ON AN ALPINE PEAK

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 15

ON AN ALPINE PEAK

WOMAN HERMIT’S CELL. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND HEATING. A modern hermit’A cell is being finished on the ilonte Generoso, the beautiful peak in the very heart of the Italian Lakes. The cell is situated about one hundred feet below the top, within six feet of tho Swies-Italian boundary, and can only be approached by the small footpath which leads along the frontier on the narrow crest of the mountain, and is only used "by the customs officers on their patrols. Otherwise the hermitage answers its purpose splendidly, standing right above a sheer descent of 4000 feet, a place where an eagle might build hits eyrie. Clinging to the bare precipitous rock of the mountainside without any space to walk around, the cell looks like a swallow’s ncstv'bThqi'g. js the, tack . looking

down into the .abyss, and far upon the • lakes and> mountains. But it is well , furnished and provided with electric j current, for lighting, cooking and heating purposes. On Jts side, there is * special water tank, in which the rainwater is gathered. . The future hermit, who was recently ■- ™ staying at the Kulm Hotel of the Mont© Generoso, superintending the finishing ■ touches to her cell, is a member of the Italian aristocracy, Marquesa Vitaleschi. A Dutch lady by birth, she martied the Marqueea, who is 20 years older than she. The Generoso was ever her favourite 'spot. But her husband never accompanied her. 1 ■ - i'i The reason for the hermit’s rethe- . ment is Jler nerves. ■ She is said,not to i be able to bear human faces and voices. She will not see anyone in her cell. Iler supplies will be slipped down from l h© top on a wire cord, up to the hotel by the little railway, and thence carried to the top by mulcts. Thie will cost money. The total costs of the veiy . modest little dwelling therefore rise to , the .very considerable.,sum of between | .■■l'.' 'li.i ' ;V‘i U I ! u < ’• ..'1