National Republican., 1883-03-29
AN OLD LANDMARK.
W0skmen Begin to Tear Down the Walls Of
the Old G Street Convent
Tho Nuns OF the visitation and Thei'
Work In Washington.

NOfklntn yesterday morning were cnBaSeu
in demolishing tho high bricl, wall surround
ing the old convent at the corner of Tenth
aud G streets. That wall had been there for
generation. 1t had become feature of the
place. 1t was old weather BEATEN and
gloomy The shadows it cast were dark and
forbidding. 1t lent lonely aspect to the
pleasant ncighborhood around And yet
because of the associations that cluster
around It, because of its age, because it is a
landmark with youth of the present genera
tion. there are many who regret TO see
il go. New and handsome dwellings will
take it's place. The square will lose its lonely
aspect, property will advance in price, the
locality will become more cheerful but still
the change is not an agreeable one to many.
Conservatism clings to sentiment, and dc.
voutly believes that old walls, like old
friends, old wine, old books, are the best.
The old convent, whose garden this wall
surrounds, was purchased by the Nuns Of the
Visitation order in 1852. This order was
founded in 1910 by st. Francis De Sales,
prince and bishop OF Geneva Ste. Jeanne dc
Chantel, of Dion, coadjuting The object of
the order is educational. 1t was instituted
in the United States in Georgetown, in l799.
Here the superiority of the order in impart-
ing instruction was so speedily and prc-em-
'jncntly manifested that their name became
tation became at once and still is the most
famous institution of female learning south
of Mason and Dixons line. 1t was also
widely known and largely patronized from
the north and west
Father Matthew the venerable pastor of st.
Patricks church. in this city, whose memory
is cherished by all the old inhabitants Of the
district irrespective of religion, was anxious
that Washington should have Il school for
young ladies on the same basis as the George
town academy. At his earnest solicitation
and under the direction of the archbishop of
the see, Right Rev. Samuel Ecclcston, a COM
munity was established in this city. Their
first location was at the southwest corner of
Ninth and + streets in the two and a half
story building occupied by Mr.. Murray and
by Mr.. Stcllinins rs boarding house. In
those DAYS the patent office was unfinished,
the posto1ice still incomplete, + street, be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets, was vacant
lot with board fence. A wood yard was
kept at'the postof1ice corner of Seventh and
j. Where Masonic temple stands was row
of small dingy brick houses with peaked
roofs like old fashioned Dutch bcltries. Buz-
yards Roost was fashionable boarding house.
Ninth street north of + was partially occu-
pied with small frame houses. A branch of
the Tiber ran up through Temple square, and
rs far north as II street, and the land was
cut up in gulChes and rayines. This neigh
borhOod, the heart Of Washington, was
rough and forbidding looking place.
In 1882 the community purchased from Mr..
Christopher Cation the corner lot at Tenth
and & streets with the large house to the
west They paid for the property $4,000
large sum in those days, Father Matthew
had given the community on its first organiza-
ton $4,000, and $4,000 to his niece, the first
mother superior. These sums were applied
in part payment of the purchase price. In
1S54 they purchased from Mr. Andrews the
adjoining house, and still later bought from
Mr.. Woodward the next house west. The
castcrnmust house of the three, the one
originally bought had been for the occupancy
Of the French minister, but had never been
used. The Washington community of the
Nuns Of the Visitation therefore moved under
u ROOF tree that had never sheltered any beings
until il held them and their sacred purposes
There were eight in all of this community
ut tirst-scVcn choir sisters those who chant
the offices before the altar and one lay sister.
Theirs was the first community of cloistered
nuns ever located in Washington city. The
members came from Georgetown, Baltimore,
and Frederick communities. The first
mother superior was Eliza Matthew,
niece of Father Matthew, whose name
in religion was Sister Mary Juiana
Matthew. The order of the Nuns of the Visi-
tatiOn permits its members to retain their
family surname Sister Juliana was born in
Charles county, Md. The other choir sisters
were: Ellen Cummings, whose name in reli-
giOn is Sister Mary de Chantcl; she was born
IN Dublin, but at 6 years of age came to Wash
ingtOn, where she was raised. Sister de
Chantel is the oldest member of the
community. She is of medium height and
slender form, with face classic in its out
line; II voice remarkable for its refined in
tOnaton and pleasant melody, and an ex-
preston of serene, cultured refinement which
instantly wins the beholder's heart. Out of
the quiet beautiful eyes looks a soul white
and stainless and serene with perfect peace.
Il taNFa1
the art of growing old gracefully. The
present mother superior is Louisa Dyer,
whose name in religion is Sister Mary Au-
gllstimc Dyer. Sister Augustine was born in
Prince George county, Maryland, and comes
of one of the old Maryland families noted
tOr force Of character and intellectual ability.
She is u little above the medium height
slightly inclined to emJOnpOim with graceful
carriage and an air of gentle dignity. Over
her quiet lovely face the years have passed,
each one adding grace, not one diminishing
II charm. In her world life Sister Augustine
was belle, admired and beloved, The bril-
liant mind and beautiful person which
charmed society still exercise their gentle
aud winning influences over her sister nuns
and her pupils. Sister Augustine is model
mother superior and is dearly beloved by her
community.
Mary Olive Stonestrcet, sister of the late
Father Stonestrcct, whose name in religion
was Sister Mary Philomeua Stonestreet was
born in Charles county, Maryland. Mary
Stubbs, whose name in religion was Sister
Mary Emanuel Stubbs, was born in Washing
ton; she was the daughter of the late Edward,
one of the most prominent residents of Wash
ington in ante-Jeiivm days. Louisa Saunders,
whose name in religion was Sister Mary Bene-
dicta Saunders was born in Charles county.
Anne Rebecca Osborn, whose name was Sister
Mary Margaret Osborn, was born in Frederick
Maryland.
Eliza Snowden, whose religious name was
Sister Mary Anne Maria Snowdcn, was born
in Maryland. The lay sisters name in re-
ligion was Sister Mary Euphrasa Hughes.
OF these eight original members of the com.
munity Sisters Augustine dc Chantel Eu-
phrasia Margaret, Anne Maria and Benedicta
are still living; the others are dead. The
first three are still with the community.
Sister Margaret is in Georgetown and Sister
BenediCta in Baltimore. Tho first mother
superior, Sister Juliana, went TO Richmond as
superior Of the convent there about fifteen
years ago.
There are now twenty-nine members OF
the community. They have had great many
more, of whom numbers have died and been
transferred to communities elsewhere.
In the old garden, whose encompassing
wall was demolished yesterday, each sister
had a plat of flowers which she personally cul-
tivated. Old residents Of Washington re-
member the profusion of roses which filled
tbo 0rap1a, uybiph gnul1 NOT Ina eaan from tho