The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-21
ST. BERNARD CLINGS
TO NOBLE TRADITION
History Of Breed Is Interesting
to All True Lovers Of
the Dog.
BARRY GREATEST OF ALL

His grand benevolent appearance his
fine temperament. his attractive color.
his great size and strength all have
helped to make the st. Bernard one OF
the ever popular breeds of dogs. but It
II the history of this imposing canine
race which has % more than any tnt
thing to endear Il to the hearts OF dog
lovers. The Hospice of 81. Bernard. sit
uated In the pass Of Mons Jorls rear
the summit of that mountain, winch Is
one Of the great FEMININE Alps. was
founded in g62 A. -. by Bernard de
Mention, a Savoyard OF noble family.
lie founded this institution for the
aid and protection of those travelling
To Rome. especially for the pilgrims to
the Holy City. The site selected WIS
an advantageous one for this gre it WORK
OF charity. for the pass was the direct
route OF travel from the north to Italy.
IL was used In turn by the Roman ar
miles. Charlemagne and the great Ma
poieon. High up on the side or this
famous pass was the large SUBSTANTIAL
! stone building OF the Hospicc OF ST. Fer
nard and the home OF his grand logs
The monks OF this monastery started to
breed and train dogs to bring relict
| 10 travellers overcome by storms. the
| following extract from an old English
| papcr shows that as early as the eigh-
teenth century the monks had dogs In
49,
their monastery
"In March, 1886. the convent Of Sion.
near tho borders of Switzerland, wa
attacked by t~wenty-four villains. VIII
demanded the treasure thereon. inc
| monks replied that their rents wcr' II!
paid. and at present they had but little
! stock. but they would show them where
II was. Accordingly the robbers were
shown upstairs where II was said to be,
when opening the door where the blood
| hounds were and giving them the woTu
they instantly fell upon the villains AHA
tore some of them t. pieces. Inc ON
| crs. attempting TO fy. were pursued ana
taken accordingly. These dogs are kept
| therefore for tho preservation or the
convent and To find dead bodies In the
snow for many perish attempting 10
| cross the Aims. whose bodies are round
1 bv ;nosr dog. and receive decent inter
ment.'
"Wh,la there are probably misstat"-
| neuts i'm this quotation, Still II shows ne
yond al doubt thHt the st. Bernari j. ~
! ucien date. Tor II does NOT require
/ much Christian Science T." see now they
| wer. descended from the ~hloodhouud- o'
tn. above. What happened at the hos
nic, kennels between this time ana IN"
first OF the following century We do not
know. for the monks Keep II" kehiIeI
records. That many changes were mace
| l.. .L- ..,.. Dra nf tho dogs
~ 49,, -, ,a,,r,I 20 s,,nunsa when we think
-, ,hair vnrk changed from locating
aa =" nnli.s -, r.scuiur live rersons.
..,n ,s,o or iSo1 ,he rr.nt barry. the
.n.s, ~. s,,or -, 10 monastery. WIS
- vn,..s r,,. sen.r,iIv nl,r.d ,h.
""u, az ty.s rosr,cd nv this dog at
'un,,, r,y ,ho,sb m. conservative
49,, H.. .uoaarr Doys. s,vs thn, he
49,, acc, tlts ,,os. wonderful
go .ntd - b,y.. icon NJ a nm.
',ir, ,,h.s. ,rorbar w,s Killed bv an
1910 ont ,y,,u n, carried an his
~ 80
.lI, .Jtad T., 1874 mud s.veral stories
-. ia -. t,u, Ia. mo, hi. n,te ono a.
a., ro,.r,u.r, r,asser,er arrive, I
49, ,,rr, ,i,,I, 40 ,n. bnsr,,, and In
o"t,a 80 49,, v'I,~tY,. n, "a. c.nd unr.s
da,,a.I ga ira, Ia ,r,ss TN. mass and
a., - ,t. ,,io, s..,ry ,b,, le "a.
- ,,, ,,nc..I NO III. r,o,t. sun-
49, ,.i,L end. n, g,,id,s ,t,I
n'i,t. n.a -, ,ra los ors Of ,bor fba
-, ,ha u,r.y 80. NM 90,
- ~ a,oi, ,.bn n,.sr,n Il .he,r ana
~, "a ,,.,b,r 60, -
w. =, ,,i,'r Won, he was atto1,.