!, reason. We were shown one,-Hec
tor,-old, gray and brindled, wit
It large Shakesperian dewlaps and bod
d huge well nigh as Highland bull,-
d who had saved seventeen lives.
C found my way to his heart by scratch
S ing his huge head. His playfulnes
y was gone; poor fellow, he had learr
e ed the seriousness of life; but he ha
If the simplicity and dignity of grea
1t size and seemed possessed of the gray
= ity Of acknowledged services. A
d though one could not say of Hectic
lie as the Scotch gamekeeper did of
g solemn terrier, "Oh, sir, life is full {