San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-03-01
The TiUppisfs.

wa, says the Philadelphia ItMcS' IL
fair specimen of Trappistl monasteries
ON beth continents. Over thirty years
ago sixteen monks left the city OF Wa
terford, Ireland, for America. On Their
way from New Orleans to st. Louis six
of them were attacked by cholera ana
died. The remaining ten chose DESC
late prairie, near Dubuque, for their III,
ture home, pm,'asing four thousand
acres of land Il. twenty-five cents an
acre. Since then the community has
received large accessions OF members
The same land is now worth SIo m
acre, and the monastery, when compile
ted, will have cost sl50,000. Each bro
Their has some special employment
There are among them blacksmitls'
tailors, carpenters, masons, machinists'
farmers, physicians, artists. Farmers
for miles around get their repairingand
other work done at the monastery, and
it is optional with them whether to pay
for it or not. Two of the monks have
gained for the house, by their industry,
over $4,000 Probably the most re-
marlsable of the rules is that requiring
perpetual silence. Without permission
from his superior, which is granted in
certain cases, of necessity, Trappist
never speaks, except in prayer or sacred
song. All sleep in one dormitory. The
beds are placed against the opposite
walls, in two rows. In the center OF
the room stands an;image Of the Bles-
sed Virgin. A plank and q straw mat
tress constitute the furniture OF each
bed. The, monks retire to rest at seven
in the evening and arise at two in the
when they at once go into the
chapel. There they spend several hours
praying, meditating and chanting
psalms. At prayer all must kneel or
stand. Once a month, in the chapel,
each brother publicly accuses himself OF
all his vanities or imperfections. Flesh
meat is never allowed, except to the
sick. and those in health take but one
meal and collation. in winter, and two
meals in summer. Eggs, cheese, fish
and butter are among the forbidden ar
ticles of diet. The only food is bread,
milk and vegetables. On the last three
Fridays in Lent dry bread and water
make up the repast. Before meals
long grace is said, and after meals the
Miserere is slowly chanted. The luxu-
ries of the community are confined to
snuff, which is doled out in meagre al.
lowances on Sunday.
In the house all the monks wear the
cowl and habit, the only parts of their
dress that are ever taken off except
when new clothing is required. Their
dress is the same in winter as in sum-
mer. The motives governing them in
the bath and changes of I'M
derclothing are the same that actuatcd
certain Fathers of the Descrt-con-
tempt for the body and desire to be
living rcbukes to luxurious woridlings.
Some of the monks are priests, Others
only lay brothers. All, including the
abbot, work in the fields, long and hard,
with the exception OF the monks, whose
labor is required in the shops or the
house. Yet even these do considerable
farming also. The monks live entirely
by their own industry, and sell what
thev do not want-their fowls, cheese.
beer and other articles having reputa-
ton for excellence, and being in great
demand. 1t is said that there are no
better farmers in the world than the
They are scientific agricul-
tnrists. and, in many instances, they
have, by means of terracing and irriga-
ton, transformed seemingly barren
sides into beautiful gardens.
They manufacture all their own tools,
furniture and clothing, and all. OF near
" all. OF the raw materials required,
for those things are obtained from their
land. The Trappists are noted for
their charity and hospitality. The
needy repair to the monastery and have
their wants supplied. y visitor is re-
cciyed in the guest room" which Is
almost bare OF furniture, and aftersend-
ing in his credentials, is committed to
the care Of the guest master, who,
-. f -; ,fR;.n l. freed frpm tha