Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-06-02

TuE CoxvEyr or PIcPus.-The commune
stumbled before its fall upon vha, is variOusly
described as a new horror, snd fresh mares
nest, in the heart Of Paris In the Rue de Pic
pus, close by the Barrierc du Trone in the
Faubourg S.. Antoine, there are twenty acres Of
ground whieh for many years past have been lie
voted to mysterious seclus;on. These twenty
acres are surrounded by high walls. above which
are seen from the streets massive buildings and
majestic oil trees. One Of the buildings was,
until te# days past, school Of tue Jesuits
another, convent OF White Nuns The gar
iens that environ them are extremely beautiful.
A dividing wall, hilien, 10y sbrubbsry.
ran between the domtiu Of the Fathers and that
Of the Sisters but secret doors, lei from one to
the other. Both establishments have been sup
posed to be enormously rich. The Jesui,s del
soon after SedsH but the Sisters remained,
and, until within 4 short period, were unmolest-
ell One day, however. hungry mob SMASHED
the outer gates Of the convent, and broke into
the gardens beyond Then it became neeifal to
dispatch troops to protect the place, and dil-
coyeries we-e made which, even in these e.
citing times, hsye suficel for nine days
woa3er.
Three wretchei women were found shut up in
small iron esges. The Lady Superior, j, i
stated admits shat for nine years these unhappy
creatures have teeu kept Ike wild beasts, IN
cells. exposed, without FIRE sad without shade,
to the bitter frost q Winter sud the fierce heat
" the Summer sun. Once a day food was
brouz zht to them, aE1 ''fung Ike of4l 70 a Gagged
wolf 30 into the deEs When they were frs, iu-
c1rceratel, tho cries sui gr0aus Of these uufor-
luu1tes may have been heard in the gidiy
streets without Bat TO such sounds Of late
have been heard. They we're tortured. 1t is de-
c.aret, into remaining mute. The diahoiical IN.
struneuts Of torture have been found, AMI are
described at length by the Paris Pres. Among
these are "a spicious looking bed " a cAsQue
Of steel, 50 constructed as to admit Of c9mPres-
sion, iron cJrssts of q similsr coutrivsnce, and
leg pieces rot uni ze the 0.i-flsh0ned % bOot %
Straps and buckles were also found in great
uumherI. minor appliances of The main engines
Of sgoay. and, IN q shei. '' u4neless instru-
meat Of torture the ture Of which is ieft by
most " the j5urltis TO conjecture. Ia one OF
thea. however. He tai i- SO led 81 az 1rthopeiic
instrument.
All these thinss are not left wi,hou. apology
OF explanation on behalf OF the Sisterhooi ON
their sls IL Is affirmed thl. the imprisoned
women ve-e iuslue, AM jhat their confinement
was a matter oi necessity. Iley were crazy or
iiiotie when found Whether lhey were out Of
their B.inds on f-st ben locked up. or became
60 at,erwsrd, IS ogeu 20 QUESTION. The instru-
meuts. i- Is aifo tlrued, we're used oniy 90 cor
zee; isicrmit.es, aud q cr4ile-auothsr o. the
Questionable articles found in the c0uvent-was
'' INTENDED for an image Of the infant Jesus
Other charges -tlust the late iumstJs, such as
that numbers OF immoral books have been fer
reted cur, sul other unpleasant testimony against
their purity,-ssem TO depend upon mere allegg-
ton A. all events, g carIesp1ulent of a L1ni0n
journal, Wh5 writes 10 q temperate strain, tried
TO see these things during yisi, to the convent,
and faiel 10 do SO. he vas told that they had
been placed aaaer ,hs sea, Of the Minister Of
Justice, and were rot 70 te exhibited.
To the existence Of many other objects Of in
teresJ within the venerable walls Of PicDus, this
gentleman gives ample testimony. lie Was sur
prissi to End there the toults Of many Of the
first families Of Fr4uce-rrinces. dukes, mar
qu.ses, harous ari cluats-rep1sing under the
protection Cf die Slstesb-1d. Two simple sIAhs
Il stone cover the relsiIs Of Gen lafayette aud
Of Washington Lafayette. his son; aud, hsrd by.
lies buried Al. of ro J that Is left OF Prince Fred
erick de Saim X grrogro, who perisheI under the
Terror in 1924. Ihs guide Of this informant
assured him that the '' orih1Tsic instrument -
had been used for s.rsppin- down children aud
strang.inc them. The Universe protests s.ainst
the whole story told cf the Sisters of Picpus as 4
ussue Of ftbricati1ns and it is only proper to
aid that well known Partisan Ia lies have written
70 thar anl ether journals 20 say ;La; t1 their
knowledge the imprisoned women have long been
OUT Of their miuis