Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-16
Anecdotes OF ROMAN NUNNERuEs.

i"S H'S seat was warmly cHeeTeu.
Anecdotes OF ROMAN NUNNERIES.
"A recent lady traveller in Italy has ia
vored us with some curious and interest
ing anecdotes relative TO the nunneries of
Rome. Speaking of the Convent of St.
Sylvestra, our informant says: "The
history of one of the former nuns Of this
convent, as related TO me by one OF the
sisters is quite romance, and in its mos,
common place style. Her name was
Sa>so Ferra,o. She was left an orphan
and an heire<s in infancy, and placed by
her uncle. her sole guardian, here, with
the intention of inducing her 10 take The
veil that her fortune might descend TO him
and to his family. 1t happened, however,
that at one Of the grand professions Of the
Virgin, which the nuns were assembled TO
behold, the young Sas>o Ferra,o saw, and
was seen by the captain Of the GUARDS
stationed at the convent-a younger son
OF the Guistiniam family, and brother of
one Of her youthful companions in the
convent. His visits 10 his sister became
very frequent, and Sasso Ferrato gener.
ally con'rived 10 accompany her friend on
these occasions. They became desperate
ly in love; bnt the cruel uncle refused his
consent, and by arts which inundated the
young and inexperienced mind Of Sas-
SO Ferraio, by powerful in,eres. which
rendered the complaints of her lover vain,
and by his authority as the representatives
of her parents, lie succeeded in obliging
her TO take the veil. She only lived two
years afterwards. Her lover became q
maniac, and after being confined for some
time continued, during the remaining
years Of his life, to roam about the ne sh-
borhood of the ci'y-his hair and beard
growing wild, bis dress neglected, ard his
manners gloomy and ierocious, though
harmless in his actions.
"a still more horrible catastrophe er-
sned at a convent in the north of Italy,
An unfortunate girl, whose father was re-
solved to compel her TO take the veil, con-
,rary to her inclination, persisted for a
, long time in her refusal, but was treated
with such. dreadful brutality Al home tia!
at length she consented; but no sooner had
she pronounced her VOWS than she re.
! quested private interview with her faith
! or al the CRATE of the convent, and when
left alone with him, killed herself before
his eyes, cursing him with her latest
, breath.
IL am informed that young nuns often fall
in love with Young friars, but that the at
tachnent is perfectly Platonic. Indeed
so strict are nOw the rules of female mon
astic life, tha, believe that it must nee
essarily be so. But Love il is well known
will break through bolts, and bars, and
CRATES, and conven, walls /; and Love once
inspired nun with the project Of getting
out of her convent through common sew
er-which however uns'vory path, she
frequently practised after night had COW
cred the world with her sable Morpheus.
Her nuns dress was deposited in her
chamber, end the exterior dirty garment
with which she passed through the sewer
was exchanged for one her lover wrapped
her in at its mouth. She used to walk
with him for hours, but always returned
TO her convent before dawn.
"One evening, however, on returning
from her romantic ramble by moonlight
what was her horror 10 find the sewer, the
well known passage completely choked
up with water, aud all entrance impracli-
cable. Discovery would bring certain
destruction on herself and her lover
Their lives would be the forfeit, or sol
itary dungeon their mildest doom. Con-
cealment was impracticable for who
would harbor them? Flight impossible;
for withou, the passports the gates Of the
city would be closed against them and
could they scale the walls, no other would
be open 10 them. In this situation her
courage and presence OF mind saved them
both. She wen, dressed in her lovers
clothes, to the house of Cardinal Vicaro,
who was an old friend of her father, dis
turbed the family; had the cardinal reused
out Of bed on the plea of the most urgent
and important business; obtained aprivate
audience threw herself q, his feet and
confessed all.
$50 earnestly did she implore him TO
save her and her family from the public
disgrace Of an exposure, that, melted by
her tears, he followe ed the plan she suggest
ed ordered his carriage, took her and one
confidential chaplain on whose fidelity he
could rely, drove to the convent, rang up
the por,eress, and pretending he had re-
ceived Information of man having enter
ed, and being concealed in it, demanded
instant admittance 10 search it, which in
virtue of his office could not be refused at
any hour. lie ordered the terrified sis
ters to remain in their rooms, and having
dropped the distinguished nun in hers,
proceeded in his mock examination till
l l. l l-.,lf ,.,l LIZ