Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-23

ward, and eat their scanty meal in that
position, while others PROSTATE them
selves on the floor in the shape of
cross, with hands outspread, and walk
on hands and knees and kiss the feet of
their brothers as a mode Of humeia-
ton or modification.
A Trappjst menu would drive Henry
/ George into spasms and cause Dir. Me
| Glynn to preach a newer" crusade;
a slice OF brown bread, a glass of
water or a cup of coffee comprises their
morning meal. At noon they dine on
soup and vegetables At o'clock
another collation. of bread and water
is partakeu Of The soup contains
neither grease, butter, nor oil, and the
dish of vegetables cooked in water
gives pquancy. Meat, fish, and eggs
are never served in the refectory, and
oil is not even allowed for salad, but
when member is sick all necessary
care is taken of him and all comforts
allowed.
Notwithstanding the severe mode Of
life among the Trappists, there are
some very old men in the order, and
the statistics of France show that the
Trappists are the longest lived men in
that or any other country They gem
orally die of old age, except in cases
where chronic diseases were contracted
before entering the monastery, and
even then the lives OF the sufferers are
prolonged by their mode of living.
The brother physician Of 10 Grande
Trappi during a residence of twenty
eight years has not known case Of
apoplcXy, dropsy, govt, or cancer; what
is most strange, he adds, that the most
terrible cpidcmics which have visited
| the country around the abbey have in
variably stopped at its threshold.
The dormitory is we'll lighted and
ventilated, but the beds are the hard
est bare hunks. No chair, water,
washstand, towel, or loolsing-glass was
to be seen, none of these luxuries are
permitted, but all can wash at the
common bath, and dry themselves on
one common towel Many Of the
fathers and brothers sleep on bare
| boards, without covering, pillow. or
mattress, and do tins as severer
| penauce for their sins, so as to be more
worthy of heaven in the hereafter.
On the door of each cell hangs a card
with the name and number of the oc-
eupant On going to bed they remove
the coWl, or outer garment, and shoes,
| but sleep in their cassock, which IS
never taken of except when cleanli-
ness requires "A change Of clothes The
| imperative practice OF washing the
feet every Saturday is strictly adj
| hered to and socks are donned once Il
week.
On tho second floor is the community
or chapter room IA large apartment
whore members may walk or read or
| kneel in private devotion or penance,
| or doport themselves according to
their sanctiiied desires. The life of
the Trappists is the same the world
over They rise at o'clock in the
| morning, and on feast days at mid
night From then till o'clock in the
evening, when they 90 to bed every
! hour is appOrtioned TO toll or prayer,
except two hours at noon. No I'M
necessary word is ever spoken, and
tue word necessary is strictly inter-
preted. Few Americans become
Trappists. The applicant for a Trap
| pist cell must undergo many hard
| ships. He must become utterly dead
to the world beyond the monastery.
There are men here in the order who
don't know that there ever was a
civil war in this country or that Lin
coin or Garfield were assassinated.
Every Friday, except when festival
days fall on Friday, each lasAes his
bare back with rope by way of dis
cipline.