Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01

~ ANAt Wv. NtlS AAHt GIuul hllbN 70
dust. There were remnants Of skulls.
ribs, sockets Of arms and legs. all
mingled together N frightful confusion.
green mould clinging to them and
gradually Fastening their decay. The
monk said that these were the bones Of
Nspoleon'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 morgu.
for many years, had gone to decay. and
bad been removed outside to make
room for the bodies Of travellers that
were almost constantly being brought
up the mountain during the winter and
s; ring months.
THE HOSP1CE
is built Of graystOne quRrried in the
mountains close By. IS about $50 feet
long and four stories high. including a
basement for the storage Of supplies
and a shelter for mules. The ba ement
also contains a large VIne-vault, IN
which are stored great quantities Of
wine Of various kinds for future use.
There were several wlne-tuns that we're
Of great size that must have held sew
eral thousand gallons each. The
monks must have . weary time through
the long Alpine winters-rith
hurricanes blowing, SHOWS averaging at
times from 20 TO 40 feet in depth. and the
thermometer always in the tens. TWEEN
ties. and sometimes thirties below zero :.
vet II was evident from their we'll
stocked larder, and the size Of their
wiDe-vsults, that they did not intend to
suffer from hunger or thirst during
their self imposed Punishment from the
world below. The institution is so
benevolent IN It's charities, and Is doing
such a noble. self-sacrihcing work, that
il may well. as il does, challenge the ad-
miration Of the world. 1t Is supported
entirely by voluntary contributions, AMI
no traveller, either rich or poor. Is ask
ed recompense for his entertainment.
Unless SICK or disabled. or If the path
way over the mountain Is impossible
from avalanches or deep SHOWS. his stay
must not be prolonged over three DAYS.
During the time be is there he Is
served with excellent food, good beds.
warm clothing. If necessary, while
the monks themselves wait upon him
and nurse him II sick, and all this Is free.
and. as the monks told us. Is done " for
the love Of God and our fellow-men.
In the chapel there Is an ofertory-box,
where visitors can deposit whatever
sums they feel inclined, which goes 70
support the institution. But few 60
away from It without quietly dropping
into the box as much money as they
would have 10 pay at q hotel for their
entertainment. and very often the con-
tribuuons are Of large amounts.
THE FAMOUS st. BEBNARD DOGS.
The Hospice. which Is situated 5000
feet high. is said to be the highest point
in the world where man lives the year
round. Life Is so terrible OF this high
altitude; the long winters, which seem
TO have no ending. are so intensely cold.
and the air Is so dense 10 breathe. that
the monks can only i've here al the
longest for three years, at the end Of
which time others come and take their
places before they entirely break down
in health. There are twelve Of these self
sacrificing men. who devote 8 portion
Of their lives in rescuing and caring
for the lives Of lost and disabled travel
lers on this lofty mountain height. Con-
nected with them in this noble charity
and humane work are the famous 81.
Bernard dogs. whose wonderful sRgacity
and exploits in discovering and resculng
the lost are familiar TO al SCHOOLGIRL
dren. There were about dozen Of
these noble animals lazily lying around
the corridors and outside Of the HOspice.
Several were Of great size. and the ex-
preston Of their eyes almost bespoke
human intelligence. The monks rise
at 5 o'clock, summer and VIII
ter. After attending mass and par
taking OF their simple morning meal
they retire TO their small, solitary
rooms. and pass several hours in deyo-
tional study. Several Of them then,
well equipped with provisions and re-
storatives, SET off with the dogs on their
errands Of mercy over the snowy
mountains in search for poor waylaid
travellers who have been overtaken
with storms or RyRlanches. The dogs,
with wonderful sagAcity, seem to com
prehend the work designed them when
they set out on these exhibitions. They
run ahead Of the monks and scratch
paths through masses Of snow with
their huge paws, and, If they come
across q poor traveller part frozen, or,
perhaps. frozen TO death. they come
bounding back to lead the searchers
on. making the mountains echo with
their barking.
Without the dogs" said one of the
monks, &" il would be impossible for Us
TO find our way to or from the monas-
terry during the winter months. Those
two dogs" said be, pointing CT two Of
the largest animals, Il" make excursions
together every day in search Of victims
without any Of us going with them.
They 20 several miles on the Italian
side Of the mountains IN the direction
Of Aosta, and then return to the
Hospice. If they have nothing to
report, they 60 down the other side Of
the mountain-often as far as ST.
Pierre. II they find traveller over
come with fatigue, or buried in the
snow, they come back and signify their
discovery by unmistakable signs that
we may follow them to the place where
the traveller was discovered. At the
museum in Berne is the stuffed skin Of
Q dog that belonged TO the Hospice
which had saved fifteen lives"
1.-THE monks are very proud and very
choice Of their breed Of dogs, and say
that those which we saw at the Hospice
are the only full-blooded St. Bernards
in existence that the dogs which are
sold in London OF New York as full