New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-27
The rrosy sisterg.


Much interest has been excited by the depar-
ture from Paris Of sacred band of the hoIv
sisters Of st. Vincent dc Paul, to ioir the troors
in the east. Among them were one or two &c
those ladies Of the late court II Lonis Philippe.
who in 1878 resolved to enter the order an VIC
Tins Of atonement for the blood shed at the
Barriere de Fontaiableau. One Of these ladies.
Mile. de R, is still young and beautiful,
and many among the idle crowd assembled To
witness the departure Of the little troop, could
remember when she shoHe among the gayest
and most brilliant Of her fathers guests, very
star Of grace and elegance, admired and courted
by the whole world Of fashion-- holding influence
over the circle in which she moved by the power
OF her wit, as she now does BY her holy exam
PIE. Il IS sad that, with prophetic eye, she had
beheld for some time the approach Of The great
catastrophe which swallowed up court and dy-
nasty in one hopeless ruin. The exertions of
M lie. de R, now become Seur Ste Bethilde.
have been mostly directed to the Improvement
Of the moral state Of convicts, and there is
scarcely case in which her influence has failed
Oh success In seclalming the most hardened cul-
prlt committed to her charge. The very dress
she wore--the woolen hood aud serge petticoat,
When sne started on her errand Of mercy--was
woven BY Pamard, the great house breaker,
condemned to death in 1850 for the murder of
an innkeeper at Griel, near Poissy and whose
sentence Was commuted to hard labor for life.
There was no priest, No almoner, whose exhorta-
tIons had any effect upon Pamard Hehad read
Diderot and Voltaire until he had been inspired
alike with contempt for this world and that
which is to come. lie had no fear Of death. and
heard his sentence without the slightest emotion.
He greeted the gentle sister with sneering
courtesy worse than open hostility, and to her
hrst appeal be answered firmly, g 1t is vain to
speak to ne in name deny-there is no Godr,
Nay, you cannot believe this, exclaimed the
sister, with a sudden inspiration, s. for you,
crlmnal and murderer, are here in this wretehed
cell condemned to die, and / am here kneeling
beside you ]" She sank upon her knees, and
eiasped her hands as she looked upwards into
ms face. The light sheue upon her eountenance,
which Pamard has since declared seemed that
OF an angel sent from Heaven He hid his face
for moment, and as he felt the soft pressure Of
her hand upon his brow, tears such az he had
| never shed before came trieklng down his hard
and furrowed cheeks. Her gentle voice and soft
persuasion destroyed in one night the arguments
and doubts long LIES study of philosophers
had Implanted in his mind, and the morning
light shone IN upon repentant sinner prepared
to die, and hoping for mercy at the hands Of his
Creator. The reprfeve obtained, in the mean
time, gave the sister time to pursue and COM
plete her work Pamard was sent to Brest,
where he has since remained, and where, by his
history and example, he is said to have done
more good than the band of missionary priests
sent thither by the Seminaire of st. Nichols.
lie has written the story of his conversion. IT
IS one of the most noble records of the power Of
| Christianity. Those acquainted with the history
felt no surprise at the burst of enthusiasm with
| which Soeur Ste. Bethilde was greeted as she
| stepped upon the platform of the railway when
| starting from Marseilles''