Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-02-28
THE CAPUCHIN's BEARD.

much so, indeed, that TO this very day
tavorite salad (chicory leaves blanched /
q peculiar way, Barbe de Capuchin'
Beard) bears their honored name. The
combed it out coquettishly, pomaded
ccmplacently, and, when rainy weathe
threatened, carefully inclosed it in
parchment bag. A few monks nigh
wish to suppress this conspicuous glor,
of their order, because it betrayed thei
personality at times when they wished L
remain incognito. If we are are to be
lieve anecdotes that have been circulate,
in quite an irreverent spirit, more thar
one modern Delilah has exercised he
guilty scissors on the beard of too-con
fding Capuchin. When the poor victim
has returned to his convent in state NOR
pitiable than that of Samson, the guar
dian father "a cunning old fox, who ha,
escaped from not few traps in his time)
not requiring anybody to tell him OF
whose knees the shorn one had faller
asleep, after good beating, locked hin
up in u dungeon until he had repaired
his fault by fresh growth of hair.
A charitable countess residing at hei
country scat, near Naples, (the approx
innate date IS l76D, brought up two or
phans born in Il hospital close by. Carlo,
handsome, good tempered fellow, had
been promoted to the rank of cook Ro-
|
setta, sharp and extremely pretty, was
the very thing for a lady's maid. O
course they mutually fell in love. But
Carlo was not the only person attracted
by Rosetta's charms. A young signor
in the habit of visiting the countess, find.
ing his money offers rejected, had hen
carried off by four masked brigands.
She disappeared without leaving a trace.
Whereupon Carlo left the countess and
wandered about the country like Il crazy
creature, in search Of his love. lie in
voked her presence, but all in vain.
Eurydicc still trcmbled on his tongue,
Eurydice the woods,
Eurydico the woods, lrung.
Eurydiee tho rocks and hollow mountains
One day, weary Of his life, he saw a
Capuchin convont, no rarity thercabouts.
lIe knocked. His skill in the culinary
art opened to him the doors Of the sanctu-
ary. His fame soon reach the metropolis
and the father provincial of the Grand
Convent at Naples insisted or securing
so valuable an acquisition. Brother
Charles $50 the novice was called in re-
ligion) was mild, obhglng and fonder OF
cleanliness than the rest of his compan-
ions. A tinge of melancholy, owing to
the thoughts OF Rosetta, rendered his
countenance still interesting; his light
and silky budding beard detracted moth
ing from the sottness of his features add
to this, "the gift Of the CAB" great fa-
cility Of speech acquired in the countess
ante cham bers and you will not wonder
that he was speedily raised to one Of the
highest Capuchin offices they being
Mendicant Friars-namely, collector So
licitor, in plain English, beggar. Now
Capuchin collectors have been known to
maintain, out Of their receipts, without
the superior's permission or knowledge,
large families of little children in whom
they took quite paternal interest. But
Whatever was given to Carlo for the love
Of God-whether brown bread or cakes,
trcacle or apricot jam, perfume muscat
or sour wine-that he carried to the com
munity, without taking anything by way
of commission.
One day in the streets OF Naples, while
begging his way from house to house he
entered magnificent palazzo, walked up
its board staircase, traversed five or six
apartments (for mendicant friars make
no ceremony Of entering wherever they
please, without meeting anybody. lie
was about 10 walk back again as rich
as he came, when he caught sight Of a
little door. Tapping slightly, he gently
turned the key. The door opened. With
downcast eyes, and hands hidden in his
ample sleeves, which occasionally served
as pockets, he humbly stated the pov erty
Of his convent, A beautiful lady, reclin-
ing on a luxurious sola, retured an afIa-
BILE and gracious reply.
THAT voice !" exclaimed Carlo. He
raised his eyes. " What! You Ro-
setta ! Here !" SO saying, he fell in a
swoon. Seven or eight tall lackoys (the
precise number is unimportanD answered
their mistress call, and soon brought the
weak -nerved frar to his senses. Left
alone with his former sweetheart, he nee
essariy overwhelmed her with questions.
81 am no longer Rosetta" she answer
ed. my name now is Flavia. If
loved you less, should not now avow
my errors, and even now l cannot for
give myself for having been unfaithful to
you, although | could not help it,"
We reduce her confession to its con-
Guiding fact-indeed, the only one with
which we have any concern-namely
that she was now rich and disengaged
That kiss was fraught with serious con.
sequences.
To insure the completeness of the alb
solution, the kiss was repeated several
times. For Flavia it had only one draw
back she did not like the Capuehin' S
beard. She even prepared to cut 1t OIL (;
but Carlo informed her that such an i'm
prudence might cost him dear. Upon
which las women will have their own
way), she gave him phial full OF po-
tent liquid, with which she entreated
him to rub his chin. Ii his beard fell off,
she said, he might attribute it to illness
or a weakly constitution. Brother Charles