Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-12-10


length, casting her arms around his neck
i''how thou hast sufFeredv' As she did 80
J the old great-coat fell back, and on his breas
: appeared the golden cross Of the legion o
honor. sANsmporser' cried she, as she saw
Iit, ~VoiLa Ia recompesse." He pressed be-
fondIy to his bosom. my recompense i
here" said he, "my recompense is here"
GEoRoErowN, d. C. Nov. %.
We witnessed on Monday morning last the
highly interesting ceremony Of taking the
white veil, by four young ladies, in the Con.
| vent Of Visitation in Georgetown.
| We confess that we embraced the rare op.
portunity afforded by the occasion, with
greatly interested feelings,i it being in many
respects different from the ceremony Of the
final remuneration of the world. on the taking
Of the black veil which we formerly witnessed
in the same place ard described in this jour-
nal. and in some respects more striking.
1t is impossible al this day, and in the pres
ent state Of the social relations Of society, not
to look upon this solemn rite, which is asso-
toric sanctity and 50 much of prescriptive
awe, without the deepest and most varied
emotions. Tho times are widely different
from the dark nd troubled era, wien the
ruthless law of State necessity, or the cruel
code Ut personal and family aggrandizement
50 often consigned the young female to the
relentless solitude Of the cioister, or when
the prevailing severity Of violence and blood
too frequently rendered the religious sanctua-
~ necessary and acceptable asylum for
Innocence and purity. To become a nun
to take the veil ARE terms Of mysterious
signi6cancy which have come down to u.s.
from such periods, and which on their recur-
renee now, when the feelings Of the heart
and the charities Of life are so bright and|
when impulse only can actuatel
design still crate upon the mind with even
more than the austeri;y and harshness Of
their long acceptation.
But not te prolOng thoughts Of natural sug-
gestion to all, let US proceed to the descrip-
ton.
The chapel Of the convent was opened at
six o'clock and from that hour the scene was
solemn and unworldlike. The small
and beautifully ornamented chapel, which the
affectionate piety Of the sisters has deorsted
with SO many evidences of female accom-
plishments and taste, with its dim religious
light just showing the undying lamp, like a,
star at twilight, which forever burns before
the rich ultar:-the solitude rendered more
by the low breathings Of the few
silent worshippers who were present, and the
silence heightened into deep solemnity by
the sweet and plaintive voices Of the unseen
whose unceasing chant filling The
sacred air, had at such time an effect sad
prepare the mind for this ceremony of touch
ing interest. Towards nine o'clock the cha p
el gradually fiIled-and when one Of the nuns
threw back the black curtain which shaded
the mysterious grating that separates the
from the chapel every eye was d.
rected to the spot. All the nuns were seen
to slowly enter, in long procession, and two
by two they knelt down along the whole
length Of the aisle; their hands folded on their
breasts and their heads bent towards the
ground in an attitude Of deep humility. Pres
emily the novices were led towards the CRATE,
the chanting ceased. and the organ, touch
ed by master-hand, filled the air with the
delicious tones Of the noble anthem '-Glor,a,
in excelcis." We gazed anxiousiy at the fair
young creatures who were now the al;-absor-i
bling objects Of the ceremony. They were
all young, in the first flush Of girlhoOd, and
The beauty and grace Of early youth, were
heightened by a dress Of bridal splcndor.-
Every charm Of form and features-and two
If them al least were exquisiteiy lovely-was
BY the incest arrangement Of the
rlch white dresses III which they were ar
rayed.
Each was covered with flowing veil Of
white, and side by side they knelt silently
Town before the grating. The anthem ceas-I
ID, when the Archbishop, in his gorgeous
advanced to the front Of the altar,
md shortly and eIoquently addressed the con-
,regation, and the young novices about to
inter on that awful probationsh,p. When
he discourse was finished. his grace best the
'ombre vestments, which was 50 soon to re-
lace the splendid dresses for the last time
low worn by the pro6cients. They then,
me by one. solemnly answered the interrog
tories OF the rite and repeated the vow
which severed them from the world, prepar-'
tory TO its final renunciation. After this. in
Ike manner, one by one, the bridal wells were
AIKEN OF and replaced BY the Archbishop
Nth the hood significant Of their new orofes-l