Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-01-11

~ rd, of the men who assist
hem or of the dogs who CO.
operate with them in the SNOWY
and frozen wastes of the Simpion pass
in the Alps.
The rescue force consists of II
monks and 15 assistants who under
take the work for the sake of human
ity. The men must be strong of limb
and lung and robust in every way to
stand the life. Even with perfect
physical endowment most of them
break down in their twelfth year of
service A few last fifteen years and
then death follows No member has
lasted more than twenty years. The
constant exposure and attendant hard
ships are too mucn for human endur-
ance. AS the monks live 5000 feet
above the sea level the cold is intense
and the breathing of such a rarifled
air Injuries the health and hastens the
end They live near the region OF
perpetual snow, for the winter lasts
nine months of the year and even in
July snowstorms occur which bother
greatly the tourists who make the
passage of the steep road to the
monastery in large numbers.
When Brigands Assailed Them.
The hospice was founded 94S years
ago by nobleman, Bernard de Men
thehn, for the benefit OF pilgrims trav-
cling to Rome. For long time after
the monks were installed they were
harassed by the brigands who infest-
ed tne surrounding mountains. Some
times the demands of these vaga-
bonds were refused and then the
thwarted would go away after threat
ening vengeance. Soon a squad of 20
or 80 OF these pirates of the noun
tains would appear, but they found
barricaded doors ard windows impos-
sible to pass and the monks lived in
a state of siege until fierce storms
drove the brigands away.
Napoleon in leading his army of
80 00O across the Aims in 1900, headed
for Italy. used the hospice as a bar
racks for his weary, frost,bitten sol
diers AT St Pierre, the last village
on the Swiss side. are shown the
small table and the armchair used
at breakfast by Napoleon before start
Ing for italy.
The monastery is plsiu unpreten-
tious block of gray buildings with
thick walls to withstand the terrific
gales and snowstorms. The snow Is
frequently eight or ten feet deep round
the hospice and sometimes form
enormous drifts which reach to tn
roof of the building, Shelter can b.
provided for nearly 400 travellers and
dormitories for about 100 anyone
crossing the pass is welcome to the
hospitality of the, monks. Voluntary
contributions can be made and. for
tunately. there is generous response
Tor the cost of keeping up the monas,
terry is very heavy as everything has
to be hauled so far over dangerous
tong and none too good road. Mules
have to haul the food and other sun.
plies for many miles each day Two
meals are served--one at IL m and
one at p. m. Every nation is repre.
sented in the crowds at the tables
The monks mingle freely with the
diners and make them feel at home.
Two pianos presented by King Ed.
ward OF England are PLAYED in the
evening after dinner to make the
hours pass pleasantly. More than
10000 persons cross the mass every
year and more than two-thi-ds of the
number make the tournev during the
winter. The majority are laborers on
their way to work who cannot wa''
for more favorable weather prd y
speaks volumes for The vie'iapce cs
the monks fhat life is verv rare'v
lost now Tho monaeterv is con.
nected bv teIerhone with stations on
both sides cf the pass and whenever
travellers start to make the ascent
the number is teierhcred to the
monks 20 that they can icok out for
them and send rescue perties to their
aid n they fail to put In an appear
Rnce.
The WONDERFUL Dogs.
Everyone has heard the wonderful
stories Of the sagec,tv OF the, st. Perm
ard dogs At the top OF the paes is
o monument in memory OF one who
saved 40 lives during the 10 years Of
ft- existence On one ocrsr'er = III
covered in the snow a. child whose
mother had been -tiItfd bv an ava
ianche. After rousirg II by. iicting
ms elce, the dog induced II to eet on
it's back and BROUGHT Il safe snd
sound to the hospice. Unferturatelv
this dog was killed several veerr *,
hx some ua,Caown person, probably ,