The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-24

MNSFEREES OF TIE CLOlSrER
A book ha, just been published in Florence,
entitled "The Mysteries Of tho Neapoltin
Cloister," which has produced considerable
excitement in every part Of Italy, and has
already passed through several editions A
correspondent Of the S,1nllra, wrillng from
Tuscany, gives some account Of this work,
and Of the state of monnstcism in Italy lie
says
"The book is from the pen of ex-Benedictine
Henrietta CaraccolO d FOrno, and bears a very
different character from what this somewhat SEN
satonal heading might lead US TO imagine.
Painted in lively but yeracious coors, and bearing
throughout the impress Of a terrible reality, the
memoirs of Henrietta CduCCiolo will mark an
era in the history OF public opinion in Italy upon
this momentous social question. ln an official
sense, mouastiCism has received its death
blow in Italy and the Parliament will soon
set its seal to the decree that prouounces the
suppression Of a state OF social bondage
which, in the three cities Of Rome. Nipples,
and Palermo alone, numbers no less than 10000
victims OF the two sexes, strangers 10 the past,
enemies of the present, and sterile to the future
Of their native land Tue system, have said,
has officially received its death blow the convent
no longer exists, or will speedily cease TO exist,
an institution recognized by the State, aud its
fanatic inmates will remain immured In their
living grave only for such time as their own
caprice may direct, or so long as their inelleCts
remain captive TO the deadenng influences of
custom and ofraditionj buta complete emancpa-
tion from the acCursed thraldom must be effected
from within rather than from without The mind
of Italy must be thoroughly awakened TO tho
mOnstrOus consequences of system by which
thousands of unsuspecting innocents of either sex
are annually subjected to every species Of bar
barity, coercion and moral torture, until tho fatal
yes wrung from their lips in an uuguarded
moment, closes the door on hope and cOnsigns
them forever to the moral death of the ClOister
The extraordinary success, however, obtained by
ba MNq NJ thn iran ia nua
among many other unequivocl signs that this
national reawakening is at hand"
This Neapoitan Princess was immured in the
convent of San Gregorlo ArmenO by her mother,
who was a widow, and found her daughter an
obstacle to her own matrimonial projects. The
tears of the poor girl, and the remonstrances OF
friends who offered to protect her, were unavail-
ing; and she was forced onward step by step until
return was beyond the bounds Of hope. She gives
a curious description of convent life: -
"a monastery contains all the vices Of a city
without its advantages or its virtues. BY resign
ing her flowing locks to the scissors, and by taxi
ing the VOWS of chastity, poverty, and obedience,
woman does not change her characters the
only difference being that amidst the moral stag
nation of the cloister her virtues remain without
legitimate exercise, while her frailties or her
vices are nourished and developed by the cOnti-
nual struggles of a soured aud rebelious spirit
at war with its cruel destiny" Accordingly we
are not surprised to learn that, when not engaged
in making pastry and comiits, or in the mechAni-
cal exercises of devotion, the inmates of the con
vent are perpetuany quarreling among them
selves, propagaing the scandals OF the little COM
munity, or plotting amOrOus intrigues with their
| father confessors. The Princess CaraCsiO.O
assures that "the fenzied passion of the nuns for
| priests and monks passes all belief and that the
| jeaou,ies and chickering's Of the convent mainly
| originate in the perpetual competition Of the
| young nuns to secure the monopoly of a young
| and captivating confessor."
| The ignorance and friYolity of the inmates OF
the convent; their sordid avarice, except where
it is question of their comforts; their inhu-
| manity, or utter indifference 10 suffering, aud
| their dishonest propensltles, are illustrated by
| multitude of instances. The author says
| "Under their rough gowns Of serge ihey wear
the finest linen; they sleep on three woOlen mat
| tresses, and on pillows stuffed with down and
| fringed with choice lace and although only the
stTictest necessares of cleanliness are allowed to
appear upon their toilet tables, their private cup
boards are filed with the most elegant knick-
nacks. They have no money upon their persons,
| but keep t under lock and key in q common
room, where each nun has her separate drawer.
| They have the pious use Of abstaining
| from fresh fruit on Fridays, replacing It
by a plentiful consumption OF preserves 1t
should be remembered that we are here
speaking of genteel monastery, inhabited tOrthe
most part by ladies of high lineage; in the case of
more pebeian institutions the preceding remarks
must, of course, be taken with some limitation.
For the rest all the Fictitious distinctions of the
outer world are rs jealously maintained in the
convent as in the drawing-room. The existence
of certain vices however, can be explained only
|
| all evil. Our author records the astOnish-
ment which she felt on being advised, in an
uudertone, by one Of her companions, not to
leave her box of sweetmeats in a certain
place. "as if she ever saw it again, IL would
be a miracle" One nan was robbed OF five
piastres another of crown and medal, an
other OF a bran-new gown, the author OF holy
water vase, and o. a tablecOth, which was alter
wards recovered with the initials half picked out
All the silver spoons of the coffee service dislp-
pesred one by one, and, to crown all, an image
ofthe Virgin was on one occasion despoied OF 9
quantity of precious ornaments, which the thiel
managed 10 get smuggled out Of the convent
The matter, however, was nOised abroad and
caused great scandal, but the missing objects
were never restored. One morning sum Of six
ducats was found 70 have been deposited, as {
conscience offering, upon the plundered altar
This, however, did not represent the value OF q
twentieth part Of the property distracted.
OF the cruelty of the nuns 10 their own sick
and suffering we have many sad instances, a
well as the tyranny exercised by the richer and
stronger over the weaker and poorer sisters. The
dead seem, according 20 the writer OF the 'Myste
ries" to be treated in the convent With as littlt
concern Rs are the defuuct members OF cOmmu
nifty of ants.
Hypochondria, commissions, and madness are
| of lame niable frequency among the inmates Of
| nunnsry and in the book are found some touch
! ing narratives Of the baneiul results OF so anti
social and unnatural a mode of existence.
The difficulties Of obtaining release from q con
| vent are powerfully illustrated in the history o
"After Continued entreaties and in spite Of thu
determined opposition of the Archbishop OF Ma
pies, wh0 systematically opened her letters anC
as far as possible thWarted her plans, she ebiainet
a Papal brief enabling her 70 enjoy short res
pite Of suffering under the form Of cOntinemen
! in a retreat called the Conserya.ori0 al COnstan
| tinOpOh She was, however afterwards put unde
arrest by the civil power, and conveyed by fore
! 10 the semimonastic retreat OF MondragonC
: where she was exposed TO new YeXations, unde
2 which her health ultimately gave way. a
: length, after several more years of conhnemen
4 she was released on the declaration of two ply
T sicians, that the continued observance Of th
monAstic rules might cost her her life Q
plunge her into state OF hopeless mental dC
D rangement But the precious boon OF lioert
8 was no. obtained without further annoyance
5 and difficulties, and the steps Of the eS
nun were eontinually dogged, and all he
. movements narrowly watched by the police
/, respecting which institution there are esome pal
{ tculars well deserving the attention OF all wh
! would form an adequate idea OF what Naples wa
) under the Bourbon management. But at th
$ name of Garibald the rotten fabric Of despotisI
q crumbed into dust, and Naples arose bright an
4 ! full Of hope amid the ruins Of the past. On tn
I ~ "a :. HIa -