Evening star., 1914-04-18
MONKS FIND CHARITY
TOO HEAVY FOR MEANS
St. Bernard Monastery May Estab-
lish Fixed Charges for
Tourists.

GENEVA. switzerland. April 10. 1914.
The ST. Bernard monks gave shelter
and food to nearly 10000 persons last
year. The average voluntary contribu-
ton dropped into the box at the gate
was equivalent to two cents person.
The monastery finds itself III financial
difficulties and the chapter is considering
whether a fixed charge must not be made
visit the monastery during fine weather,
stay for the week end and drop frame
or two into the BOX in payment for
themselves and chauffeur for two days
keep.
The monks have carried on their char
ty for nine centuries without asking
any visitor to pay. They have been able
to do so by the income from lands vested
in the monastery. But during the last
ten years the cost Of everything has gone
up about 40 per cent While rentals have
remained stationary.
I'VE hope to continue. says the Abbot
Bourgeois the head of the chapter.
giving free hospitality as we have done
since the eleventh century. Although il
the burden becomes too heavy for our
means we shall be obliged to charge a
small sum much against our inclination
and our principles.
Observes 1O3d Birthday.
Baron F'ernand de Turckheim, cele-
brated his 1G1d birthday at Mon
treaux March u. playing to his
relatives and friends Two unpublished
nocturnes OF Chopin. whose intimate
friend he was and who gave him
the two manuscripts. His wife, who is
ninety-two. shared honors with him. They
were married tifty-one years ago. Baron
de Turckheim is a grandson of Lily
Goethe. and his grandfather was Gen.
Jean Rapp of Napoleonic days. Baron
de TurcIsheim is d Frenchman of Alsace
and after the Prussian conquest he left
his province. lived first in Paris and then
here. He is an author i'll five languages.
Friedrich I,ut.. the proprietor and
editor of a technical newspaper called
the Commerce of the Continent Beyond
the Seas. published at Zurich. has been
sentenced to years imprisonment on
charge of defraudins the public by
claiming a larger circulation in Eu
rope and America than he had. Lutz's
defense was that he knew of no news
paper on the continent which pub
lished it's real circulation. and tina. he
had followed the usual practice OF let
ting the advertiser find out for himself
Swiss Seek Wheat Plan.
The Swiss government is considering
the idea of an arrangement with the
grain interests in the United States
whereby sthe SNsS might be supplied
with American wheat if the powers
which surround The little neutral re-
public We're at ar. The foreign offic,
is negotiating FIST with the Frencl
and Italian governments TO learn what
assurances may be mad that such grair
shipments would not be molested il
passing through hese countries in
zine of war.
i The ,,roblem of wheat supply for the
| Swiss army became acute during the
/ Balkan war, when the closing of tn,
Dardanel1es cut off much of the usua
/ importations from the east and price!
scared tremendously high. Emergency
shipments from the United States then
relieved the situation.
At present the government keeps
! stores of wheat sufficient to feed tn.
! whole mobilized force of the country
upward of 100000 men for severa
months.
| The grain is stored in the capitals O.
eleven cantons and is never allowed t,
| remain in storage more than thre,
| months. supplies being CONSTANT,
| taken out and renewed
Arrangement Is Advised.