Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-10

PeriIous Descent of an Unrepentant Mag
daIen-.-A Rag Ladder and Convent
Wall.
The daylight of yesterday morning, as It
broke over the dim religious walls OF the old
convent of the Good Shepherd on Eighth
street, revealed most irreverent appendage
dangling from one of its third-story windows
altogether out of keeping with the tone OF
the place and Its surroundings. The ap-
pendage in question proved to be success.
sion of strips of unbleached domestic, lhat
had on the day before seen service as sheel
on one of the little beds In the dormitory
from which third story window looked out,
and this bed had belonged to arecent Inmate
of the convent.
The recent inmate of the convent turned
out to have been q young woman known
here as Hattie ellison, for some time one OF
the occupants of the bagnio kept by Florence
Williams, on Hancock street, and the bed In
the dormitory was empty. Hattie had es-
capped on the rag ladder during the night
She had been in the convent only ABOUT
twelve days, and had gone there In compa-
ny with Florence Williams, the propretress
OF the Hancock street bagnio, the two hav-
ing, perhaps, some vague notions oil repent
ance, although Florence is reported to nave
been little tlpsy at the time Of their admit
tance.
Hattie was Giles county, Tennessee girl;
had come to this city from Nashville, and
had seen considerable of life but had never
seen life in n convent. She was, therefore,
little curious to sec what was, to her, a
new phase of tile fleeting show, and together
with Florence, she began her career IN her
new quarters. Neither of them had re-
mained long before they were seized with q
longing for liberty and the pursuit OF happl-
ness out In the world, and Hattie was soon
begging TO be released. The Mother supe'
rior, II is alleged, turned deal car TO all en-
treaties on this point, and Hattie, seeing nc
hone In that quarter, resolved 10 attempt all
escape. She at first thought of setting hre tc
the dormitory and escaping in the confusion
that would follow, but afterward bit upor
another plan. Reiling at O'Clock Tues
day night, she took with her to bed pail
Of scissors, and at once set to work 70 Gu
the sheets into strips. Working silently fol
several hours, with the quilt drawn over he
head, she succeeded IN cutting up the whol'
sheet and tying the strips together, formini
q string long enough TO reach the grounI
from one of the windows. AT about oclocl
in the morning, when she believed all th
occupants of the dormitory TO be SCUM
asleep, she stole TO the window, bareheade'
and barelooted, fastened one end OF the min
iature rope securely inside, and casting
forth, crawled stealthily out of the apar
strips, she began letting herself down, nc
weight proving too much for the strength
her arms, her descent became fearfully raj
i'd, but, cliuging TO her lrail support, sf
reached the ground in safety, though wit
bleeding fingers and almost breathless III
high wall inclosing the convent was now
her way, but by means of friendly crap
vine she cambered over this, and thel
mounting lumber pile, scaled the out
wall and gained the street.
Not knowing which way 10 turn, and pr
seniing mucl the appearance OF an escap'
lunatic, she chanced TO encounter two mt
whom she knew, and who directed her
her former home on Hancock street,
which she fled precipitately, arriving safe
in q very short time at her old quarters.
The attempt was certainly most dail
one, and could hardly have been execute
by any hut q reckless, determined woma
Miss ellison, it is said, declared she wou
rather have broken her neck than 10 ha
been compelled 10 return TO her convent Il
the rules and observances OF that institute
seriously conflicting with her ideas Of cart
" felicity and successful reform.