The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

EVen the baggage was removed from tbe allgenees and carried across piece nv piece. Other vehicles were waiting for our reception upon the other side. and III them We proceeded to the Simplon Hospice a large, lonely building located aiuio the snow and ice and conducted by the monks. Here l determined to spend the night as the novelty of such an episode appealed to me most strongly
 The hospiee is a branch of tho grear St. Bernard order and furnishes food and shelter free of charge to all who may seek It's hospitality. It is expected. how ever thnt travellers of means who lodge beneath It's caves will deposit upon leav- ing Ill the charity box of the chapel the same amount that they would have paid TOT accommodations at hotel, and never nus the deposit been neglected
 Ihfee large St. Bernard dogs welcome us "ith Wagsins tails as we nlighted from the diligence and the prior of the monastery gave us a most hosnite h,a greeting. l found several puppies ahout Six weeks old In the kennels and the,. were almost as large as medium sized eaiVes and 80 clumsy that thev were actually always getting in their own way With whole pack Of dogs at my heels started out to gather snow from n heishborlns glacier. It was Il stranpo experience Except for my canine corr.
 
 plainly hear the tinkle of sheep bells and sound or human voices in the yallee fan below me: was gathering snow and vet In close proximity to me mountain flow CTS were in full bloom and honey bees were sipping clover.
 The hospice Is equipped with telegraph instrument operated by one of the monks and upon wiring for seats in the diligence next morning I found that none were obtafnable. It was q case of waiting ,in- til next day with no certainty of then being supplied or walking lG miles down the mountain to Brigue and I selected the latter - In my walk that day I noted the- all vehicles which passed me made the de- scent with the wheels locked in an iron shoe. It Is shaped somewhat after tho manner of the bicycle rests in this coun- try, The rear wheel alone sits in tho slot which is fastened to the fore axle by chain. It is simple but an effective device, and the vehicle thus slides all the way down the mountain.
 Another charming Swiss pass is tbot of the Tete Noire leading from Martignv 10 chamounixs en route to Mont Blanc. ] had seen the divine vale of Vallombros. m Italy. and I deemed It meet to com piete the couplet by visiting the famcu. vale or Chamounix. The name or inc latter place Is e most convenient o,,a to write, for have seen 1t spelled i'm l- ways and each way was deemed oorreci Iete Nolr signifies Black Head. ana is 20 named from the relative absence of snow In the pass. but the view is one of cntrancing beauty.
 At some points the meanderinrr Hnone could be distinctly seen for 30 miles glimmering in the sunlight as thread of argentine and in inc far. oIflng smiled the Jungfrau with its cloak of spotless ermine and coronet or glfstering ice. Just in front of me rose the majestic Mont Blanc lying un- der 40 feet of perpetual snow. The Vaiiey or Chamounix was practically unknown until the eighteenth century when saussure made the first ascent or Mont Blanc in 17S7 and the event is oommemorated by a handsome bronze monument in the village Of Chamounix representing the climber conducted by his guide, Balmat.
 The road passes by the foot of the world famous glacier. the Mer de Giace, visited the next day.
 The crossing of this sea of ice is a wonderful undertaking and the serv- ices Of guide are absolutely indis pensible. Prior to making the transit one must purchase a sharp feruled Al pin stock and a pair of rough stock ings to be worn over the shoes. The icy paths are very slippery and vexed with yawning crevasses so that the guide takes with him an ice adz with which to cut niches for your footstep and a ladder to be used as a bridge in crossing chasms. These chasms are ex- eeedingly treacherous and frightful to behold. While white at the top ledge