SHELTER TO 40,000 PERSONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13394, 30 May 1914, Page 10

SHELTER TO 40,000 PERSONS.

GENEVA (Switzerland),. April 18. The St. .Bernard monks: gave; shelter and food to. nearly". 40,000 persons last, year. The average voluntary contribution dropped', into, the: box; at ' the gate was equivalent to ,2 cents a person. TRhe. monastery finds itself in financial difficulties and the chapter is considering whether a fixed charge must not. bo made in the future- foiv the rich" travellers who visit the. monastery during fine weather, stay. for the .week-end and drop, a franc or two into the, box \n payment for themselves and chauffeur for two day's keep. The monks havo carried on ' their charity 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 )ant 10 years the cost of. 'everything has gono up about, 4o per cent., while rentals hayo remained stationary. "Wo hope, to continue," says the Abbot Bourgeois, the ' head , ; of the chap-" ter, "giving free hospitality as wo havo done since- the. 11th century, Although if the burden becomeß too heavy for, our means we shall be obliged fto charge a small sum, mjuch against our inclination and our principle." ..