The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
STORY OF SAINT BERNARD.
The Famous Legend of the Church
Told by Prof. David Starr Jordan.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Prof. David Starr Jordan read a paper
last evening before the Geographical So
ciety in the hall of the Academy of Sci
ences upon the Great St Bernard. the
Professor described the little cold lake in
hospiceS of St. Bernard. On all sides were
sh0w-capped mountains, cold and. ugged
are of stone. plain and observation-disclosures
AS one approaches the hoSplceS of the
Great St. bernard he is met by a legion
or barking st. Bernard dogs ready to res
cue him from the snow. These dogs are
yellow and white and resemble In some
PaftculaIS those OF the same name found
IN large cities. But they are not so large
nor SO we'll kept.
The hospice is entered through triple
are pictures on the wall of the main room,
and a large open fire at which one may
warm himself. All are welcome for a day,
ana are supplied with a plain and nouriSh-
ing meal. Inc next day ali, whether prince
or peasant, are asked to move on unless
theJ are sick or otherwise disabled. Every
thing is free, but those VINO wish may con-
tribute any sum, large or small, to be used
for the entertainment of subsequent way
farerS.
AT the time Professor jordan visited the
nospice there were twelve monks there, all
young and vigorous men, for the severity
OF the climate makes those living there be-
come preniaturely old. There Is snow the
year round in the pass where the hospices
ara situated, and from November TO May
there is a whirlIng gale, and the snow piles
up in pillows.
Professor Jordan related the legend of St.
Bernard, as chronicied by the ecclesiaStic
historians. He was born in Savoy, and in
early youth he showed that be was destined
for Saintship. In his seventh year he began
10 practice accomplishment, which he hept
up for the remainder of his life. He was
sent to Paris, where, to please his father,
he studied law. and to please himself he
studied theology. 1t was at this time he
took upon himself the oath of celibacy.
His father called him home, where he found
that arrangements had been made for his
marriage with the daughter of a noble and
wealthy family. He astonished his parents
by his avoidance Of this marriage. But
finally the day was set and the guests be
his room and engaged in prayer.
TIE chronicle relates how a vision ap-
peare to Bernard in ia dream and sum
church Leaving the castle he hurried over
obscure mountain passes to a village one
hundred miles distant. A later chronicle
explains that he made his escape by a
window, and that the marks Of his hands
are still upon the ledge, and the imprint of
his feet in the rock below upon which he
alighted.
The legend proceeds that Bernard was
most abstemious in his habits, drinking no
thirst with the juice of bitter herbs. When
he died he regretted that he was resting
upon a bed instead of upon the board he
had been accustomed to lie upon.
AS a preacher he was most eloquent and
all Italy fiocked to hear him.
Professor Jordan quoted from the chroa-
demon VINO mad commanded the pass where
the hospices of ST. Bernard are now To-
Gated. This he did by throwing his stole
about the neck of the demon, and the stole
quickly resolved itself into q chain, and
the demon was thus placed In the power
of the saint and quickly destroyed. Thus
it was that over nine hundred years ago
the first hospice Of St. Bernard was built.
one day an old man and his wife came
to pay their respects to the founder of hos
pice. They were the father and mother of
Bernard, and to him they related the story
of the loss of their son. He made himself
known to them. ana before they departed
they contributed sufficient money to erect
a chapel to each. In 1907 Bernard died at
the age of eighty-three. In the end his
bones were divided among the churches
which claimed him as their atron soint.