Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27


ana. y now used for . library contain
ing 10000 volumes, besides interesting
documents, including . copy OF the
/. Abdication.'' The "Stag-Gallery,"
under this, has been restored in the
antique style Of the original one, its
wallis being quantity painted with topo-
graphical views Of the most noted cha
teaux of France and their surroundings.
Stacs' heads are placed between the
views but two only have antlers. A
change of government having taken
place during the restoration, the work
was stopped and has not been renewed.
Christina, Queen Of Sweden, the
guest of France under Louis NV,
after the abdication of her throne,
had her chief marshal murdered
here, some say in her presence, from
iealously and n desire for vengeance.
The furniture in this gallery is of the
Empire period. One piece, an en-
broidery frame, captivates the taste OF
the lady visitors and induces the
wealthiest of them TO try and buy 1t
or have it copied. There is no posi-
bility Of buying it, and the expense of
having it copied is so great that the fair
aspirants are usually deferred by the
first preliminaries. Even wealthy
Russian princess gave it up last year.
Every one declares " Empire o6jets
d. art to be no longer the fashion,
and that no one cares to possess
them now, but when one sees them
as at Fontainebleau, one only gives
qualified assent to such an assertion.
| The Gallery Henry III. is huge salon
used for balls and .fstes. 1t has wide
space down the middle, which is lined
on both sides with enormous and deep
archways containing the windows. The
archways have seats on the sides, and
form smaller rooms off the main one
This salon is deliberately decorated in
white figures, gliding, and paintings,
originally by Primatise and his pupil,
Nicolo dell Abate, but now much re-
stored and changed. The initial of
Henry H.. the crescent Of Diana of
Poitiers, and her initial, occur frequent
ly. One end of the gallery is taken
up with a gigantic chimney-piece, cor
responding in decoration with the re-
mainder. The Gallery Francis |. is
covered with allegorical and mytholo'
gical compositions pressed into the SER
vice of illustrating the life Of that mon
arch. The pictures are separated by
bas-relefs, caryatides, trophies, and
medallions. so that the walls are a mass
of artistic work. The Plate gallery
has lnnumerable Sevres plates sunk in
the walls. They are painted with views
of celebrated places. This odd arrange
ment of plates was originated by Louis
Philippe, and though each plate is beau
tiful in decorative effect, the collection
is q failure.
The town of Fontainebleau has seve-
raj religious institutions. We attended
the little chapel Of the Carmellite Con-
vent on the occasion of an interesting
occurrence during our stay. We went
an hour before the service began in or
der to be sure of getting seat, yet we
found the chapel more than half fall,
and soon it became packed and the
open space outside invaded for stand
ing-room.
TAKING THE VEIL.
The event which brought this crowded
congregation Of part.curious and criti-
cising and part-sympathizing spectators
was the taking Of the white veil by
lady who had just completed
the usual preparatory noyitiate. Though
the door behind the grating on the right
hand of the altar was closed, we could
hear the chanting of the nuns behind it,
and even distinguished some of their
words, such as Cora pro nobiS " and
similar petitions following each other
closely. Soon after the nuns had fin
ished one of the two attached to the
convent whose duty it is to transact the
affairs connected with the outer world,
and who therefore goes about unveiled.
came out and lighted the candles and
attended to the other duties Of serri-
tor. She looked rather odd moving
about the space surrounding the
altar in her quaint gauftred cap
and clinging black garments. The
bell began to toll, and then
the doors behind the grating were
opened and we saw through the bars the
yelled sisters fitting backwards and
forwards. The singing boys and priests
came in, the bell tolled again, and
movement of expectation vibrated
through the congregation. AT last the
young lady about to take the VOWS ar
rivee. She was dressed as bride, in
white satin dress with long train, a
! wreath Of orange-blossoms on her head,
and bridal veil of tulle. She carried
tall candle in her hand. and walked
up the aisle, serene and composed, and
leaning on the arm Of her mother. Be-
hind followed her father, two brothers,
and a lady friend. The family party
seated themselves in front of the gra-
ting, and the service began. After
few chants preacher assembled the pull
pit and delivered sermon, or rather
an address, to the new sister, dwelling
especially on the life of prayer and con-
temptation, to which this order is de-
voted, and on the satisfaction to be de-
rived from it.
GIVING THE BLESSING.
When the address was over the
Bishop gave the blessing, then he head
ed the procession of priests and AGO.
lytes which closed with the " bride "
and her family. They walked out OF
the church to a small door in the con-
vent wall near which the priests di-
vided, some standing one side some the
other, in order that the bride and her
family might pass through. The bride
seemed thrilling with ecstacy and emo
ton and regardless Of incidental cir
cumstances, for when her long train
stuck on the damp, muddy ground and
hindered her walking, one of her bro
theirs stopped and bore it up, but she did
not seem to notice it; excepting that the
hindrance being removed she passed on.
At the door Of the convent wall she
9 turned and kissed her family, then
: kneeling by the threshold she kissed the
bishops hand and received his bless
ing. AS she rose we saw through the
. open doorway the heavily yelled sisters