The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-05-11

st. Bernard is a remarkable mountain pass
in the chain of the Alps, between Piedmont
and the Valais. 1t was formerly called Mons.
Jolvis or Jovis, and its present name was &C.
quired through the celebrity of the Hospice,
founded in 962 by Count Bernard de Men
thon, for the succor of travellers. This build
ing, a strong stone structure, is situated on the
crest of the pass, $500 feet above the level of
the sea, and although gloomy and desolate
looking, its appearance bellies its hospitality,
for no one, Christian or Intidel, Protestant or
Catholic, whatsoever be his nation or his
creed, rings the bell of this convent in vain.
TIL pious founder devoted forty years of bis
life to entertaining and protecting the numer-
Gus travellers who annually pass between
Switzerland and Italy. The convent now
provides for twenty thousand persons every
year, from its own funds, without eXacting the
smallest payment. During the revolution of
1S4S its funds were seized, and the Augustine
monks removed from the convent, but the
travellers across the mountains became clam
orous for their reinstatement, and it was
speedily done. Next in interest are the
famous dogs Of st. Bernard, of which there
are seven or eight in number. They are a
cross between the Newfoundland and the
Pyrenean, very sagacious and carefully
trained. They generally live seven or eight
years, when they become and are
killed. Persons who cross the mountain in
the depth of winter are obliged to wait at a
place OF refuge, some distance from the sum-
nit, until the following morning, when a
servant, with one of the dogs, goes down and
conducts the party through the snow, which
often lies here 10 a depth of thirty feet. The
dog conducts the servant, and never loses his
way, although often only his tail can be seen,
his body being buried IN the new fallen snow.
The cold is so intense that a small lake in the
vicinity is frozen over nine months in the year.
But one of the most important Offices per-
formed by these remarkable dogs, is that of
the rescue of travellers lost IN the snow during
a storm. On such occasions the dogs 60 out
on their own responsibility, with a warm
cloak strapped upon their backs, and a small
keg of spirits around their necks. With I'M
erring instinct they trace out the bewildered
victims of the terrible storm, frequently
arriving after lethargy from intense cold has
set in. In such case the faithful animal carries
the helpless form to the Hospice gates and
secures immediate attention and assistance.
II the traveller retains consciousness, the dog
shakes him aud allows the use OF the flask
and wrapping, when he leads the way to the
Hospice with calm gravity. The monks
themselves are unable to withstand the rigor.
Gus climate more then twelve or fifteen years
the same rheumatism that disables their
noble dogs affects them, and they retire to an
asylum at Martigny. During the summer
they have plenty of fresh meat from the val
ley, and keep several cows for milk, butter
and cheese, but in the winter only one COW
is kept, and a store of sailed meats laid in.
They have about fifty horses at the Hospice
for the purpose of bringing wood from the
valley, some ten miles distant. The situation
of the IIospice is about eleven miles n. n.
w. of Aosta and seventeen miles S. S. E. OF
Martigny.