The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-21

building in the rear of the Hospice,
used as a receptacle of the dead bodies of
those who had perished in the winters
storms and beneath the avalanches. The
building has no windows, but openings in
the stone wall, front and rear, guarded by
heavy wooden shutters, admit light and
ventilation when required. Throwing open
these shutters, we had good view of the
interior of this CHASTITY charnel-house. The
room was about twenty feet square, and
contained hundred or more bodies appa-
rently in different stages of decomposition.
All were coffinle5s Some were lying care
lessly on the frozen earth tied to boards,
just as they had been brought in from the
valleys below, while others were placed in
standing position, leaning against the cold,
frosty walls with sheets wrapped around
their stiffened limbs and bodies. 1t was a
terrible picture to look upon-one such as
Dore might have chosen for illustrating
some of the scenes in Dantes Inferno. The
coldness of the atmosphere at this high al
titude had preserved many of the bodies
for long term of years, so that their faces
retained almost their natural, life-like ex-
pressions; others had changed more or less;
their jaws had fallen, the hair was clinging
to their skulls in ragged patches, and they
appeared as if they were staring and grin
ming at each other through the sunken
sockets which were scarcely visible in their
skeleton faces Two or three of the bodies
had partly fallen and lodged against their
nearest neighbors, as if for support. The
monk informed US that many Of the bodies
of those who had perished in making the
pass, and had been brought to the morgue,
had been reclaimed by their friends and
relatives. A few years previous, he said,
thirteen persons were found between the
Hospice and the Canteen who had frozen
to death, and their bodies had been carried
up the mountain and deposited in the NOR
que All but three had been claimed by
friends and taken away.
Turning from the sickening sight, our
attention was called to a small enclosure
adjoining the morgue, which, on examina-
ton, was found piled up with human bones
that had laid there so long they were fast
crumbling to dust. There were remnants
of skulls, ribs, sockets of arms and legs, all
mingled together in frightful confusion, a
green mould clinging to them and gradual
ly fastening their decay. The monk said
that these were the bones of Napoleon's
soldiers who died at the Hospice when the
great General made his march into Italy in
the year 1900. The bodies, after lying in
the morgue for many years, had gone to
decay and had been removed outside to
make room for the bodies of travellers that
were almost constantly being brought up
the mountain during the winter and spring
months.
THE HoSPICE
is built of graystone quarried in the noun
tains close by, is about $50 feet long and
four stories high, including basement for
the storage of supplies and shelter for
mules The basement also contains
large wine-vault, in which are stored great
quantities of wine of various kinds for fu
ture use. There were several wine-tuns
that were of great size that must have held
several thousand gallons each. The monks
must have weary time through the long
Alpine winters-with hurricanes blowing,
SHOWS averaging at times from 20 to 40
feet in depth, and the thermometer always
in the tens, twenties, and sometimes thir-
ties below zero; yet it was evident from
their well-stocked larder, and the size of
their wine-vaults, that they did not intend
to suffer from hunger or thirst during their
Punishment from the world
below. The institution is so benevolentin
it's charities, and is doing such noble, self
work, that it may well, as it does,
challenge the admiration Of the world. 1t
is supported entirely by voluntary coptrl-
buttons, and no traveller, either rich OF
Door, is asked recompense for his enter
Unless sick or disabled, or if
The pathway over the mountain is impassa-
BILE from avalanches or deep SHOWS, his stay
must not be prolonged oyer three days.
During the time he is there he is served
with excellent food, good beds, warm cloth
ing, if necessary, while the monks them
selves wait upon him and nurse him if sick,
and all this is free, and, as the monks told
US, is done ''for the love of God and our
In the chapel there is an
box, where visitors can deposit
whatever sums they feel inclined, which
goes to support the institution. But few
20 away from it without quietly dropping
into the box as much money as they would
have to pay at hotel for their entertain
nent, and very often the contributions are
IF large amounts.
THE FAMOUS ST. BERNARD DOGS.
The Hospice, which is situated 5000
feet high, is said to be the highest point ia
,he world where man lives the year round.
Life is SO terrible at this high altitude; the
ong winters, which seem to have no ending,
ire so intensely cold, and the air is so dense
% breathe, that the monks can only live
lere at the longest for three years, at the
End of which time others come and take
heir places before they entirely break down
n health, There are twelve Of these self
sacrificing men, who devote a portion Of
heir lives in rescuing and caring for the lives
If lost and disabled travellers on this lofty
height, Connected with them in
his noble charity and humane work are the
amous st. Bernard dogs, whose wonderful
,agacity and exploits in discovering and
-escuing the lost are familiar to all school
children. There were about dozen of
,hese noble animals lazily lying around the
corridors and outside Of the Hospice.
seyeral were Of great size, and the express
ZION of their eyes almost bespoke haMaa
Intelligence. The monks rise at 3 o'clock,
summer and winter After attending mass
md partaking of their simple morning meal
hey retire to their small, solitary rooms,
md pass several hours in devotional study.
Several of them then; well equipped with
provisions and Festofatiyes, set of with the
logs on their errands of mercy over the
snowy mountains in search for poor way
aid travellers who have been overtaken
With storms or avalanches. The dogs, with
wonderful sagacity, seem to comprehend
he work designed them when they set out
IN these expeditions, They run ahead of
he monks and scratch paths through mas
'es of snow with their huge paws, and, if
hey come across poor traveller part froz-
IN, or, perhaps frozen to death, they come
pounding back to lead the searchers on,
making the mountains echo with their
,orEiup