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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-09-06, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1989. The International Scene The living legend of St. Bernard BY RAYMOND CANON I am sure that there are very few people indeed that are not acquain­ ted with the picture of the famous St. Bernard dogs which go out into the Alps in search of lost travellers. Underneath their chin is a small cask which is widely believed to carry a bit of brandy or whisky or some drink of similar strength and which will serve as a bit of stimulant to the traveller as the dog leads him to safety. So much for the picture! What is the real story behind these dogs; how much is fact and how much is fiction? I’m sure that there are many people who have been wait­ ing for years to get at the heart of the matter and so, freshly back from a fact-finding mission in the Swiss Alps, I am at long last ready to give you the unvarnished truth. You will all be better people for it. First of all, the dogs certainly do exist. I have seen them with my own eyes and their name is quite accurate in that they are to be found in the Great St. Bernard pass in the mountains. If you are curious enough to want to look it up on the map, you will find it in the extreme southwest corner of Switzerland. The pass starts at Montigny in the Rhone valley and before it ends, Family honour Carol I rwin, President of the Festival Board of Directors, right, presents twomembersof theSloman family, Toby Rainey, left, and her sister Dr. ‘Lisbeth Hillman with special commemora­ tive pictures from the 1988 production “Fires in the Night’’. The play was based on the lives of the late Fred and Cela Sloman whospent many years in Northern Ontario, where Mr. Sloman taught school on a CNR car - the historic School-On-Wheels. Presentation honours Sloman family In the early evening of August 30, the Board of Directors of the Blyth Festival held a reception downstairs in Memorial Hall for theatre patrons who attended from near and far - Toronto, London, to name just two. Janet Amos, former artistic di- ector, was there with husband Ted Johns, actor, writer and director. Marian Doucette, former Chairman of the Board, conducted a tour of the recent addition to the theatre garage which the patrons thoroughly enjoyed. They enjoyed, too, the fresh fruit pies made and served by the Directors. I o honour the memory of the late Cela Sloman, a presentation was you are in Italy and you will have passed the dogs on the way. This pass has more than a bit of history with it. For about 2000 years it has linked Switzerland to Italy and for just about as long the good monks of St. Bernard have been helping travellers. It was the Romans who opened the pass and it was the Emperor Claudius who decided that it was worth building a stone road, something that was done so efficiently that it lasted for no less than 1900 years. They don’t build them like that today! Along the way it picked up a few legends. One of the most fascinat­ ing, that is if you like dragons, is that there was one of those there who was able to count in that he picked out every 10th traveller and made a meal of him. It was Bernard de Menthon who gave the dragon his comeuppance and, in so doing, made the pass a lot safer for the pilgrims going to Rome. It took him and his followers a long time to make the dogs part of the rescue service. We have to wait until the 19th century before we find any record of the dogs being used to track down people lost in the mountain pass although every spring there were bodies found of people who had either lost their way or had been caught by an unexpected storm. The monks have seen a lot of different people come and go through the pass. For a while the place was almost overrun by scien- made by Carol Irwin, chairman of the Board, of two beautifully framed enlarged photographs de­ picting the actors in last year’s play, “Fires in the Night’’ which Mrs. Sloman had attended five times. They are: Cela Sloman, played by Carol Sinclair; Fred Sloman, played by John Koensgen; and Sloman daughters, Elizabeth and Joan, played by Marie Cronyn and Sarah Johnston. It was lovely to have present at this ceremony Dr. Elizabeth Hill­ man of Newfoundland and Toby Rainey of Brussels, who accepted so graciously the Directors’ gifts given in memory of their mother, the late Cela Sloman. tists who were determined to get as high up the mountains as possible to install some instruments; the scientists, not being known for their mountain-climbing proclivi­ ties, frequently had to be tracked down by the dogs. In addition, there are any number of people, including myself when I was young, who believe that there is really nothing to climbing a moun­ tain, no matter how high. Certainly there were any number of such people in the 19th and early 20th century and, between the neophy­ tes and the scientists, the dogs almost had to work overtime. There is now a tunnel and this means that business has dropped off for the monks. It is the skiing community that makes up most of the business; there may be as many as 100 who stay overnight at the monks’ hospice and their interest in the dogs is mainly academic. However, the dogs are still there. It will cost you a few francs to see them and pet as many as you want and this money, together with the occasional sale of a nice “little’’ pup for $1,000, provides no less than one-third of the money needed to run the hospice. It is while talking to the monks that you find out one disturbing fact. The dogs have never carried any alcohol in a keg under their chin so, if you are ever lost in the St. Bernard pass, you can forget the thought of getting some Chivas Regal out of it all. This year the anniversary cele­ brations were marked by the opening of a new museum which houses the treasures of the monks, including a 13th century statue of St. Bernard. There will be other celebrations as well, some of which I hope to attend when I am in Switzerland later this year. If the dogs don’t carry Chivas Regal, perhaps they can at least serve it during the festivities. Johnstons celebrate 100 years on farm About 40 friends and neighbours showed up for a party Sunday to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Johnston farm in Grey Town­ ship and the 60th birthday of its owner John Johnston of Spruce Haven Farms, RR 2, Bluevale. Balloons and streamers decorat­ ed the farm for the occasion and guests enjoyed an afternoon of socializing followed by a dinner. John Johnston has lived on this farm since he was a child, and remained on the farm after his marriage. He and his wife Leona have two children, Karen and Kevin. Both attended Sundays celebration. Guests came from Shelburne, Dorchester, Denfield, Ripley, Cranbrook, Blyth, Brussels, Wing­ ham, Woodstock, Hickson and several other places. 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE WITH THIS COUPON. Limit 1 coupon per purchase until Saturday, Sept. 9/89 Christmas & Country Blyth 523-4820 Londesboro hosts Historical Society Londesboro will host the first fall meeting of the Huron County Historical Society Tuesday, Sept. 12. Harry Lear will discuss the history of Hullett Township at the meeting to be held in the Londes­ boro Community Hall at 8 p.m. There will also be entertainment. The meeting is open to everyone interested in history. The Historical Society’s fall ban­ quet is scheduled for Thursday, October 12 at the Brucefield Church Hall. Tickets for the ban­ quet will be available at the September 12 meeting. Thefamily of ROSS AND EVELYN (BUZZ) DAER INVITES FRIENDS AND RELATIVESTOHELP CELEBRATEWITH THEM 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE SEPTEMBER*),1989 at Saltford Celebration begins at 8:30p.m. NOGIFTSPLEASE Best Wishes Only 35th M0M&DAD Don & Melva Fraser Sept. 4 Love Randy, Lorna, Joe Kathy & Blair Adults can return to school too! Where? Central Huron Secondary School When? Classes resume September 11th How? Phone 482-5922 or come to the school to register Sept. 5,6,7,8 What? Earn credits leading to a Grade 12 Diploma. More than 30 credit courses are offered. BONUS • learn at your own speed in a relaxed, adult atmosphere • work your school hours around your work hours or • choose our flexible home study programme • enjoy a supportive atmosphere with other adult students • have access to staff at all times ADULTEDUCATION Second chancewithadifference We’re asking for your help! Each year the Ontario Community Newspapers Association and Canadian Airlines International sponsor the JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS PROGRAM and we arc asking you to help us find those deserving young people. If you know someone between the ages of 6 and 18 who has performed a heroic deed or has helped in bettering their community let us know. Contact the Junior Citizen Co-ordinator at this newspaper or call (416)844-0184. Ontario Junior Citizen recipients will receive a plaque, a cash prize, a family portrait with the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and a gold lapel pin.