Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-21
THE oHARrREusB SECRET.
A Monopoly That millions Cannot
Huy-'A'ho Cbrthusiau Monks.

Huy-Eho Cnrthusthn uoukhs
PANS, Feb. For some days past
mild excitement has peryaded Europe.
II was caused by q rumor--of which no
doubt, the cable has epprised you that
Pope Leo XIII. has determined to make
the Carthusian monks relinquish the
monopoly OF the liqusur whose process
of manufacture Is D secret with them.
the sum offered was about GIG, 600, OpO,
and expressed the value that London
bankers placed on the secret and m mop
oily that belongs to the monks OF Gren-
oble.
A papal legate visited the far-famed
monastery-the Grand Ohartreuse-s
DAYS after the offer had been rejected,
and 1t was said that he carried with him
from the Vatican many doctrines to SHOW
that the monks were violating tho rules
of their order in engaging in commercial
lines aud that they should accept the
proposition OF tho London bankers. Thls
story Is officially denied to-day by the
Papal Nunclo, aud the monks may con.
tinue their old pursuits without fear OF
molestation and with The consciousness
that the French government would never
permit their time bonured rights to be
iniringed.
The CaTthusian monks have always
been secure in the protection OF the
| French government, no matter what lis
| complexion might have been. Other re-
1 ligious orders have ben expelled from
TINA 20 time, but the ChartreuSa monks
have never had occasion TO fear the wrath
of the powers that be. They annually
turn iu $3.50, 600 to the French exchequer
and the profits Of their liqaeur are dis
tributed in charities in which they could
use more than they receive. Their secret
no one has ever been able to reach, al
though time and money have been wasted
in the effort. Experiments without num-
Der have been made, but they were rs
futile as the search to discover the mys.
teries of the polar regions-the freeziag
presence Of an icebuFg being nothing to
the air OF chilliness with which the
monks have always treated the investi
gator. There are, it is said, about 81
different plante, and In the preparation o.
the liqueur. Each monk has his owl
grounds to cultivate, his own workshop
to himself, and in them he pursusB hi
daily manual occupations without con
versation with anyone and alone to hi
self communingH.
i Aivisit to the Grand Ohartreuss man
desire TO pay but none is privileged to d.
80. When the early monks were Pivel
the lands now occupied by tho orde
ohartreuse was desert. The place i
not very cheering to-day, and the ten
mile ride away to the north OF Grenobl
runs through dreary roads that takes I'll
hours to traverse. The monastery
seated on height in narrow valley
with q rugged cliff on each side. TIL
distillery is situated lower down than tn
monastery and there ths preliminar
work of the monks Is converted iuto tn
famous liquid. under tho direction of
! lay brother who has large number @
common laborers under his superinter
Z dsnce. No visitor ia allowed to renal
! within the walls of the institution mOl
) than AS hours, aud ladies are nsvar az
mitted and eau only look on the buiit
1 ings as they appear from the convent {
, the Sisters OF Providence near by. ia
, rules OF the order have never bee
9 changed, and they are 80 strict that ~
Q priest or monk can DO relieved of h
: vows 70 enter the order, bu. OarthusiI
b cannot secure translation to any 9th,
T organisation OF the church.
;, A brief account Of the CarthusiAns vi
Q appropriately conclude this letter. II
y order was founderei by st. Bruno
o 1854. Its founder believed that manu-
l. labor was more healthy to relieve u
8 hours of contemplation than other n
profitable 0IalG.59. The gannEs afz CAV
II allowed 10 cot meat, nd Ash caanat
eA.an except when given 40 aims T.,
!, aud cheese ars their food or TWO day
d pulse and boiled herbs on three o,hel
n and bread aad water or Wednesday o.
r Friday. One meal a day ia the only
r lowanoe, except on feasts of the don't
" class, and this they eat in their loat
7, cells. They sleep on sheetlsss beds, o
g. are awakened twice during I
A night to recite their office. Rough b
% shirts are worn next their skin, and VIII
Of they dis they are laid in the grave wit
70 on anything between them aud tho Of
rs but the robes they wore in life. A sin
% Gross marks their graves, no mans bei
" engraved thereon. Strange to say, nea
all this monks die of Old age.