Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-22
uark
ST. BERNARD.
A Visit to the Famous Alpine Hospice--How the
inmates Liye---GhsstIy Sights at the Morgue.

inmates Liye--Ghasty Sights at the Morgue.
lCorres. st. Louis Globe-Democrat.J
Exposed on its northeast and south
west sides to every storm, it has with
stood the elements for centuries. 1t
takes its modern name from Bernard de
Mention, who founded monastery there
In the tenth century, near Pagan tenn
pie. In 1862 the hospice was destroyed
by fire.
Dismounting and cropping through the
darkness to great door, we were admit
ted and conducted through damp, stuff
fly subterranean apartment, used for
stabling and storerooms, up flight of
stairs leading to a corridor. There the
brother of ceremonies stood. Extending
a welcome to the party IN advance, he
conducted us up another flight of stone
stairs, through poorly ventilated stone
corridor, having the appearance of
long vault, at one end of which an iron
grating divided off the exclusive apart
ments of the brethren. This sanctum
sanctorum has never been profaned by
the foot of woman. The rooms for guests
are neat and clean, usually containing
three beds in dressings oil. pure white.
There is no superfuous ornamentation.
One or two cheap prints adorn the wall,
together with crucifix. The floor is
bare. They have seventy or eighty beds
for the use OF travellers. The hospice is
persons, and some days 600 or 700 per-
sons receive aid and succor, 1t was bit
ter cold, but there were no Tres, neither
in the bed nor in the dining-room-no
great burning logs upon the hearth.
Wood is luxury here, in the highest
winter habitation in Europe, s, $50 feet
above the sea. The soil is entirely bar
rem, even the sturdy pine refuses to
grow, and, consequently, all fuel is taken
from the villages beneath, as well as pro-
visions, on pack mules. Thus amid their
other depriyations, these heroic brethren
can never indulge in the luxurious
warmth of a blazing fire. The room an
sWering both as reception and dining
room is chastely furnished, the wall dec
Grated with paintings and fine steel en-
cravings presented by visitors in token
of gratitude. 1t contains melodeon as
well as an upright piano, the latter pre-
sented by the Prince of Wales.
Quite family party sat down to din
ner. There were nine visitors and one
persidlng brother. The dinner was good
and ample, although there was no meat.
The first dish was melted cheese, a
sort of Welsh rare-bit, requiring a dex-
ferrous handling of the spoon to transfer
it to ones plate, a stringy bridge form
ing between the two dishes if the art be
not thoroughly understood. The first
few failing most ANONYMOUSLY, the laugh
went round. The ice once broken, con-
versation did rot lag. After the repast
very diminutive fire was lighted, around
which we grouped and shivered, convers-
ing on various topics, finally on earth
quakes, brother saying they had felt
several very severe ones within year.
In the last, pictures were thrown from
the walls and furniture was knocked
about generally. They feared it was an
avalanche and felt relieved and thankful
to find it only an earthquake. We had
some music, after which tea and coffee
were served and the company retired
In our rooms we encountered the femme
de chona6re, equipped with warming
pans and bottles of hot water, kindness
much appreciated. The beds were clean
and luxurious, with down covers, but SO
high that chair was required to mount
them. The elements were raging with
out, but they affected the building no
more than summer breeze might do.
1t seems a part of the very mountain in
strength.
In the morning a great bell peaIed
forth the rising hour Strangely it fell
upon the ear ia that distant spot, SO far
removed from any other habitation. Up
on going to the window, we found our
selves still enshroUded in clouds, caus-
ing us to realize for the first time the al
titude of our nights lodging, where we
could look down with contempt upon all
the crowned heads of Europe. After
breakfast the party from the Cantine ar
rived. The clouds soon lifted, disclos-
ing the earth robed in q snowy mantle.
A snow storm during the night had
wrought the change.
The kind and entertaining host accom-
panied the party to the dreadful morgue,
q few steps removed from the main