Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-19

ward, and eat Their scanty meal in that
position. wlihe others PROSTATE them
selves on the floor in the shape of a
cross, with hands outspread and walk
on hands and knees and kiss the feet Of
their brothers as a mode Of humAia-
ton or modification.
a Trappist menu would drive Henry
George into spasms and cause DR.. Nc
Glyun TO preach newer" crusade;
4 slice Of brown bread, a glass of
water or 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 partaken OF. The soup contains
neither grease, butter, nor oil. and the
dish of vegetables cooked in water
gives piquancy. Meat, fish, and eggs
are never served in the refectory, and
oil is not even allowed for salad. but
when a 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
Trappsts are the longest lived men in
that or any otter country. They gen
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 ~ their mode Of living.
The brother physician Of Lo Grande
Trupp during "A residence OF twenty
eight years has not known case of
apoplcxy, dropsy, govt or cancer; what
is most strange, be adds, that the most
terrible ep,demics which have visited
the country around the abbey have in
yariably stopped at its threshold.
The dormtory is well lighted and
vcntilaluj but tine beds are the hard
est bare hunks. No chair, water
washstaud, towel, or looking-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 seYerer
penance 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-
cupant. On going TO bed they remove
the cowl, or outer garment, and shoes,
| but sleep in their cassock, which is
never taken off except when cleanli-
ness requires change of clothes. The
imperative practice of washing the
feet every Saturday is strictly adj
! hered TO and socks are donned once q
week.
On the second floor is the community
or chapter room-a large apartment
where members may walk or read or
! kuecl in private devotion or penance,
or deport themselves according to
their sanctifed desires. The life OF
the Trappists is the same the world
over. They rise at 2 o'clock in the
morning, and on feast days at mid.
night. From then till o'clock in the
evening, when they go to bed, every
hour is apportioned to toll or prayer,
except two hours at noon. No un-
necessary word is ever spoken, and
the word necessary is strictly inter-
preted. Few Americans become
Trappists. The applicant for 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 lasbes his
bare back with a rope by way of dis
cipline.