Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-09-04
Ths Trapplsss.

is n fair specimen of Trappist mon
asteries on both continents. Over
thirty years ago sixteen monks left
the city of Waterford, Ireland, for
America. On their way from New
Orleans to St. Louis six of them
were attacked by cholera and died.
The remaining ten chose Il desolate
prairie, near Dubuque, for their
future home, purchasing four
thousand acres of land at twenty
five cents an acre. Since then the
com immunity has received large ac-
cession Of members. The same
land is now worth $40 an acre, and
the monastery, when completed,
will have cost $l50,000 Each
brother has some special employ
ment. There are among them black
smiths, taiiors, carpenters, masons,
machinisls, farmeIa, physicians,
artists. Farmers for miles around
get their repairing and 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 remarkable of the rules is
that requiring perpetual silence.
Without permission from his supe-
rior, which is granted in certain
cases of necessity, q Trappist never
speaks, except in prayer or sacred
song. All sleep in one dormitory.
'rhe teds are placed against the op-
pOsite walls, in two rows. In the
center of the room stands an i'm .
age of the Blessed Virgin. A plank
and a straw mattiass constitute the
| furniture of each bed. The monks
retire to rest ct seven in the even
ing and arise at two in the N orning,
when they at once 60 into the chap
ell. There they spend several hours
praying, meditating and chanting
psalms. AT prayer all must kneel
or stand. Once Il month in the
chapel each brother publicly &C e.
cuses himself of all his vanitles or
imperfections. Fresh meat is never
allowed except to the sick, aud
those in health take but one meal
and a collation. in Winter and two
meals in Summer. Eggs, cheese,
fish aud butter are among the for
hidden articles 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 u long grace
is said, ana after meals the Mise
rere is slowly chanted. The luXu-
ries of the community are confiued
to snuff, which is doled out in mea-
gre allowance on Sunday.
In the house all the monks wear
the cowl and habit the ouly parts
of their dress that are ever taken
off except when new clothing is re.
quired. Their dress is the same in
Winter as in Summer, The mo.
tives governing them in stunning
the bath and changes OF under
clothing are the same that actuated
certain Fathers of the Desert
contempt for the body and u desire
10 be living reuukes to luxurious
warldlipgs. Some Of the monks
are priests, orthers only lay broth
ets. 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 con-
siderable farming also. The monks
live entirely by their own indus
try, and sell what they do not
want, their fowls, cheese, beer and
other articles having a reputation
for excellence and being in great
demand. 1t is said that there
are no better farmers in the
world than the Trapplsts. They
are scientific agriculturisis, and in
many instances, they have by
means of terracing and irrigation
transformed seemingly barren
mountain sides into Beautiful gar
dens. They manufacture all their
own tools, furniture and clothing,
and all, or nearly all, of the raw
materials required for those things
are obtained from their land. The
rrappists are noted for their hospi-
tality and charity. The needy re-
pair to the monastery and have
their wants supplied. A visitor is re-
ceived in the "guest-room, which
is almost bare Of furniture, and
after sending in his credentials, is
committed to the care of the
"guest-mastei" who, by virtue Of
his Office, is freed from the bond of
perpetual silence so far as may be
necessary for extending courtesies
to guests.
The abbot is one of the leading
scholars of the American Catholic
church, and belonged to u wealthy
family. When not working III the
fields he wears a mitre and carries
q wooden crozier. On his finger is a
ieweled ring, which nobody Is per.
united to kiss. A more workman
like article than his pectoral cross,
which is attached to bit of com.
mon twine. eopld he. .,whitf]eG ont
low" His habit is frequently u
thing OF shFeds, and always OF
patches, but always clean. He
sleeps in common dormitory on a
plank 80 softer than those
enjoyed by his spirit
ual children. Above his bed
or rather plank, ia little holy
water font, and q picture of "Oui
Lady of LOurdesn In Winter Inc
enjoys the Iuxury Of An old blanket
hung before his bed to keep off the
bree2s. The sailors ham.
X or the rairoader's bunk is
luxurious in comparison with the
Lord Abbot's pallet. Excepting
his plank and straw, his ouly furn-
iture is little bench, upon which
are an earthern jug, II rusty knife
and Il wooden plate. Such is the
man who freely chose, in prefer.
ence to the pleasures and wealth oi
the worid, the loneliest and most
oxacting OF cloisters.
The march of the monks from
dormitory to chapel, cowled and
with tunies belted about their ema-
, ciated bodies, is described as being
, awfully soleGIn. They go in twos,
hardly making sound with theiI
feei as they pass under the hyssop
of the abbott, and, in the dimnest
Of the moagre Artificial light, they
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