SAINT BERNARD AND THE DOGS.

NZ Truth, Issue 82, 12 January 1907, Page 8

SAINT BERNARD AND THE DOGS.

» The famous hospice of the Great Saint Barnard is once more closed to the outer world (writes the "Pall Mall"). The. last mail, diligence of the' presenit year made the ascent recently, and< will be seen no more till the Summer of 1907.

The stoppage of the diligence does not, of course, imply that the monastery is absolutely isolated for ten months. Even m midwinter there is a periodical, if somewhat uncertain, service of letters But there will be no visitors, and the hospice will know only the eternal snows, its monks, its works of mercy, and the dogs' which are such valuable co-operators m them. At present, the canine staff consists of nine adult animals and five pups. All have free range about the precincts, but even the quadrupeds have a certain conventual seriousness of exterior, and the caresses of strangers &te met with a quiet reserve bcfiitiftnj those whose business it is to keep a watchful eye upon human life.

Few people have any idea of tfsn number of visitors who find their way to ibe great hospice during the brief season between the middle of June and the middle of September. Sometimes it happens that there are as many as SOO strangers within the walls together, and a total of from IS.OOO to. 20,000 is not more than on average number for the season And all are welcome to a night's hospitality free sf ©barge.