The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-11-26
THE TRAPPISTS.
Some Account OF the Famous Monks OF
the Spade.
Rome Corr. New York Observer.

Rome Corr. New York Observer.
About six miles from Rome, after issuing
from the gates Of st. Paul, is the famous
convent of the Trappist monks in the midst
of the Campagna. Here the cowled frias
will show you three fountains, and with
tin dipper give you drink from each, which
are said to mark the spots where ST. Paul's
head touched the ground when he was be-
headed. This place, which as late as 1873
was deadly to men, has since then been
made healthy by the labors Of the friars.
The success OF theirefforts has this year In
duced the Government Of Italy TO send ITO
of the criminals confined in the Penitentia-
aies of Ortobello and Civita Vecchia to cul-
tivate the neghboring fields under the an
structlons of the frias. IL Is an interesting
experiment, as its success would relieve the
nation Of a heavy expense. There are oo,-
900 criminals in the prisons OF Italy, oo,oV"
Of whom are strong men. These men, whose
labor within the prison yields very little,
and whose maintenance costs five million
dollars annually, could transform the no
man Campagna into lovely and healthful
garden, could drain the immense tracts OF
marshy land In Italy, construct new iorts'
penitentiaries and Notifications.
II a fayorite idea of Garibaldi that the
prisoners and friars, who have been hitherto
a burden to the Nation, should be converted
into tiIlers of the soil. The old hero, whose
name was once watchword TO the Nation,
has lost much of his influence. But when,
from the secluson of his rocky island, ne
sends out good idea, the moderate men OF
the country receive II with Difference. Ills
other ideas-that the House Of Savoy has
lost It's influence, that the members OF the
Right be Kissed by the Republican mob, that
n deviation of the Tiber around Rome should
be made, or that Italy should claim Trieste
from Austria--are untenable. But this one
of labor for the idle Is excellent, especially
as there are the Trappists, who do not dis-
dain TO accept the spade as their emblem.
Saint Bernard said TO them: - Spread over
the world and win the kingdom Of heaven
with the spade.r They understood this at
first as an order to perpetually dig their ow n
graves, and supplement 70 the Brother,
remember that you must de-" which were
the only words permitted to them. But OF
late years they have remembered that the
spade Is used 10 cultivate the soil as wen rs
to dig graves, and have converted the ground
near the abbey into beautiful garden. 1t
is no longer unhealthy, and every fresh Ell
fort aids in conquering the fever, which II
the chief enemy Of the spot. Their number
is now reduced to thirty, nearly all Of whom
are Frenchmen; and yet, even with even THU
number, they might have cultivated more o
the large tract Of, land they own around Tho
monastery II they had possessed greater ca
pacity for labor But seeing these waste un
healthy lands around them, they proposed te
the Government the formation Of colony
of prisoners, whom they would instruct IN
their methods of cultivation. This was the
origin, II is said, of the penal colony on the
Campagna, which seems to offer new pros
pest of revenue and improvement. ALREADY
the government, on It's own account, ha'
drained large tract of land In Sardinia by
the labor of the prisoners. The land that wal
previously unproductive and insalubrious II
converted into fragrant and beautiful gar
den, and when sold will yield large sum Of
money. Similar labors will be made from
time 10 time on the Campagna, and already
we dream OF seeing that mystic green deser
covered with orchards and vineyards ant
white villas.
A. How much better for men condemned U
- a prison IIrs IA xJrsnu Inrn r,,r oprn huidi
and In activity than in the corrupt idlenes
of the prisons. How much better, too, fo
the friar 10 hallow his life bysuseful labo
and, instead Of spending his days In asceti'
meditation, make himself useful to the hu
man race.
The present head of the Trappist monks
former cavalry officer in the Italian army
and It may have been his spirit Of activit,
that has wrought such change in the mon
astery. The brown-frocked friar now give
a noble EXAMPLE 10 the red-jacketed criml
nal, and the latter, restored to the respect
himself and Of the community, will be pre-
pared TO take his place among honest mer
As yet, only men who have distinguish
themselves by good conduct in the prison
whose term of imprisonment Is almost e,
pired, have been selected for this work in th
open air. II thus becomes premium,
which they are deprived at the first fault.