The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-27
THE oHARTREusE MONKS.
Lore and Legends Connected with the
Ancient French Monastery.

Lore ana 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 ac-
count in one of the French newspapers
of some of the lore and legends con-
nected with its history. at is always
with II sense of fresh pleasure" says
the writer of the article, .that knock
at the hospitabe gate of the monks,
behind which II brother makes an ex-
animation of the arrival, in order to
weed out lady visitors, who are not I'D
mitted. And with what formidable
appetite, sharpeued 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 believe that is what they call him)
shows travellers according to their
position, as far as the latter cen be
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 wealthier among the
visitors paying slightly more than the
rest. As to the fare, it is always simple
but abundant, and deliciously prepared
that is to say, fish omelets, vege-
tables and butter are an advantageous
change from 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 handed
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.
81 have heard an eyewitness tell
the story of Il lady who entered the
monastery, dressed in mems clothes,
The fraud had been successfully ac-
complished, and the fair intruder
visited calmly the curiosities of the
cloisters which were shown and ex-
planned by lay brother. But habit
becomes second nature, and nature is
n terrible habit All at once the lady
In the dress coat called out, Pardon
me. brother, but where has my hus-
band gomez The poor monk was first
quite stupefed ut hearing a 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 o |
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 !
Il Republican society of young men
whose object it was to assist by every |
possible means in the defense of the |
country. This society had the happy !
idea of organizing "a stage play for the |
benefit of the wounded, which was a
prodigious success and realized 1000 !
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 number of tickets to the
various authorities and nOtabilitios of
jhe district, among others to the Cen
,ral OF the Chartreuse, to the Superior
Df the JesuitS. and to the Bishop. The
Bishop returned the tickets, but added
10 money. The Jesuits kept them and
orgot to pay for them. But from the
General of the Chartreuse we got let
jer to this effect: Gentlemen, we re-
yret not to be able to be present at the
you are about to give for
he benefit of our wounded soldiers,
out as we should like to participate as
much as possible in your charitable and
patriotic object we are happy to send
you Il check for three hundred francs
The graceful and gracious note was
concluded with few words of tn anks
or having remembered the inmates of
,he monastery. London Times.