Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-24
The Nuns of Mount Carmel.
AusteEit1es Of . Roman Catholic SIste
 hood.
[From the New Orleans Picayuae

CFrom the New Orleans Picayune.l
 To join the order of the Nuns of Mount Carmel is considered one of the greatest sac rifces which Roman Catholic young lady can make. The order is divided into the calcaeted, or ''shod," and discalcsated, ol ''unshod," branches. The latter is by far the most rigorous, and it's members are but few, There are but three convents of the latter in the United States-one at Baltimore, ono al St. Louis and one st New Orleans. The one at Baltimore was established as far back aE 1790. The St. Louis institution was founded in 1863. Shortly after it's opening Miss Ro. man, a niece of ex-Governor Roman of this city, entertained the order. The young lady was one of the bellies of the Crescent City. Her beauty, her wealth, and her brilliant con- versational powers rendered her an ornament to society. The love of God, however was stronger within her. ithan that of either pleas ure or social position, and she renounced all the charms of society for the austere life and solitude of the convent. In 1877 she returned to her native city, together with Sisters Mar guerite, Dolorosa and Gertrude. with the in- tention of founding 8 convent here. They first established themselves in private resi dence on Ursulines street. Finding 1t made quate to their purposes, they removed to the present building, on Barracks, between Ram part and Burgundy streets. In buying il they incurred heavy debt, which has been 8 burden ever since.
 A low flight of steps leads to the entrance. One of the tout" or mendicant nuns answers to tho bell. The first object that strikes the eye of the visitor is an etagere, on which are exhibited beautiful specimens of the fancy work of the sisters. These are sold to visi- tors and help to support the institution. Two facts attract the attention immediately. These are the perfect cleanliness of everything, and the complete silence that reigns. The furni- ture is rough and very plain, but the neatness of arrangement prevents one from noticing it's simplicity at first. In the hall there are two doors opposite each other. One of these opens into the chapel, the largest visible room. The hangings Of the altar are the only things in the whole building which ap- proach in any way to richness. On ono side of the altar is childs crib, artisticaily adorn- ed, on which lies the figure of a babe, wrought in wax by one of the nuns. On the other side of the altar theres is grated window, which is covered by perforated screen. It is behind these that the sisters listen to the services which are read every morning by the chaplain, Father Eoydhaus, Of the Society of Jesus Near this is another window through which the sisters receive the Blessed Sacra- ment. On that occasion the parts of their faces above the mouth are closely yelled.
 The other door in the hall leads into a small reception room which opens into seve- ral other rooms of similar dimensions. The principal feature of the first room spoken of
  the same sort of perforated screen as that in the chapel. Taking seat in front of this window one will hear the tones of voice com ing from behind the screen. No form can be observed. The voice belongs to Mother The resa, formerly Miss Roman. No member of the outside world has seen her face since her stay in the convent. Those who saw her on her arrival in New Orleans describe her as a lady of commanding presence, tall, and in clining to corpulency.
 Neither she nor any of her companions, with the exception of the medicant nuns, ever step across tho boundary of this aleove, and there fore no idea can be formed of the inner sur roundings. There is garden which the sis ters cultivate in connection with the building. It is raised several feet from the ground, and presents 8 very pretty appearance.
 The mode of life prescribed by the order is very severe and self-denying. They take but six hours sleep, and devote over eight hours are taken up by the regularly prescribed prayers, but beside these private prayers are said. The latter are often accompanied by self-imposed hardships. The dress of the nuns is very simple. The clothing is of coarse wool. The hood is composed of linen. A sandal of coarse saokcloth is worn on the feet. Tho food is very simple. as no meat or anything prepared with fat is tasted. There ara but two meals taken 8 day -one called dinner, ct II Q. m., and @ colla- ton at p. n. These rules do not apply to the mendicant sisters, who are allowed to partaIe of meat and wear shoes. The hours not given to sleep and prayer they devote to manual labor.
 No wonder that an order that imposes so many hardships can find but few members. Since it's establishment here but four have joined, making the total number of occupants eight These are Sisters Sophie, Xavier, Francois and Claire. The latter three are the ssout'' or mendicant sisters. Sister Sophie is Miss Freret, a member of the ancient and well-known family of this city.