Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-08-25
A Horrible Story,

cloister since 1913, and begging that justice
might be done to her The name of the
nun is Barbara Abryk. She was born in
melite nuns in 1S4l, whether as nun or as
an extern is not yet iudieially ascertained,
and in lS4S was confined in the cell where
she was found The nunnery where she was
| immured lies IN one of the prettiest fau-
| bourgs of Cracow, near the Botanical Gar
dens, a favorite resort of the citizens. Little
did they fancy that within these cloisters a
scene was being enacted which, if described
| by one of our sensational romance writer's,
we should regard as the offspring of dis
eased fancy, but which here was a frightful
reality.
| The magistracy, being informed, immedi-
ately took active steps to ascertain the truth.
| Whether they were bound to apply to the
Bishop to aid them do not know Under
the Concordat they would, but | think
| scarcely now. However, they thought it
best to have his aid. which was granted,
while at the same time he suggested that it
might prove mystihcation. With DR.. Geb-
hardt, the representative of the magistracy,
he sent also reverend prelate, DR.. Spital.
! On arriving at the clofster they had some
! difficulty in obtaining an entrance, but this
was overcome by the presence of the prelate
and the sanction of the Bishop to their ad-
mission. When the magistrate informed
| the sister who received them that he had
| ,,,l r,,I h.
| Barbara Abryk, she shrunk back, and re-
| piled that it was not possible. She would
then have hastily retired with another sister
but was prevented, DIR. Gebhardt, the mag
istrate, ordering her in the name of the law,
not to move. Accompanied then by the
nuns, the commissioners ascended to the
Upper corridor, where between the dining
room and the cloaca they were shown the
cell of the nun, with its strongly fastened
double door. On entering the cell, a spec
tace met them scarcely to be described, and
yet it ought to be told, for it shows what
fearful wrongs may he perpetrated if indi-
viduals are handed over to the tender mer
| cies OF Concordats, and to arbitrary, irre-
feet in length by six feet in breadth. The
window was walled up, aad only through
narrow chink ray of sunlight could pene >
tra'c. There were 10 tables nor chairs. and
no stove to furnish heat i'll the inclement
winter. The stencil of the cell was hardly
supportable. In corner, lying on rotten,
stiuking straw, lay the poor crouching crea
turc, 'hsB Neasch hall T1.ier. halt huma
half brute, half savage, half mad, utterly
naked, her body filthy, for she had not
been washed for gears. Her lean bones
hanging loose, her checks sunkent her hair
disheteiled and dirty-a fearful! being, whom
even Dante, with his amazing imaginative
force, coui1 not have portrayed. This poor
skeleton of woman at the sight of her Wis
itors shook herself up, and, folding her
hands and bitterly weeping. said, Il am
hungry, have pity on me, give me food and
| will be obeiient." The magistrate imme
diately sent for the Bishop, who, to do him
justice, showed as strong indignation as any
other Let the name OF Bishop Gueleski
be honored for it. He called the abbess. the
nuns, and the father confessor into his pres
ence, and reproached them with the utmost
severity for their inhuman conduct. The
wretched abbess he commanded 10 conduct
tie nun Barbara into another cell to be-
clothed and cared for As the poor nun re-
tired she asked if she was to be led back
to her grave" The abbess seemed quite
unwilling to obey the ecclesiastical order
She evidently thought that in sparing the
nunnery a scandal she had done work pleas
ing TO God The father confcssOr of the
cloister ventured to say that the immuring
of the nun had been known 10y the Church
authorities, which both the Bishop and the
prelate indignantly denied as an utter false
hood and the former suspended both him
and the abbess at once from their Offices. The
nuns tried in their turn to excus themselves,
but with as little success. Is this, he
said, your love of your neighbor? Will
you reach heaven in this way, you furies not
women ?" And when they attempted to
answer-''Be silent, he thundered out, ''go
out of my sight, you who have scandalized
religion Away with YOU The poor nun
was asked why she had been immured. She
answered, Il have broken the VOW of puri-
ty;" but then added with fearful gesture
and wild spring, These nuns also are not
pure; they are no angels. Then she sprang
on the confessor, crying, Thou beast The
following day the nun was visited by the
medical authorities In their opinion she is
rather bewildered. become wild and savage,
rather than deranged, and they hold out
hopes of her recovery. As to her confession
of misconduct, it still remains to be seen
whether this be not delusion of the brain.
The abbess does not seem to have accused
her of anything but madness, if we can, in
deed, count that an accusation.
Barbara, the nan, has since been taken to
an ASYLUM for the insane, and she seemed
little revived by the fresh air, but she trem-
bled on entering the institution, and finding
chat she was to be under the care of the
Gray Sisterhood.
Several hundred of the citizens attempted
to seize and destroy the nunnery and expel
the nuns. Military force alone prevented
the accomplishment Of their purpose. They
,{taruards attackad n .Tesuit institution