Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-19

AS so good an opportunity might not
have occurred again Of seeing the inte-
rior Of Chinese or Buddhist Runnery,
/ asked the abess to show me through it,
and TO explain the Regulations Of the
order She assented, aud frankly told
me ell about the Institution and It's gov
ernment, which is by no means, 80, STRICT
as those of the Romish converts The;
candidates are not admitted into fun or
ders until they attain the age Of sixteen.
Prior to this, and from the commence
ment of their ascetic life, they assume
the garb peculiar to the sisterhood. The
chiet apparent distinction between the
novices and those in full orders is that
the heads of the latter are wholly sha-
ven, while the former have. only the
front part of the crown shaven. The
younger nuns have plated queues Aow-
ing down behind. The nuns mestlY had
large feet, clumsy shoes, long stockings
and garters, full trowsers, short jackets
and sleeves, with bald pates and skull
caps, precisely as the priests have. But
the priestesses have smoother connten-
ances, softer looks, sweeter voices, and
were more tidy When the young wo-
man has barred or shaved her head-a
sign of making religious vows very dit
ferent from that of taking the veil, "
adopted in the nunneries of Europe
she is required to live life Of devotion
and modification. She must eat and
drink sparingly and her diet must con-
sist of vegetables only. Strong meats
and drinks are to be avoided as poison.
The business and cares of this
world are not to engrOss her at
tention. She has retired from it, and
must be fitting herself for eternal can
onization. Nothing should occupy
her thoughts or engage her affections but
the service of the temple in the precincts
of which she lives. Daily exercises are
to be conducted by her, the furniture of
the small sanctuary that forms a part OF
the convent must be looked after and
kept clean and orderly; those women or
men who come to worship at the atars,
and seek guidance and comfort must be
cared for ana assisted. When there is
leisure the sick and the poor are to be
visited, and all who have placed them
selves under her special direction aud
spiritual instruction have a large claim
upon her regard. That she may live the
lite of seclusion and selfdenial she must
vow perpetual maidenhood the thought
of marriage should never enter her head,
and the society of men must be stunned.
AS far as / could see these rigid rules
were not seriously complied with, and
there appeared no great amount OF de-
votion at their religious exercises, espe-
cially among the novices. Their sacred
books consisted Of many volumes, print
ed in large text on fine paper For these
they had profound respect. The ra-
pidity with which the pages and sections
of the books we're hurried off at their
religious exercises was amazing. Both
the young and old nuns seemed equally
expert at their reeitations, but there was
nothing Of devotional spirit about
than; their 'demeanor was anything but
devout. I was shocked to see the leyity
of the juvenile mus in paying religious
homage to the goddess Kwan-yin; they
were as merry and tricky, as flirting and
frolicsome, as any party Of girls met to
keep the birthday Of one of their school
mates. .-M0SSmaR MdHddri1l's Daugh-
ten.