Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-09-22
Srlcettoyy0.
From The .7msriean Rtpiew.
INTERVIEW WITH A MONK,
4 TRVI WORK OF AN'


a.. Than has probably ever been IN this country. Il s
Chfst On the Cross hit Of snp piece uf ivu-
~ by Cenoese monk The circumstances ,,endinQ It's
execution and disposal and the character of Tho Old
monk by whom II wss worked. are VI singular in.e
Passing one evening the old convent Of ST. Mich.
oas, which stands on the semiccula hill III al sweeps
around BACK vi 1enoa-an immense picturesque building
al one tine used for barracks by Napoleon. ha III
ruins and tenanied by few old munks--Mr l.. wan
dering through tho long, dilapdaed cortido,s saw,
through aeeli-door partly sjar. unususy large ivory
figure, lying on a table. unfinished. RsppnR on the
eh's''y Intel hollow step came. aud the door was
shut IN his face. Mr.. l.. requested entrance A husky
fam, voice refused him. "'rhe cell was saced;" aud
rusty bolt grated 10 fnsh the reply. Mn NJ "wanred
10 sea the holy image he was working" "The Divine
Christ did not permit him TO show his crucfed body"
Mr.. l., "wshed To talk rcligluusly With his Father"
Inc monk had mo desire 10 speak Of these things with
a stranger" After much Jther ascec conversation
Mr. L., finally declaring himself an American depu,ed
10 visit all the holy Catholic convtns the door WAS a,
length cautiously opened. long aud singular couver.
sai,on ensued. HE monk Of those strange in
leectua beings, peculiar for centuries 10 the Catholic
chuTch-a true asceIlc gloomy souled. thoughtful en-.
lhusast worthy ol tho times of the Crusaders. His
account OF the origin and progress o his sacred work
extraordinary aud entirely IN keeping with such
character.
There had been in garrett store house in Ga.
noa Tor years, centuries erhapslonaer nj least than
any me had remembered OF heardan block of
ivory, o strange sppeara nee. IL Two or three
times as large as any piece that had been be-,
Ing in seamless solid beam over three fee, ohu i,ur
teen inches IN diameter aud weighing more than one
hundred aud twenty five pounds. All the an,iquarans
In Italy who have looked al il. have pronounced II res
lie Of the anteduvian world. modern piece Of ivory
being al all 10 be compared with il either Ia size or ap-
pearsnce II was supposed To have been brought from
the East IN some Genose vessel. when that Sale was
famed Tor her maritime enterprise. and had ships IN sl
paris OF the world. Ii might. indet d, have come um
| n has haap
means there places fragments Of
tusks Iossilized which must have b-unsed some an
tedluvan pre- Adamlc ut animals that produced
lv"ry; aud, What is more to the point, well au hen
Gated that there discovered many years nr IN the
north OF Europe mbedded in century accumulated ice
and thus preserved IRON decay, the flesh skin
and harlan individual Of some extinct genus very
much larger Than any modern kind Of elephant.
Twas looked upon. however. NJ worthless. except as
a curiosity OF unknown oTgin-the Whole exterior be-
ing thoroughly dscolofcd and decumposd and the de
cay apparently reaching 10 the centre Fr IN some IN.
dicatons The monk is induced suppose ,hc, Use lie
ieels himself moved by sacred impulse. Heaven
has prov lded-marveously- a substance for m image
OF the divine Chiisl-t must indeed be- n.Je by e.
ceedng skill aud toll, such was never 81, A.
But hn" blessed shall he be no shah :, a,uh,
With hurried eagerness, the austere enthusiast
the heavy fragments The hill. 10 his ruined be-
yond the ciiyas he who was 10 be imaged forth from
tue shapeless mass assembled his hill Of suffering
it'll the burden OF his lie shut himself up IN his
celi-away even lIom The inquiries vi his fellow monks
and begun his labor.
il was necessary first 10 remove the decayed portions.
The outside found 10 be Ola duh grey, and porous
the paris next 10 this were densef 9nd Of dark notified
brown; then deepened into subslan,' black ebony,
and nearly as hard as glass; beyond tins there was near
an inch Thick almost as hard, but of a cum - yell
low. Having with great labor all this away-macf
o II being almost nperylous 10 instruments Of stcel-a
sod mass otivory was reached Of pure cream color.
entirely unchanged BY The action ofcenures. measuring
about 50 Inches In length aud inches IN diameter and
weighing about 50 pounds.
From this substance, whch could with difficulty bs
cut, but slowly echei and scaped away the crucfoI
GhrIs was to he wrought The account which the
monk OF 81. Nicholas gave OF his long labor up To tho
tine Mr.. L. entered his nnireqaened colster wa, sim.
pie and affecting. tie knew nothing, by practice Of the
shaping OF images; he had wrought upon piece
OF ivory in his life. But he thought the dear Lord aud
gracious Mory Mother would aid him in SO holy Labor
He ,ud BIZ Inspired 10 make divine work And
suddenly, he SAID the inspiration came-hke a thought
A piSiOn sprung up thin him-the did not know Ina,
thus the ideal always arises IN genus!) lie saw God
ON the Cross-dead. Il never could pass away from
land he knew II was sent 10 hun for the holy i'm
age he must make. Always. therefore, day aud night
he prayed before lha; cructtd his SOUL while
he began confidently give iorm, from the ri
ol ivory, that lay constantly beioe him II became 10
him work Of devotion and sublime hope. II he could
but make superior 10 any other such representa- ton IN
The world Mary, and the son Of Mary and the sacred
Angels would, perhaps, give him higher place among
the Blessed!-And II was with him work of penancs
Often, he said, his thoughts wandered away from the
divine image, Into the world-Then he wuud bow him
Sell before the form TIC shaping, with signs and ars
and his penance was. 10 continue his prayers and his
slow labor-without food drink or seep-f,r 20 ard
80 hours al once, deep through the night iii day.
break looked his cell On such occasions he "a w.
sometimes. miraculous gry euclrcing tho head the
figure while he worked upon ![a natural effect Of his
solitary lamp upon vision fevcred by intense strains
ing2
| With such patient and severe enthu.s sm--ascelc in
spiraon familiar 10 tue days Of Loyoa and Peter the
Hermit. and st found sometimes In the followers of
The Catholic Chnrch-lhe Monk Of ST. Nicholas had
been now nea four years engaged upon this Of
Christ, when Mr.. l.. visited hun. He wss very much
worn with his constant toll. and what was more, the
restless excitement Of naturally vivid mind; but the
high pale forehead and the eyes glowing and thought
ful, though deeply sunken, spoke the intellectual
capacities Of the matt The wuik was 80 far COMPLETED
as lu show at glance It's remarkable character. Mr. L.
! inquired what he intended 10 do with it. He seen~d
ohy anxious To have placed in come church. where II
might long be looked upon and reveenced by devou
pie, himself receiving little remuneration for four rs
| labor Mr.. l.. Immediately offered him five six times
much the poor monk had dreamed Of receiving ad
ding. that should be carried 10 America and placed
where should be preserved and receive great
ton. Alter much hesltaon, he accepted the offer, and
Mr. l.. babe hun carry the statue at TO the
late residence. where he. frequently, for six months
| longer, to give il the last ouchts
Certainly, the figure, as it exists, Is ex,raor>
dinsry work-equaly in conception and execution The
ideal seems 10 have been the Saviour The muncnt af
ter DEATH but before the agonzsd expression mad left the
divine orm-an ideal We do not remember 40 have