Hospice

Through the frost-bleared windows of the St. Bernard hospice,* 8,000 feet up in the Great St. Bernard Pass between Switzerland and Italy, the Augustinian canons and their servants on duty there last week watched a train of sleds zigzag its way up the pass from the Swiss side. Snow was deep; wind blistering. None, remarked the canons, but Americans with their quaint inquisitiveness would make such a trip in such weather. Forthwith they sent servants to heat liquids. Other servants they dispatched to assemble the St. Bernard dogs, those great spaniels bred to retrieve humans from the Alpine snows just as Newfoundland dogs, another breed of spaniel, retrieve humans from waters. The canons rarely accompany the dogs on rescues. They are Roman Catholic clergy, vowed to poverty, obedience and chastity. They live a monastic life, but technically are not monks. Their servants do the chores around the St. Bernard hospice; and since the 11th Century snow-rescue work has been one of the chores. All was ready for a demonstration for the benefit of the visitors last week. But the visitors were not from the U. S. They were members of an Italian cinema troupe, come to make a realistic film of the dogs in action with their attendants. The Augustinians were willing. But the troupe, having reached its destination, was not. The actors had had enough snow and cold. They would risk their lives no further. They gave up, they quit. The Augustinians laughed and served them warm food, hot drink.

*Founded by St. Bernard of Menthon (11th Century), who for 40 years preached Christianity to Swiss mountain dwellers.