The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-26
Scholastic Exhibition at the Ursullnes
-s@ T. - Convent.

tuition. 1t is well known to all persons
familiar with the history of Louisiana, that
the Ursulines Convent has existed within
the limits of this city for nearly century
and half 1t is one of the most promi
nent landmarks as the eye wanders back
over the fortunes of this noble State, in its
sovereign, territorial and colonial condi
tions, for tho last one hundred and forty or
fifty years. Here were educated those
gracious ladies whose character and accom-
plishments gave to society in the early
days of French and Spanish dominion all
it's stability. and tone. Here were formed
those mothers who, in later times, have been
an honor to the population which their in
huence has SO greatly tended to save from
vice.and irreliGion.
AS profoundly as we were impressed VIII,
the glorious past and prosperous present of
this renowned establishment, we We're GER
tainly not prepafed to find such magnif-
cence of plan and perfection of details as
greeted our eyes upon entering and in
specting portions of the premises. I'M
mense corridors and galleries, exterior and
interior, fully an ordinary square in length,
present their long vistas in various direc
tions. The buildings are SO large and
numerous, the passages and halls so bewii-
dcring in their variety, that we lost all
confidence III ever getting back by the
route which we had followed for awhile
unless aided by competent conductors
We saw the stalls in which the members
of the community, clustered nuns, assem-
BILE to chaunt their lauds and mathis and
other offices. Then came the long corridor
with many doors on each side, each leading
into the cell of n nun. AT the end was
gallery opening into the sweet little church
of the institution in such manner that the
community can assist at mass, while the
congregation, permitted te assemble from
the neighborhood, occupies the body of the
church below.
The bathing department was admirable,
containing some twenty or thirty complete
bathrooms, with every arrangement for n
bountiful supply of water. The source of
this supply is the river from which a sub
terranean pipe leads to the yard of the
establishment. a wheel turned by horse
power lifts the water through this pipe into
of the second story. From this cistern i'm
mense lead pipes proceed in all directions,
through the dressing rooms of the dOrmi-
tories, to the baths, kitchens, washing de-
partment, etc.
Y That this water is as freely used as it is
abundantly supplied is evident from the
araTssfl. SrasS-
rooms, with their seats, desks, blackboards,
ETC., look as clean and bright as though
just painted. Indeed we could not recog-
nize in them any consanguinity with those
similar departments for the nse of the
rougher sex with which we had been fami-
seemed to glisten with varnish, and it must
always remain q mystery to us how femi-
nine shoes can be so used as to leave the
polish on those steps so perfectly I'M
dimmed
But it would be impossible for us even
to enumerate the charming trnits that
attracted and astonished us during this
inspection-the large, handsome grounds
with flowers and shrubs and noble trees
the gymnasium h-its-eipealar- raifrcaG
and hand-cars, its swinging carriage, see
| SAWS, and other contrivances for exercise
in dry or wet weather, and tue magnificent
| views of the river and city that greotzone
from many points of view. We must
leave all this, for our diminishing space adj
. monishes us that there will not be half
enough room to chronicle the merits of the
young ladies as manifested in their exhibit
ton.
| One of the principal features of that CT
tertainment was the music, both vocal and
instrumental. The singing had none of
the forced, artificial, noisy style so common
now n days, but was really merito4ious in
it's perfect sweetness and accord. Them
strumental performances were of the most
satisfactory character, and parents need go
NO further than this institution for an as
surance that their daughters will be fully
I accomplished in this respect. We were
narticularly struck with n moroccan from