Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-19
A sINGUL AR PEOPLE.

A. ALLEN, President of Council.
THos. A. PRENDERGAsT, City Clerk.
A SINGULAR PEOPLE.
Something AbOut rhe Manner ja Witch the
Iroppist Monks Lire ut Their Monastery
Near Louisville.
Few people, even in Kentucky, know
that only short journey from Louisville
there is monastery of Trappist monks
It is situated in the southern part of
Nelson county, on the Louisville & Nash
vile railroad, about forty miles south of
that city, Externally the monastery re-
sembles any other, but when the doors are
once passed the visitor feels as if he had
slipped back into the middle
ages. The monks continue their devo-
lions about six and half hours, and then
march on in silent procession to the
chapter room. Here they meet every
morhing, and here punishment is melted
out for all offenses against their rules.
The abbott's chair is an elevated throne,
and in walking to his seat the alb
bot passes over his own grave. For pun
ishment, some are deprived of their meals
for day, others are ordered to PROSTATE
themselves on the floor while the monks
walk over them. When decision is given
the delinquent never murmurs, but imme-
diately sets about its fulflment. All
Trappist monasteries are built i'll the form
of a quadrangle, inclosing a square court,
All around this court extends the cloister,
used for promenade. Here the
inmates never speaks not even to visitors,
nor do they in the dormitory or churches
In TIE graveyard is the tomb of Mrs Nan
cy Miles, and by her side the remains of
Mrs. Mary Brantford, only sister of Jeffer-
son Davis. Each monks grave is marked
by black cross, on which in white letters
is painted his monastery name. The dead
are not inclosed in collins, but are simply
wrapped in their gowns and buried. When
death occurs fresh grave is immediate
ly opened for the next one who passes
away. In the dormitory each monk has
cell with walls of heavy fire brick. The
monk always sleeps with his clothes on.
The regular time for rising is never later
than Z o'clock, but on fast days
it is two hours sooner. In their cells every
Friday night the monks scourge them
selves with knotted whip of many lashes
in remembrance of the scourging of the
Savior. Except on physicians prescrip-
tlon, monk never tastes meat of any kind,
fish, eggs, butter or lard. Their diet is ex-
clusively vegetable. No stimulants, not
even tea, coffee or tobacco, are used in any
form. In the dining room each monk is
provided with tin plate and a wooden
fork and spoon. From Sept. IA to Ash
Wednesday only one meal a day is allowed.
From Easter Sunday until Sept. IA they
eat two meals a day. For seven
years those who wish to
enter are on trial, and all the hardships
are put upon them. They can go away
any day during the period if they desire,
but when the time of probation is over
they take final VOW, and are irrevocably
sundered from the world. There are about
sixty monks in this monastery. Only two
Americans belong to the order, one from
Selma, Alabama, and the other from Phil
adelphia. remarkable rule of the order
is that which precludes all females from
entering the abbey, save only the wife of
the ruler of the nation. The Gethsemene
abbey owns 1900 acres of land, half of
which is in state of high cultivation.
81 Cso,c To Peel; Hath Tou''
A raven one day told Apollo that Coronis,
Thessalian nymph whom he passionatly
loved, was faithless, and the god shot the
nymph with his dart; but, hating the tell
tale bird,
she BACKED the raven o'er,
And bid MIN pratei in his white plumes no more"
1t is evident, therefore, tn 1t the ii le Of
Corvus splendens is no iIi-natured sneer,
as the unlearned world would have Us be-
lieve, but it is an interesting bit of history
embalmed, and therefore to be cherished
as against the modern emendation of i'm
pudicus, which is only redeemed from the
charge of impertinence by the fact that it
simply and unduly urges the gracelessness
of the crow, trait in which no one is in
any way concerned to deny in the present
day. 1t is almost as gratuitous an insult
as appeared in the custom that used to
prevail among the Greeks and Romans.
The children of their wealthy families
frequently kept birds for their amusement,
aud among these the crow was very often
found. In their childish quarters the boys
used to pull the feathers out of each other
pets as means of making them and their
owners ridiculous. No doubt the crow
very violently resented this indignity; but
still the fact is preserved for rs in the
phrase, Il have crow to pick with you,
and the selection Of him as the specimen
bird is compliment to the crow.