New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
OLD ILLUSIONS DESTROYED.
TELEPHONES AND TYPEWRITERs Az TIE
HosP1cE OF MONT SAINT BERNARD
an TUE noes
DEGENERATION OF THE DOC


HosP1cE OF MONT SAINT BERNARD
DEGENERATION OF THE DOGS.
One OF the Joys Of my childhood was to contem-
plate with wide open eyes, night and morning. as
lay tucked up In my little cot an etchlns which
hung above 1t, and which represented the rescue
Of two unfortunate travellers half buried In eternal
SHOWS, by a couple Of magnificent. huge SAINT
Bernard dogs. My young imagination con)ured up
mountain disasters ceaselessly. and then took
solemn resolution to become, when / grew oider'
a distinguished Alpine climber. Life decided otner.
wise for me- and although have always retained
my love for the mountains and have spent many
summers in the Tyrol. the Alps, the Pyrenees etc.,
my celebrity a professional mountaineer Is yet
TO be born Nevertheless some time ago. returning
from Italy to Austria via Switzerland decided TO
go and investigate for myself whether my child
hoods admiration, the great Saint Bernard dog
was truly as majestic as he Is painted when seen
In his native haunts and exercising his charitable
and heroic mission
The winter was almost over, but still the ascent OF
the snow covered giant was by no means an easy
task The Mont Saint Bernard is anything but
easily accessible, but STILL thanks to the adroitness
OF the guides. at last reached the refuge OF
ia Cantine de PROF." spot from which one can
plainly the ancient monastery looking grim ana
forbidding in its shroud Of snow and ice. ! gazed
with delight upon this scene. and 80 great was my
urged NY guides to proceed without delay Much
to my establishment. and also confess. to my utter
disgust, they explained to me In that hdeous mix
ture Of patois vile French and viler German. which
is the idom Of Wilhelm Tells fatherand, that they
had just telephoned to the abbot there yonder, In
order to obtain further renforcements before at
tempting cross the last coli pass peculiarly
dangerous one.
Telephone, My amazement so great that
stared heplessy and silently at my companions.
Could / have misunderstood their vernacuar?
Telephone from tine pure. unsued. frozen SUBMITS
OF this proud peak But no. had not mistaken the
import OF their words. for here behind me sud-
denly heard the familiar and exasperating tinklns
OF the telephone bell. followed by the yet more
exasperating ''Hullo. Huo.' which finds &C
cmatized from Benares to Yokohama San Fran
cisco. Melbourne Teheran, or wherever else the In
vention has penetrated I may call the impression
which then received first disappointment one.
bythe-by, which speedily capped by several
more. Resigned for the time being. sat down
bench before the glowing stove to await the coming
Of the good monks forces. and after space Of
time which seemed long. small procession OF
brown-robed figures headed by three or four
enormous dogs appeared in view. Little attention
did ! grant 10 the sanity men, but the dogs! the
sweet-tempered. noble, kind -hearted dogs! liter
ally hung myself OF the door to meet them.
and with that Impulsveness which has already cost
me so many needless troubles. / flung my arms
about the neck OF the first I reached. There
was low. vicious growl, snap Of the mighty
jaws. contemptuous toss of the massive head. and
had II been for the timely interference OF a
porty monk, should not only have stood there
numerically reproved. but also cruelty bitten. So
much for the kind-heartedness OF the great Saint
Bernard breed. for. as my rescuer explained to me
in melodious Italian. the animals realize that they
are required only to save the life Of those perishing
in the snow. and that when they have done this
occasionally they do not the need OF showing
any further amiability toward the human race. He
added mournfully that. anyhow. the dogs de-
generating and that they very reluctant to go
out on their ife-saving expeditions quite unlike
their sires for they all Are and fame for the
good cause Disappointment number two having
thus been INFLICTED upon me. resumed my voyage
The road was arduous. snow was falling and the
90 . aver s the s M
In the snow and pretending 10 be the point Of
dogs who bounded in front Of us The sample which
had had OF their sweetness OF behavior. however.
tender that ' my plan and
faced the icy wind with renewed energy.
and the reception / met with touched me much
All that warmth. hot wine palatabe food and
could do for mo accomplished. and that in so
simple and charming way that my heart was
tho S granite hearth No ~h Sssp
srackled and elazed enormous pine logs, the white
bearded Abbot who minstered In kindly
TO my wants. the solemn hush overspreading the
entire rambling pile OF building Interrupted alone
waited oward us as the inside soor OF mn n.sh
boring chapel opened and closed were all as had
Order; but do not resemble those OF their brothers
w wi i've IN the plains AmIable. learned devoid Of
weather-beaten countensnce OF sailors used to
s bra ing. the elements and to be ever on the alert
surrounded us in our mountain fastness. and a
rish5 pleasant evening aid we spend the venerable
loves 50 well learned that since the year $50. when
% hs na ts e p Of s
most dangerous portions Of the European Alps. a
the lives saved At the end of the s. 0t
this record was transcribed In Latin on the parch-
are Of Se or Ha ns ~ Volumes 5 Which
practice is faithfully kept up Rather grewsome is
succumbed In precpices. crevices or avalanche
or or rom mere exhaustion and snow sickness: have
any earth the rocks OF Saint Bernard. but in two
caves one being now reserved for Catholics. while
sse other as the Abbot said is tenaned by Prot
The next morning was taken to see this
corpses of many Of Napoeons brave soldiers
saunt srenaders. even now half-covered by the
crossing OF the Alps In the train OF Europes great
est General The sight IL not pretty one. and for
had gazed upon there.
Far more TO my taste was the museum contained
filled with the relics discovered In the ruins OF the
temple OF Jupiter. which stood on the edge
OF the tiny lake. stretching its sheet of ice hun
dred yards from the portals OF the holy edifce de-
voted to the rescue OF Christian souls and bodies
The ancient Romans certainly built this temple to
meet the same purpose as did Saint Bernard the mon
aastery bearing his name. 1t was used as refuge
taken by the Italian Government brought to light
considerable amount Of riches including $500
pieces OF gold and silver. dating back as Tar as
Julius Caesar. some magnfcenty jeweed Eek
votos" and statue OF Jupiter which Is marvel
OF sculpture.
Filled with enthusiasm at what I had seen I was
stepping back toward the refectory Of the monks
where breakfast was awaiting us. when / was
startled by sharp. clicking sound. Peering out
OF the gloom which filled the narrow stone passage
was traversing. caught sight OF a rubicund
monk. who. In a small. ce-like room. was seated
"Enough Enough" almost cried as I fed