The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-31
cUnIos1r1Es or CONVENT LIFE


Seeing several monks pass my window
one day while in Bruges, and having
heard of the Convent of La Trappe, near
Antwerp, distinguished by its peculiari-
ties from all others, [ started early one
morning in August, 1874, with the ex-
press purpose of staying q day or two
within the walls of the monastery.
Taking the diligence at headquarters
quite early, we rode along through a
highly cultivated country, with fiat,
stone-paved road stopped at little viii
lage about two hours out to water horses;
and then in about an hour arrived in the
vicinity of the convent" Noticing a
farmhouse near at hand, | went in and
took glass Of milk, and, after chatting
haEbour with the healthy-iooking
peasant woman, inqJdring about the
convent, whether many entered its walls,
who came and went, and a multitude of
other euestiens which were all cheerfully
answered, 4ateok the road or path that
led to the monastery, and knocked mt a
small dsor to the left OF the large
entrance. | had been told to tap at the
right hand door. Having rung a bell
which was near at hand-which, by the
way, made loud noise, rs all such bells
do make-the door slowly opened and
monk appeared, muJteriuS in low voice
and asking what / wanted. Reluctantly
giving me permission to enter, he con-
Quoted me across a winding yard among
cultivated fruit trees, many pruned and
strung upon light supports. grape
vines covered in many places the con
vent walls, patches of vegetables and
bean vines, and various other Hccc-Ssries,
were seen here and there, and looked
very refreshing. My guide led me into
plain, but large roon where through
the open door ] could see mass of rough
sculpture in bas-relief, upon the walls of
the large corridor or hall; Il skeleton
with the characteristic glass and scythe,
and other djscouragjns cmbIems. The
room where me LET, me was the dining
room for strangers. or for any of the
craft that might visit the convent
from time to time The wallis were Gov
cred over mere and there with Latin,
reilen ''''' L ',l.''7'i '''7'i' '''"S' an III
O'''cA l'"'lle7' 'i'Oie "''e '''o i'ii''
ana lhe picture oi IHe cI"t'''AIoH' "eIe
ana there some patron 5alhJ' All Ioheo
down by time and dust. When I was left
alone in the room veuerable-lookiDg
gray-haired old monk or o. tather' came
up to me, and asking him If l could rest
there for day and night at least, he
cheerlully said "1es, and then made
few observations concerning what l
might expect, and limiting for me to be
on hand about ll:3o o'clock as that was
their dinner hour he left me and was
alone.
This monk seemed to be the overseer OF
the convent and a guide To ' pilgrims .
who chance to visit the place. lie was
complete type OF the ideal monk For
% D.. years ne h'o held ms present once
lo,,,ar Afte- ba1,ine, ol,.erye1 iba cI,ar.
acter of the interior Of the place before
me. I went out into the Garden. took a
stroll here and there saei1o the hooded
monks fitting to and fro. looking upon
the ground and never speaking Il word.
as that Is forbidden. eyenc among them
selves. 1t may seem strange, but it is
really so, as I noticed many making signs
to each other. Not far away noticed
bench Sitting down in the shadow of
the wall, as the day was suItry and hot
l noticed upon the soft, sandy soil
beneath me, .he footprints of monks,
here and there the marks Of their san
dals, as they assemble here during the
evening or pass TO and fro i'm their silent
meditations and Promeuades. There is
no noise here now and then the sound
OF labor rises from the workshops OF the
conyent-aS there are many such, emors-
cling every trade-and a workman or two
following each particular metier.'
The hour Of eleven o'clock rang out
with slow double stroke from the old
clock and rs the hammer rose and fell. !
the stroke repeated itself upon the mo
ment and the sound died upon the air.
There was much of the Sabbath sound
as of doves in quiet neighborhoods," so
that I almost fell asleep and the old con
vent and its garden and It's monks, and
The little belfrv with its clock and alto
oetber it seemed TO be a part of the sultrv
dream. At this moment some one
touched me quietly upon nv arm. and
standing near me was the old monk who
had come to call me to dinner. When 7 |
entered the room noticed at q Glance |
the priests already at the table-one on |
nv left and the other two opposite. Two
of them were Young men, apparently |
lust entering the priesthood-and found |
them quite CAV companions afterwards. |
remember how quietly the dinner
paszed-bow still and unbrokan seemed |
the silence. As they ate no meat of anv
kind, neither fish, the dinner was |
quite frugal. 1 remarked quietly |
to my left-hand neighbor that |