Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-07-18
ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG LADY TAX
ING THE VEIL AT NAPLES.
(From Lemaistre's travels J7er the PEACE q
Amiens.

When we stopped at the door of the
church in which this dreadful sacrifice was
to be made, two gentlemen, dressed in uni
form relrtioes of the lady about to assume
the religious habit, came forward, and not
wishstanding heavy shower of rain which
was falling at the time, insisted on handing
Re Signore Mglese upt the stairs OF the church.
On entering we received another mark OF
the civility shewn to strangers by the Nea-
poli,an noblesse--the front seats weresreserv-
ed exclusively for foreigners by which ar
rangement we were enabled to see the cere.
mony to the greatest advantage.
The church is small but pretty building,
decorated on all sides with rich MAJ bic.
The relatives of the unfortunate girl, and
all their friends, were in full dress, and in
stead of expressing any grief on the occasion
seemed to consider the event as extremely
joyful. Liveliness sat On the countenance
of most of them and the whole scene had
rather the appearance of triumph than OF a
sacrifice.
Printed papers were distributed about the
church the contents of which were SO Gu
rious, that though / will not tire you by CO.
pying them verbatim, must give you the
heads as characteristic of the sentiments
which prevail here on such subjects. They
formed together dialogue; the dramatts
persona of which were the world and the
fair novice. The one was entitled, " 10
her Excellency Slgnora, the World speaks,
and consisted of a poetical and fowery de-
scription of the pleasures of lite. Inc
other had written over it, /" To the World
her Excellency Signora answers" In the
latter the victim Of superstition was made
victoriously TO prove the superior blessings
of contemplative ease & celestial Joy, found
in the calm retreat of religious house; and
disdaining the tawdry and empty vanlues
offered by the world, she declared how hap
py she thought herself in being allowed to
exchange these baubles for the glorious SER
vice Of the heavenly spouse, to which she
was about to devote the remainder Of her
days.
The ceremony began with some very good
music. High mass was then said, and, III
the middle of 1t, the unfortunate girl,
beautiful and elegant creature, not more
than nineteen years of age, and by far the
handsomest Neapolitan female whom have
vet seen, appeared at the CRATE near which
a large, and rather disorderiy, crowd was
collected. The confessor, standing on the
outer side, read some prayers, and gave the
novice, thro' the CRATE, a wax-taper lighted.
The lovely victim, dressed in the most
sumptuous and fashionable manner, and or
namented with Jewels and other decora-
tons, placed It on the altar of an inner cha
pei, and returning again to the CRATE, re-
ceived from the priest crucflx. Joy spark
led in her countenance as she took the sa
cred symbol of christianity, and, with en-,
thusiastic ardor, clasped it to her breast
She was then led away by the other nuns
and in a few minutes was brought back in
plain white flannel dress, the costume of the
order. This change of garment had pro-
duced none in her beauty and the interest
she had excited on her first appearance was
rather increased than diminished by the re-
hgious habit which she now wore. The
lady abbess next cut of her long and flowing
hair, and placed on her head the fatal veil.
| confess shuddered as | witnessed this
last act, which sealed the fate of this unhap-
py girl. This sentiment common to all the
English, and which rendered the most vola-
tile melancholy, was not shared by the near
est relatives of her who was thus condemn
ed.
TO wither in her bloom,
Lost in Converts solitary gloom
The Nearolitan ladies laughed, or rather
glggled, during the most serious parts OF the
ceremony; sent messages from one to the
other and amused themselves with con-