It has always been a part of the monks' duties, after one of these dreadful avalanches has passed over, to go out into the mountains and search for travellers who may have been buried by it.
To help them in this work they keep a number of the St. Bernard dogs, which we all know and love so well.
The monks usually go out each day in couples, taking dogs and servants with them.
The dogs can scent out any poor creature who may lie buried in the snow, and they run around, sniffing and seeking, seeming thoroughly to understand what is expected of them. When they find any one, they howl, and scratch at the snow till their masters come to them.
They are so clever that they often show the monks the way home, when all traces of the road are shut out by the snow.
Sometimes, when the storm is so bad that the monks dare not venture, the dogs are sent out alone, each with a little keg of brandy tied round his neck. They find the travellers, and show them the way to the monastery.
One of these wonderful dogs, named Barri, saved twenty persons from a horrible death.
We stated, in regard to Oscar of Sweden, that the Prince Oscar who married Lady Ebba Munck was the eldest son of King Oscar.
The Editor has much pleasure in acknowledging letters from Robertson B., Grace K., and M.T.W.
We are very glad to know that the trees that were moved are alive and doing well.
I read THE GREAT ROUND WORLD and I think it very nice. I am glad to read in the number for February 25th about the moving of Katonah, for I live in Katonah myself.
The people of Katonah do not want to have it thought that New York city has made them move because they are careless about their drainage. It is because the city is going to make a new reservoir where the old village of Katonah now stands. Katonah has three churches, a public library and reading-room, a village improvement association, and a graded school, and _was_ proud of itself.
We hope the new village will be even nicer than the old one. The trees that were moved are living and doing well.
Yours truly, ROBERTSON B. (Age 11). KATONAH, N.Y., March 2d, 1897.
I have been reading THE GREAT ROUND WORLD for three or four months, and like it very much. I am particularly interested in the Cubans, and hope they will soon gain their freedom.