Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-23
IMITATION OF A NOVICE.

INITIATION OF A NOVICE.
A most interesting ceremony look pacs last week at
the Ursu'ns Convent in Columbia S. @. This was the
reception of a young lady into the community
The Odroliian of Sunday, gives the following partcu-
lars:
The sisters of this institution are bound by their
VOWS 10 chastity poverty and obedience. candidate
for membership after being admitted into the convent
passes years LoVice, at tbs ind OF which time
it is at her option 30 return TO the world TO
the fnal vow which binds her for life
The young lady above mentioned was 50 Fennel,
formerly of Pensacola. She 10 enter upon her no
VtAte
The ceremony began with the entrance into the
chapel OF youthful candidate and the Mother SUPERIOR
accompanied by procession Of nuns, who walked in
double ile with lighted tapers in their hands. The
latter separating on either side left the young lady
with her superior before the bishop.
The appearance OF Miss Fennel st this nom Mt was
interesting indeed. Size dressed BRIDE in white
Italian silk, with orange flowers 10 her hair She
also anens of rubes set IN pearl The costume had
beautiful significance
After few questions as TO whether she entered The
convent OF her own free will the Bishop, in a quiet
di course proceeded to explain the and objects
Of the community. This concluded tie candidate was
led rom tie chap by the Mother Superior, and in
very short while was conductedback having in her
brtfabseDce Exchanged her bridal robes for bab of
the order Then folio Hed the presentation OF the rosary
of beads aud the most touching Ceremony of all. Pros
tIai1g herself upon the floor, the young maiden was
covered with black pail, applying her death to the
world. On her body, as she lay thus, flowers were
stIeWn upon corpse by several little grls srrayed
in white, who stood near.
During the ceremony, some beautiful hymns were
sung by choir Of the youthful pupils of the institution.
The whole proceedings full of solennity aud pa
thts.
TuE petaoNa on TUE TaIrRD racarfIv
returned prisoner furnishes the Atlanta Confedefacy
with the following brief account Of the prisons Of the
United States:
Fort BcHenry is situate on peninsula in Baltimore
city hab exposed 10 the bleak Winds that boW from
the Chesapeake Bay Isisvery uncomfortable in every
Eay. The officers are qulrtered in toll rabie goo1
buildings, but the Irvates Of our army suffer terribly
There s generally three four hundred of our
men here is, however, but a depot for Johnson's
Island and Point Lookout and they are no. allowed TO
accumulate. Here, however, some eighty 'geons,
af. at Gettysburg by Gen. Lse, confined for five
moths in the hay loft Of a stable. .
Point Lookout is in the Chesapeake Bay, jlst where
the Potomac river empti into that stream. The q1ar
here safeguards against cold and tempest, but
the her accomm0datons are scant and meagre The
TO is bad, but this is not the fault of the U.ited
States Govefnmentt the fault Of the sergeants H.
They speculate upon the raticns TIE small pox bad
appeared here, and there quite number OF
DAVIS Island New York, was the very place for
our wounded Tee Samaritans of New York, obtaining
provisions, furnished with food clothing and
money in great proiusion. 1t is singular fact that the
further man goes North the better he s treated. IL
is explained however, in the fact that what is criminal
in lady OF Baltimore is simply act OF charity in
lady oil New York. Our at Davis Island, can
sure their friends treated kindly if they
at home.
Johnsons Island has already been fully described by
other Wrers IL is situate 10 Sandusky Bay, and is
used exclusively for our officers. They make them.
selves comfortable and happy possible They have
their dramatic societies, etc. number of officers are,
however, in ball and chain aud many have their
heads sentences OF death and endless Imprisonment The
quarters are ortable and the friends Ct those
in ptson there need not fear the dreadful results shown
in President Davis message There is no danger ofany
one suffering with the cold.
West Hospital Buildings Baltimore City, is in The
Union block, and is the worst place Confederate
could be carried. He if wounded is shown to a CON-
Portable bed, but at its head s picture of Mcclellan
whipping L before Richmond, and over him hangs
the COMPOUNDED Stars and Stripes Hail Coumbia is
his breakfast and Yankee Doodle sounds in his the
balance of the day Everything is mont loyal The very
bricks he treads upon red white and blue and the
whole concern is presided b. the piniois of the
American Eagle. This nonsense may be uasppreciated
by those who have not been there will leave tho Q
who have been there to explain DR.. Rex the surgeon
in charge while l there, was a strict oiiceIAe
obeyed to the etter the order of his ter, Schenck
The Confederate government has cutlawed Butler, pro-
nouncing him unfit to be on EARTH Those who have
been under him, pronounce ScheDck to be unf, for
hell.
Besides these above named, there are numerou,
prisons in which prisoners coofned. The bas
tile Fort Warren the chateau DIFF Fort Lafay cite the
castle d'Vncennes, Baltimore jail, all of which filed
with Confederate soldiers aud sympa hiSs.s.
You have not seen into any o these PRISONS but you
have seen our prson Libby" at Richmond. It is a
palace alongside Of any that have mentioned and after
five months spent in the prisons Of the North visit
to Libby said Oh that my lot was cast in such pleas
ant places"