The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-02-10

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pall-bearers were Capt. R. P. Landry, Capt.
Jno. T. Nolan, DR.. j. B. Vandegrif, Judge Jas.
| Crowell, Messrs. Edouard Gaudin, Emile
Buquoi, Eloi Melancon, Felix Leblanc, Fred
erick Duffel, Victorin Melancon, Jr., Anne
Richard and Ambrose Rougeau, and ten little
girls clad in white accompanied the pall-bear-
ers holding in their hands white streamers at
tached to the handles of the burial case The
names of the little ones we're Louise Mudd,
grand niece Of the deceased, Cecile Gonzales,
Eugene Vandegrif, Louise Vandegriff. Heloise
| Esneault, Lena Weber. Lucy -Prudhomme,
! Aggie Feeley, Emma Nolan and Clare Weber.
Reys. FathersC Coupons, Binder and Lesaicherre
| led the mournful procession and following the
remains were the Sisters and pupils OF st. Vim
! cents, and large concourse of people. The
| ceremonies at the church were very solemn and
| impressive High mass for the dead was cele-
| brated and Father Coupons pronounced feel
| ing eulogy in French. depicting the beautiful
| and useful life of the lamented Sister and res
| counting her deeds in the service OF God and
| humanity. The Institute chapel and the church
were heavily draped in mourning, the pupils
| bore banners. boquets and wreaths, and the
coffin was strewn with fragrant flowers.
Avery affecting scene occurred at the tomb
when the solemn rites had been performed and
the lid of the coffin was about to be secured in
place. The Sisters of Charity, who had spent
years in the companionship of the beloved
dead, approached the tomb and one by one Inn
printed farewell kiss upon the STILL cold lips
of the corpse. Many spectators sobbed, and
there were few dry eyes in the large audience,
as the coffin was closed and deposited in the
vault prepared for its reception. In accordance
with her own request. Sister Austin was buried
near the large cross standing in the rear por-
ton of the cemetery, and the remains OF sew
eral Sisters of Charity now reposing In the
grounds of the St. Vincent Institute will prob
ably be transferred to the same spot at no dis
tant day.
To one of the St. Vincent Sisters We are in
debted for the data from which we write the
following biographical sketch of the deceased:
Mary Austin Mudd was born at Opelousas, st.
Landry parish, La, the 19th-of July, 1910, and
was consequently u years and 8 months old at
the time of her death. Her father was named
Benjamid s. Mudd and her mcI.her Elenora
Smith. At an early age she was sent to the
Sdcred Heart Convent, Grand Coteau, nine
miles from Opelousas, where she completed the
curriculum and graduated with distinction.
Endowed with every qualification for worldly
enjoyment, she longed to eonsecrate herself to
the service of God, but being the only daughter.
she was obliged to remain with her Invalid
mother and it was only after several years OF
tender nursing and devoted care that her mother
passed away and left the earnest young Chris
tan free to carry out her cherished purpose
which she did soon after, notwithstanding the
piteous protest and appeal of her affectionate
and much loved brother. A singular circum-
stance in the career OF Sister Austin is, that
while on her way to the Mother House OF the
Sisters of Charity at Emmettsburg, Maryland
she stopped at New Orleans and visited Bishop
Blanc; when the holy prelate sew her he blessed
her and said: Go my daughter, in peace and
return in Joy for the salvation of your peoS
pie" How truly has this prediction been veri-
fed. few years afterward she was sent to
Donaldsonville and inhabitants Of this place
can testify to her devotedness and zeal during
the IS years she has spent here.
Nobly surmonnting all obstacles and trials
attending the foundation of the st. Vincent es-
tablishment Sister Austin remained long at her
post, but her health having failed, she was sent
by her superiors to France, where she dis
charged important duties. On her return to
America she came back to Donaldsonville with
heart full of love for her people. So great
was this devotion and regard that when circum-
stances betokened the removal of the Sisters
from the town, she successfully exerted herself
are indebted for the presence of the Sisters of
Charity and the perpetuation of the St. Vincent
school.
Sister Austin was taken i'll two years ago. and
during the long and weary months of suffering
that ensued she was model OF resignation and
holiness. For the past six months or more her
diet consisted almost entirely of glass of but
termilk day. On the 2srd Of last month she
was attacked by stroke of paralysis which
rendered her unconscious, in which condition
she remained until last Sunday evening" when
she died without struggle. We can conceive
Of no death calmer more peaceful than hers.
During the period Of her unconscious and COM
atose state. water Of Lourdes was the only sub
stance that passed her lips.
At the request Of the Sisters of st. Vincent's
Institute we express their warmest gratitude to
the people OF Donaldsonville and vicinity for
their kindness and attention to Sister Austin
during her long Illness and especially to Mrs.
Teller, Mr. Cofeld and family, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bentley. Mr.. and Mrs. Nolan, Mr.. and Mrs.
Park, Mrs. Thibaut. Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. John
Comstock, Rev. Mr.. Stuart and lady, and to DIR.
Jno. B. Vandsgriff. her faithful medica! atan-
dant to whom Sister Austin bequeathed the ro-
sary or chaplet she used forty years.
1t is proposed to raise fund by subscription
for the purpose of placing slab, appropriately
inscribed, on the tomb of beloved Sister Mary
Austin, and list will be kept at the CHIEF Of
fee on which those who wish may record their
contributions A suggestion has also been made
that chapel be erected in the Catholic GEM
etery near Sister Austin's resting place, where
the customary mass for, the repose Of the dead
may be celebrated on the first Monday of each
| month. Both are commendable objects, and
their accomplishment would be graceful evil
dence of the love and esteem which the people
of this community bore Sister Austin in life, Of
the deep sorrow and regret with which they
have viewed her death, and Of the respect and
veneration they entertain for her memory.
The Cofeld Guards of Donaldsonville
will be entitled to pro rata of s25 per
. month ont of the appropriation for main
tenance of the State militia during 1883,
and Capt. Jones will soon draw war
rant for the first three months of the
year. With this income, increased by
the voluntary contributions of honorary
members who desire to see all effective
military orrauiza tion u,,iptaina1 bara