The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-31
THE cAARTREuse MONKS.
Lore and Legends Connected With the
Ancient French Monastery.

THE CHARTREUSE MONKS.
Lore and Legends Connected with the
Ancient French Monastery.
A native of Grenoble who has known
this ancient monastery and its inhab-
itants all his life. and has visited it en-
ouvrier en- artistic and en- touriste at
all seasons of the year, gives an &C
count in one of the French newspapers
of some of the lore and legends con-
nected with its history. ''It is always
with a sense of fresh pleasure" says
the writer of the article, that knock
at the hospitable gate of the monks,
behind which brother makes an ex-
animation of the arrival. in order to
weed out lady visitors. who are not adj
mitted. And with what a formidable
appetite, sharpened by walk of six
or seven hours, sit down to table in
one of the three large halls bearing the
names of ancient French provinces, and
into one of which the pere procureur
q bslieve that is what they call him)
shows travellers according to their
position, as far as the latter can bt
judged of by their dress and their man.
nerS.
"In all the three halls. at all the diff
ferent tables, the food is exactly alike.
1t is the price only which varies. those
who appear the Weather among the
visitors paying slightly more than the
rest. AS to the fare, it is always simple
but abundant. and deliciously prepare
that is to say, fish Oaelets, vege-
tables and butter are an advantageous
change f ON the meat Of the ordinary
table d'hote. The butter especially
good heavens, what butter it is! a
veritable cream, innocent of the exist.
ence of such thing as margarine
Then there is the inevitable little glass
of yellow liquor. which is first offered
as an appetizer, and then again hand ed
around as adessert. Nobody com plain :
of the fare, for at this place the liquor
is genuine and not like it is on the ter
races of certain large boulevard cafes.
Il have heard an eyewitness tell
the story of a lady who entered the
monastery. dressed in mems clothes
at the side of her lord and master.
| The frand had been successfully &C
complished, and the fair intruder
visited calmly the cnriOsities of the
| clOisters which were shown and eX-
planned by lay brother. But habit
| becomes second nature, and nature is
a terrible habit. All at once the lady
in the dress cat called Olt, Pardon
me. brother, but where has my hus-
band gomez The poor monk was first
quite s,upefied at hearing sweet voice
come from behind the stiff, white col
lar, and looked terrOr-stricken upon
the hypocritical overcoat and the fall
laciOus trousers. Then some servants
came up, carrying an old armchair,
into which they put the intruder and
carried her out of the monastery gate.
''Here is story which does credit
to the old General du Chartreuse,' who
is said to be most independent and
stiff-necked among the followers of tn G
Holy Father. 1t was in the terrible
year OF 1870. After the first defeats
which filled with surprise and with woe
French hearts all over the country
some young people at Grenoble founded
q Republican society of young mer
whose object it was to assist by every
possible means in the defense of the
country. This society had the happ,
idea of organizing stage play for the
benefit of the wounded, which was
prodigious success and realized 400,
| francs, an amount which the directors
Of the Grenoble Theater had never be-
fore realized.
1--WE had, before the play was per
| formed, sent a number of tickets to the
various authorities and nOtabilities Of
the district, among others to the Gen.
eral OF the Chartreuse, to the Superior
of the Jesuits. and to the Bishop. The
Bishop returned the tickets, but added
no money. The Jesuits kept them and
forgot to pay for them. But from the
General of the Chartreuse we got let
ter to this effect: Gentlemen, we re
greet not to be able to be present at the
entertainment you are about to give foi
the benefit of our wounded soldiers
but as we should like to participate a.
much as possible in your charitable ani
patriotic object we are happy to sent
you check for three hundred francs
The graceful and gracious note wa
concluded with few words of tn ank
for having remembered the inmates O
the monastery. London Times.