Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-06-03
sECgETs UNEA,sTHED By THE
COMMUNE.

LdftS Correspondence of he LONDON IWUS'
The reigning scandal of the day is the
affair Of the convent of Picpus. 80 highly |
reused has public indignation been by the |
supposed discovery of atrocities committed |
within those Jealous walls that the people |
have been excluded until the investigations |
of Justice shall be complete. [ managed, |
however, to penetrate within the precincts !
by attaching myself to the cortege of an
English friend, who was journeying thith
CT under special official orders. to investi-
gate tho case of an English sister named
Garret. In the Rue de Picpus, near Mazas
prison, stand two large buildings, each
surrounded by high walls, above which
may be seen green trees at intervals. The
one is an establishment of the Jesuits, the
other the convent of the White Nuns. The
Jesuit brothers escaped at the first sign of
approaching danger, but the sisters held
their own until forced into cabs and con-
veyed to the cells of st. Lazara, there to
await the results ola judicial inquiry into
certain matters that are deeped suspicious.
Arrived at the gate of the convent, we
were obliged to force our way through q
crowd of angry people who demanded an
instant permission to enter, and who were
as persistently swept back by Il group Of
National Guards-we, however, being ad-
mitted inside the door under cover of the
official pass and signatures. In the court
yard, under the shade Of some fine trees, a
few guards were
PLAYING BOWLS IN THE JESUITS' ALLEY,
and making up TO one OF them whose cap
displayed tokens ofauthority, we mentioned
our business, and begged permission to see
what was to be seen. Our friend was very
civil, accepted cigar, and marched us of
to so the rounds. He pointed out to us
the fact. of which there certainly could
exist no kind of doubt, that the two build
ings communicated one with the other by
means of VA old door which still exists at
the back of a stable, as well as by other
apcrturcs in The garden wall, which show
signs Of having been recently closed up.
The Jesuits' garden is most beautiful one.
occupying q space of some twelve acres
laid out with care, and furnished with
fruit trees Of every description, pruned and
trained after the latest horticultural de-
signs. They are
WoNDRouSLY INGENIOUS Plans,
too, for irrigating the beds forcing pits
and lighthouses, and long aleys with vines
trained over them. Through the old door
above mentioned we passed into the Sisters
garden, equally large and beautiful, though
not kept with the same care. In the CEN
tire stands gymnasium, l suppose for the
use Of the children brought up under the
sisters care, and further on their cemetery.
a lovely spot, where, under the heavy
shade OF ancient Expresses, lie bearers OF
some the most ancient names in France
Prince of Salm-Kyrbourg inundated IN
der the Terror, aged 49;' "Rochefou.
cauld," 'Dc Noailles," "Montmorencv. y
the great Laiayette,n the whole family OF
the Talleyrand-Perigords, and legions o
princes and princesses. Some of the vaults
have been opened, and many lead cofins
half-covered with
RoTTlNG VELVET AND GOLD LACE,
tic exposed TO the light of day, awaiting
an examination at the hands of the minis
Ter OF justice. At the extreme end of thu
garden, however, are the three little conf
cal huts, side by side, resembling whit,
ants nests, which have been the cause o
SO much excitement and judicial inquiry
When the convent was occupied by tn
National Guards these little huts wer
tenanted each by an cid woman, enclose,
IN wooden cage, like chcken's pen, th
three buildings being similar inside aut
construction, six feet square by seven i,
nolSht, with slate roof, through whicl
daylight was visible, while the three ol,
women were
ALL HOPELESS IDIOTS.
The Lady Superior has kept her lips re
solutely closed up to the present time, bu
humltted when first questioned, that tn
three sufferers had lived in their hideou
prison for nine years, in an atmosphere G
stihlng heat throughout the SUMMER. an,
nan frozen with cold throughout the win
Ter put, " she added, ''they were idiot
When they came" The conductor of tn
inquiry replied, that if such were the case
1t was Illegal to have admitted them to tn
convent at all, and that even supposin
them to have been admitted, the plac
where they were found was not q fit dwell
ing place place for dog n key was dis
covered among her papers, labelled "ke
oI the great vault - but where this grea
vault may be has not yet been found ou
The Superior and her nuns keep q uniforl
and persistent upon the point excavation
have been made at different points in I'll
garden, and under the high altar of I'll
chapel, but hitherto without effect. \
one end Of the nuns garden stands a
isolated building, in which were toun
mattresses with straps aud buckles, ais
two
iRoN CoRsETs, sCULL-CAP AND A RAG
turned by a coy-whccl, evidently intcudc
for bonding back the body With force. n
superior explained that thCso were ortiz
pedic instrumental superficial ialsehoo,
The mattresses aud straps struck me ,
being easily accounted for; | have sec
such things used IN French midwifery, an
in cases Of violent deiirium but the rae
and us adjuncta are justly objects of era,
suspicion, for they imply use of brut
force which no disease at present know
would justify, On our way back throu,
the gardens our guide made a detour
order 10 show rs q
GREAT sUnlrERASEAN MAREuotsE
where an enormous quantity OF potato
was stored, as we'll as barrels full OF s.
pork, while in The yard hard by a gruntll
itt pig, Look at this ~ cIied our n
honal Guard Indignantly. T.ook mt tho
stores, which might have helped ta Il,
Inc starving poor Of the arrondisscme
during our six months sl,se, and thi
that these people were begging from d.
10 door the whole time Tor uoury 10 b
broken ylctuals for their peuflongr,
Arrived at the entrance gate, our pui
nudsed me, telling me ia whispers 10 10
AT tho old woman who was wauderl
about followed by a younger one stonpl
nom time o. llulo tu pick up ivaf or +
her hands with sand and gravel, "Tl
u sWnr borrardBe,n % hu said, "uno ot
lIru# HFlann4Fa If Az. tr....I..f. ...... J.