Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-17

the town. we FIRST directed our attention to the
Monastery. This is an extensive line OF DITCH
buildings, not immediately in the midst o' me
population, nor vet out of it. Ii is however SUI
fcientlv secluded for all reasonable purposes
Its situation is said to be heal and Its resu'
lations ertainly are. A chapel, with splre' Is
attached and above that. upon the top of the rIs-
ing-gr0und which it covers, is the female Semina'
nv, which is connected with the Nunnery. and
forms the most interesting feature Of the insutu-
ton.
Having very shrewdy provided ourselves with
a little note from lady patron to Sister Scoas-
tica. commenting us,as companions OF the ladies'.
aud two strange gentlemen" to her nohce,we
drew up just under the west wall. and ordered
our coachman to deliver our credentials. and AS
certain if We could have a,mi'tance He accord
ingly applied at pos,ern. and after some i'iay.
we were directed TO the door OF the monastery,
higher up. Here, on double rap. pale. qu'et
sister. in her black robe. appeared, and directed
US further to the door of the Seminary. saw.
at once, there was to he no entrance for us into
the sanci,r sanc,orum. The sisrerhood was
shrewd. and on The alert. l had thought our
cloaks, and general sobrrness OF demeanor, might
have worked our way for US. But we couldn't
play the priest on them-tkough our faces were
quite in our favor-B. having the tooth-ache. and
having been recently bled. We were now in
vited into the parlcr; and in few minutes one
of the sisters Of the Visitation entered and in
formed US that we could 90 through the school
deDsrtment | observed, her. ~hc was dressed
in black robe and hood of coarse cloth. This
covered her head, and fell into two fnlds. behind.
A white muslin cap peeped from under this head
gear, and passed under the chin-and smooth
white 'kerclief extended from the throat, and
spread tight over the bosom. The robe was "a
thered slightly at the waist, and a cincture grid
ed it, A silver crucifix, containing ic,hung
over the breast, with its usual accompanlmenis
of beads The dress partook nothing Of the
worlds fashion in point of amplitude or length;
hence the foot was left entirely to fancy. But
will warrant ducat that it was handsome and
small-for the little body which it supported
seemed rather to glide about than any thing else.
and conld hardly hear patter as she went
along the corridors and dormitories. The coun.
tenance was meek. intelligent and beautiful; and
the voce-fur really talked with her as we
s;rolled along-as always do-was pretty and
musical, Her eye, too-but let us 20 on with
the story. We followed sister Agnes through
the first and second class rooms. Order was evil
dent, every where. Ii was play ,ime-and ne.
yer did hear more jocund and ringing laughter
than broke upon US as we approached the great
Hall of exercise. where near hundred young
and healthy girls were teaming round to the mu.
sic of their hearts! 1t was beautiful sight
they all seemed happy-fuIl of overpowerlng
fun, and evidently incined to expend some OF II
in kind of honest but laughter-'oving scrutiny
of our cIoaks and fgures-they being something
new, tits probable. to these secluded eyes we
went on. in procession Sister Agnes leading the
xay. and Sister Ursuia-ratircr forbIddlng la
DIV, somewhat IN the vale of years. bringing up
the rear. Two stories are occupied as the sleep
ing apartments. The beds are arranged III long
halls-w,h thin white curtains round them all.
The air Of comfort. neatness, and proprlety, Is
indescribabe. As to cleanliness. never saw 1t
in such perfection as is maintained all over the
convent. These dormitories. in particular. struck
me as purity itself The beds were IN ali'ap.
prov cable order and wilderness. liked the out
side of all | saw.and by this same unaccountable
spirit of investigation which | aiways have in
these things. was curious to see whether the IN.
terror correspondent. 1t was therefore the most
natural thips in the world Just to turn down the
pillow of one of these little nests. The prim cap
and nisht-dress laid So quietly and prettiIythere
that was convinced all was right and fine enough
70, the most f,stld Gus Indeed il was enough to
make one grow sleepy to see I" the means aud
appliances" of sIumber so capital'y arranged
Our gentle sister led US into separate build
ing. called the Odeon, appropriated to instruction
IN music and to lectures an natural science.
understood that one Of the priests excelled as
lecturer b. that as 1t may. he has all the ad-
vantases of a superior apparatus never saw.
at anv of our colleges or universities more com
plete or beautiful one. 1t is kept in most adm-
rable order. and does honor to the establishment
A splendid piano occupies portion Of this fine
and airy room, aud number OF paintings hang
upon the walls One struck me as very impOs.
inc and we'll executed. 1t was the interview be.
tv> en- our savous and the sisters Mary and Mar
tha The arm of Mary. and the countenance,are
extremely beautiful II is an able painting. 1t
was done by female French artist named Con-
stance Blanchard, and presented to the g Sisters
of the Visitation" by Charles X
This concluded our perambulations in this de-
partment. But wanted all could get.
wanted to see more Of this matter. In short
wanted to see the convent. was already car