The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-06
THE MONASTERY OF ST. BERNARD,

The ocean cable announces that on
Sunday night of this week an avalanche
OF great volume and almost irresistible
power swept down upon the buildings
of the famous Monastery of st. Bernard
in the Alps and great apprehension
arose for the safety of the hospice and
the fifteen Augustinian monks who live
there. Relief parties were dispatched
from Aosta to the place that has shell
tered thousands of travellers during GEN.
turtles. and the hardy Alpine rescuers
we're overjoyed to find that there had
been no loss of life. A portion of the
avalanche demolished the left wing of
the monastery and buried the hospice
deep in snow and debris from the noun
tain side.
Immediately the avalanche had passed
the monks began to dig tunnel and
soon made their exit. They prepared
quarters in a smaller building. contain
ing the storehouse for food and lodgings
for poor wayfarers. That the good
monks, whose lives are devoted to eccle-
siastical duties and benevoence, are in
no imminent need of the succor that
they have so many times extended to
snow-blinded travellers is assured by
every dispatch sent from Paris. 1t is
said that the avalanche also buried the
morgue, small house near the monas-
terry, used as receptacle for bodies
found in the snow by the monks and
their st. Bernard dogs.
Every school boy in the land recalls
stories about the hospice, its keepers and
the wonderful tales of travellers rescued
from death by the dogs. who carry casks
of cordials and even packages of food
strapped to their bodies. The monastery
was founded 962 A. D. by st. Bernard
de Mention, and for these hundreds of
years this brotherhood of monks has adj
ministered gratuitously to the sufferipgs
of travellers. The present substantial
edifice dates from the middle of the six
teenth century, and another portion was
built in 1880. Grateful travellers have
bountifully supplied the dining room
and other departments with engravings
and pictures. In the library is great
collection of ancient and modern coins,
rare relics and natural history collec-
ton. To the left of the entrance is
chapel, containing the monument of
General Desaix, who fell at Marengo in
1900. This chapel is buried in snow, but
is probably uniniured.
During nine months each year, known
as the snow season, the monks are con-
stantly alert to rescue unfortunate trav-
elers. st. Bernard dogs. descendants
of an old line but not of the original an
Gent breed. share the dangers of the
next to the highest winter habitation in
the Alps.
In the middle ages this monastery was
very wealthy. OF late years the 18 600
travellers who annually take lodging
there contribute little more than what
would be moderate hotel bill for 900
guests. Provisions are taken there from
Aosta during July. August and Septem-
Der only.
Scarcely any monk can continue in
the dreary abode and life for more than
fifteen years. He returns to the milder
climate of Martigny or some other place,
broken in health.
Napoleon and his armies knew we'll the
benefits of the hospice. La 1898 1893
and 1900, during the Italian camp ign,
several hundred thousand French and
Austrian soldiers crossed the pass. Ma
poleon's men repulsed the Austrians
there and the general kept garrison at
the monastery to guard the pass whole
year. AS early as 100 B. G. the Romans
used this route. Constantine had the
road improved in 800; the Lonlbards
made the passage of the historical pass in
SAT; Bernard. an uncle of CharIemagn,
marched an army through the pass in
773. and. according to m ny, gave the
place his name. Altogether it is place
associated intimately with the geogra
phical studies of millions of scholars.
It's destruction by snow would be fol-
lowed by contributions from the entire
civilized world for rebuilding fund.