Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-23


Mother Superior daily, with her
lown hands, dispenses SCUM. bresaE
and plain food to the very poorest
of the poor.
From the industrial department I
was conducted to the school. II
was the hour for dismission, and
part of the young students were
already gone. Those who were
present rose with ready politeness
upon my entrance, their bright
young faces beaming with intelIi-
gence and the ardor of study.
was also informed that the academy
OF the convent, on Fifty-frst street,
where certain Of the sisters went
daily to teach, was much larger,
and had fuller attendance of pu-
pills than the one saw here.
NUMBER OF SISTERS IN THE CONVENT.
As proceeded to the other apart
ments, l asked my gentle conduct
ress how many sisters there were
in the convent. "FOrty-eight7 was
the reply.
"Forty eight women achieve all
have seen and teach the school in
Fifty first street, | exclaimed.
Oh yes, and a great deal
more, she answered, with sweet
laugh. every morning certain
number are sent out to visit the
sick, the Superior being notified by
the clergy and others where their
services are needed, and certain
others go 70 visit the prisons. From
D O'Clock in the morning till half
past 9 at night, we are thus oeeu.
pied, unless engaged in devotion or
contemplation; only about thirty
minutes after each meal being given
to recreation
CELLS OF THE NUNS.
By this time we had reached the
upper and fourth floor of the con
vent. Here | saw the cells of the
nuns. How manya benevOlentla Ia
dy, who doubtless does much good
and sacrifices much for the sake of
Others, if she could see these cells,
and learn all | did on that after
noon, would exclaim, "Oh, how
poor is my work how meagre my
sacrifice of self, compared with that
of these devoted beings ~
Each nun occupies 4 cell alone.
1t is small and interpreted. Its
only furniture consists of bed,
precisely like those occupied by the
girls in the dormitOries, one wooden
chair, and 4 crucifix. Each cell is
lighted by a small window. These
cells are occupied but seven and a
half hours out of the twenty-four.
In very many Of therOoms through
out the establishment were OratOries
for prayer. Pictures adorned many
of the walls, and appropriate texts,
notices and devices were found
over the doors and along the cor
ridors.
ORATORY OF THE VIRGIN-THE
SACRED HEART.
Turning from the cells, the nun
led me to q small niched Oratory of
the Virgin, where the last prayer
of the sisters is said before retiring
for the night. A taper was burn
ing before the statue of the Virgin,
and on each side of the altar
blOOmed a Gala -1EtbiopjcG.
Back of this niched Oratory was
another, dedicated to the Sacred
Heart. 1t was appropriately orna-
mented, and perfumed with the
odor of the exotic plants which
bloomed around. SO the care of
dollhouse plants takes up part of
the time of these silent unobtru-
sive, wOrshiping workers.
THE FINEST ROOM IN THE CONVENT.
Again visited the room devoted
to the fine arts A splendid cycloid
Lindeman piano stood on one side
of the room, and an artists table
and implements on the other The
walls were adorned with beautiful
paintings. Many OF the sisters not
only teach drawing, painting and
music, but find time to cultivate
those arts.
\ WONDERFUL VOLUME.
One whose beaming artist eyes
will long live in my memory was
engaged in the medieval art Of IL
Elimination. When one Of her H.
Eliminated volumes, beautiful con
vent register Of the names, parents
age, time of dedication to God, etc,
of all the sisterhOOd, was first
opened before my admiring eyes, L
thought the work was the finest en-
craving The lettering, marginal
lining, coloring and gliding, all
done with the pencil, and without
the aid of compasses, were only
equaled in their marvellous execu-
ton by the exquisite beauty and
endless variety of the designs.
Every page was different, and all
variations of the medieval style Of
ornamentatiOn and design. The
sister who does this work varies
her occupation by teaching French
in the school, and also devotes
some of her time to the House of
Mercy.
THE STORY TOLD.
And thus, my friend, did fulfill
my promise, and truthfully have /
related how | found the inmates Of
convent occupied. These obser-
vatiOns, l trust will meet your
eyes, and their perusal will spare
your patience, when next we meet,
the inflictiOn of verbal account of
''what they do in a convent