Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-08-24
A Nun Locked in Cell 81 Years.

or two ago relative to an attack by a
mob on the Carmelite Convent at Cra-
COW in Austrian Poland, On account of
the cruel treatment of one of the nuns,
who has just been released after con-
finement in a cell lor twenty-one
years. The circumstances attending
the case appear to have excited great
public horror and Indignation, and
are thus stated by Vienna cores
pondent Of the London Times:
"While passing in the neighborhood
Of Cracow on Friday last, I heard
that the whole town was in ferment,
owing to the following shocking story
that was just coming to light, and to
which further particulars are now ad-
ded; the papers have since been full
oft.
A few days ago, an anonymous let
ter, apparently written by a woman's
hand, reached the Court of Correc.
tion, stating that in the Carmelite
Convent a nun named Barbara Alb
ryk had been kept for years walled
up in a dark cell. Accordingly the
Vice President Of the Court placed
the information in the hands of an Of
ficer, who went to the Bishop and re-
quested an admission to the convent.
The Bishop represented that it was
sure to Ee all an invention, but that
since the Court pressed it he would
allow it, and thereupon handed over
the officer to priest.
The officer came to the door with
the commission, knocked, and was an
swered by FORTRESS, to whom he said
he had come there to see and speak to
the nun Barbara. The FORTRESS drew
her breath with astonishment, fell
back step or two, and said it was
impossible; but while she was turning
herself about to 90 away, the officer
put his hands On her and forbade her,
in the name of the law, to stir from
the spot. The party then entered
and was shown through long corri-
dor to the room Of Sister Barbara.
1t was a cell #. by #. in size, next
the sink; the window had been walled
up, and a narrow chink furnished the
only aperture through which, now and
then, ray OF light fell upon that
gloomy prison. [ 60 on in the words
OF Vienna paper:
In dark, sinking hole, On a heap
Of straw, sat, or rather cowed, max
ed, wild-grown, half-witted woman,
who, at the usual appearance of light
and human beings, dropped and i'm.
plored piteously, 81 am hungry; pity
me, give me meat; | will be obedi-
ent." This dungeon, with its little
, straw and much filth, and dish of
moldy potatoes, without fire, bed, Ia
bic, or even chair, which no sun-streak
cheered or fre-blaze ever warmed,
bad the inhuman Sisters" chosen as
the dwelling place Of their should-be
companion there had they imprisoned
her year after year since 184S. For
21 years did those dreadful Sisters
d. pass that cell, and to none of them
, had it ever entered to take compass.
: sion on their poor victim. And now,
half human, half beast, with her body
covered with dirt, with her legs
shrunk and withered, with her head
: squalid, diseased, year upon year long
unwashed, terrible being revealed
herself, such as Dante himself, with
| all his powers, could not have de.
picted or imagined. So kneeled there
that woful victim in the Convent of
: the Carmeites.'
The officer Immediately ordered a
chemise to be given the wretched crea.
ture, and himself went to fetch the
Bishop. At the sight of the poor suf.
ferer the Bishop was deeply moved,
called the nuns together, and re-
preaching them violently for their in
human treatment, said, as this your
sisterly love? Is this the way you
think to come to heaven? Furies, not
. women" And when they would have
excused themselves, "Silence, misera-
, bic ones you who disgrace religion,
away from my sight"
He suspended them, and then the
Confessor and the Lady Superior
talked of breaking up the nunnery,
and sent Barbara to be clothed and
fed. While she was being led away,
) she asked, anxiously: Wont they
take me back again to my grave ?"
and inquired why she was shut up
there. Il have broken my vows, but
these, these" darting wildly round,
and glaring furiously on the Sisters,
} "are no angels Then, springing at
} the Confessor she shrieked, "You
beast p
On examination the Lady Superior
! said she had shut up Barbara on the
. doctors .comucudajion IN lo4S.-
. The pr.scut doctor, VINO has held
the position seven years, stated that
he had never even seen Barbara once.
) In the evening the poor creature
, became wilder, and it was settled to
move her next day to the mad-house.
On Friday, therefore, the 23d. the
Commission came again to take her
away. On seeing the sunlight and
, grass Of the Convent garden she con-
) vulsed with extreme joy, and when
, one of the Sisters who accompanied
her to the gate ran out, when the 9th
ers turned back, embraced and kissed
her, she was so touched with the
strange sympathy that she implored
the author of it to come away with
, her and incessantly called for her Of
, forwards on the road. The fresh air
was too much for her. and during the
journey she tainted.
t In her new home Sister Barbara
, was provided with everything COM
i. Portable; but at first she kept fire.
quently rising from her bed to lie on
' the bare floor, as she had been used.