Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
THE s. BURIED ALIVE"

A Curious Custom at an Ecclesiastical
Auction.
A correspondent at Rome sends the
following interesting paragraphs in re-
lation to current affairs:
ssThe government is taking posses
sion of the converts with all possible
decorum. Wherever it can be done,
their inhabitants are allowed to retain
possession of parts of the buildings.
liz other instances the inha bitants Of
convent which is intended for the use
of the government are allowed to take
up their quarters In the empty cells of
another, one would think to their ex-
ceeding comfort. The usual formali-
ties took place recently at the tomb
(what else can one call it p of the
ssSepolti Vive "-the 'Buried Alive "
in the Suburb, near the site of the
poor women, twenty-nine III num-
Der, are always covered with a double
veil, black. lined with white. When
once this veil has been placed upon
their heads they never again may look
upon the face of a father Or friend,
mother or sister. Once year, covered
with this terrible pail, they enter
room divided into two parts by an iron
grating. Within its bars hangs another
black veil. Outside of it their friends
gather, and pronouncing their names,
inquire after their health. In turn
they may ask after the health of their
families; until, on some one of these an
niversaries, no familiar voice is heard
then they learn that the f'buried alive"
have all their dead to mourn. These
poor creatures, informed at the last
moment by their confessors of the
necessity of their appearance before
the representatives of the law, glided
in, one after another, like the sheeted
dead, in their CHASTITY garments, took
distance from all present, turned their
backs upon them, and having signed
the necessary papers disappeared as
they had entered. They are not to be
disturbed at present, and indeed will
probably continue their death in life
to the end at the Suburb.
The sale of ecclesiastical property is
carried on with decidedly favorable
results. At the first auction thirty
three buyers had gone through with
the necessary formalities, and a large
crowd assembled. An old custom
which prevails at public auction was
duly observed. On frame prepared
for the purpose, small candles are
placed. They are SO very small that
each of them will burn but four min
utes When bid is made, one of these
candles is lit and covered with glass
shade, that no Intentional or uninten-
tional puff of air may reach it. AS the
sale proceeds and another bid is made, a
second candle is lighted and the shade
removed to it. The crier, as he covers
a candle, announces 1t thus: "Pria1ao
cd,adele Uergiaae;; secO1ad0 cdndele GER
CINE; terra eoaadeIe vergiaae," etc.
When candle has bean lit for bid.
der, and burns out without higher
bid having been made, the sale is over.
One of the first houses put up belong.
ed to the hospital of st, Giovanni.
The community bid for it, but several
candles were lit, and it went up from
nineteen thousand to sixty thousand
four hundred francs, and was purchas
ed by private Individual. The sec
ond sale was equally spirited with the
first. Some twelve or fifteen pieces O.
property were disposed of at excellen
prices. Another sale is exp ected tt
take place soon.