Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-10-27
Night st an Alpine Hospies.

The Hospice of the Simplon. founded by
Napoleon !, and kept by the Brethren OF
st. Augustine, is thus described by COR
respondent eve walked I'D the high
stone steps to the front entrnce, Every.
thing silent. A little way inside the door
was large bell with chain attached. On
my giving this pull, which made the long
passage-way echo again. rustling Of robes
was heard, and tall, pleasant faced monk
appeared and made US welcome in pure
French. He then directed us to q room
up one flight, marked ''Salon," which con-
tanned a table, lounge, chairs, and an up
right piano, with music lying upon it. As
soon as our bundles and bags were brought
UP, we were invited to our chambers on
the same floor. They were good-sized
rooms, all stone, above and beneath, with
deep set doors and windows, and cozy little
white-canopied beds, each with its mound
of eider-down quilt. On entering one Of
the rooms, the ladies started back at the
sight of huge ST. Bernard dog, apparent
ly stretched at full length oh the floor be-
fore the bed. 1t proved to be skin mount
ed ON rug, with the head preserved en-
tire and natural as in life. In about half
an hour we were called to dine In the re-
fectory, long, low room with prints and
paintings hung on the walls. A copy of
Murillo's Youthful Virgin was really
beautiful. The dishes, served by a silent
domestic, were as follows: /, soup; 2,
corned beef in small round cakes; J, some,
unknown kind of roast meat; 4, veal cut
lets, dressed with sharp-tasting herbs; 5,
boiled rice; 6,cheese The bread wss coarse
and strong favored. The milk was sweet
and nice. Besides our own partythere were
at the table the monk who had received us,
and the only other guest, N. VOLTA Swiss
botanist Of note. After the meal was ended
our host arose, replaced his chair, and bent
reverently for moment in silent prayer;
then led the way TO the sitting room, where a
wood fire was soon blazing brightly while
we talked and laughed and listened 10 NJ.
Wolf, who played on the little upright piano
with great purity of touch and feeling. A
thunder storm was rolling through the
clouds lust outside the windows, and hail
rattling against the panes. At nine
O'Clock We all went to bed and were soon
sound asleep. As swoke the next morn
ing, the first object my eye fell upon was
little crucifix with its holy burden on the
wall just opposite my bed, and | remem-
bsred where was During breakfast the
young monk told us something Of his life
on the mountains. He bad been eight
years at the st. Bernard Hoepice, he said.
Had he ever helped to rescue travellers
from the snow with dogsi 'Ah, om SOU
vent" He had been obliged by broken
health to leave his post and had come 10
tins place, where the storms and cold were
not so fierce. In the winter, he said, time
passed very quickly and pleasantly at st.
Bernard. Rising at five, the monks, some
twenty OF thirty in number, would assemble
to hear mass; then came prayers, meals
meditation, study of the sciences, slight
intervals Of recreation, with walks along
the sheltered side of the Pass; one duty
after another in quick succession, till night
came. His eve was very bright and his
smile wonderfully sweet, as he told of his |
employmenis and his love for his chosen !
path. 4 creaking of wheels snd jinglIng |
of bells told us that our carriage was ready |
so We found our way to the chapel, where !
the box is placed for whatever sums travel |
lers may choose to bestow, all entertainment |
for the night being considered matter of |
charity, and bade goodbye to our kind
young host. He accompanied us as far as
the door, and then, witt a pleasant bow
and smile, hurried away to his own work. |