The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1890-11-15
IN A ROMAN CONVENT.
The Life of Monks and Lsy-hrothsrs DO
seribsd by DT. Psrkmau.

IHt app'"''s -'
break. and told inc that In fifteen min
utes l was to Join the Italians in retreat
and go with them TO mass, writes Dr.
Francis Parkman, in liarpor's Magazine
Th. mass was followed by another ser
mon, after which We were all summoned
TO coffee in the room whore We had
taken tea the evening before. The re-
port of my heresy had got abroad, and
found myself an object OF curious atten-
ton.
After coffee We were dismissed to our
chambers for an hour. and then listened
To another sermon In the chapel. This
consumed tho morning till eleven
o'clock. when u bell rang for dinner
and monks and laymen together moved
In solemn procession TO tho rcfectory.
Tho monks went first, tho Superior at
their head, then followed the laymcn'
and while the procession was forming
in tho corridor they all kept up tho dis
NAL, unin,crmitted chanting. The re-
icctory MAS long. high, dimly-ligh,ed
hall. a table Of bare wood was
stretched across the farther end for
tho dignitaries OF the convent, and
was continued down both sides. Here,
on RICH, and left, sat the rest OF the
monks, forty or hfty In number, and the
iaymen sat below them, nearer the door.
III. seat, wcro wooden benches, placed
on tho inner side OF the tables only. On
the wall over the heads OF the dignits'
rlos was irc,co Of tho Last supper, "a,
usual In rcieetorles, while ON the a!do
walls hung grim pictures OF saints with
upiurned eye, and palms pressed to-
gcih-r. High up, near the coilin., wa,
a small pulpit, The entirc hall WAS
whltcwashoi above and pancllci With
oak below.
Al the head of the tables stood the
Superior, who Wa, General OF tho Who'll"
ordor, tall. porily man with stern
and ausi-rc cOun,onAnc.. The monks,
mo:loulcsi and in dead silence, stood
ranged on RICH, and left, robcd In hlacl.
from head 10 foot, and wearing ON the
breast the badge of their oricr-a heart
suEmoun,ci by cross. Their harsh,
c4layer0ns face, bespoke the rl:or of
their discipline, which j. extremely sf-
we're. When all wcr. In their places
tho Superior raised his hnscr. and tho
whole aszemblas, broke out Into an
other chant When a. last IL va, cndc!
the finger was raised again, and all took
their seats. No, word wa, spoken:
hu, a monk entered the pulpit from 4
narrow door In ,h. wall. and In drawl-
ing. mono,onou, tones read 4 Latin ser
mon. which lasted Throughout, the meal.
lilo had hardly begun when lilc Of
Ia y.bro,h.r, entered. each c.sryin. a
receptacle formed Of three ;rays, ono
above tho other. connected by an up
RICH, wooden Eoi. and heliin- great
number o. bosl, and sn.ll dishes. The
monk, w-ro served first Before them
were ~, bowls Of dismai.lpokias yc..
.,ablc soup. along with dIshch Of aE!cl
prasr boiled whole, and swvl.eI 20
wonderful nlsr by the process. Each
then dros a cup. a fork aud a wooden
spoon from e drawer In the table. and
with ruc.ui eoun,rnzacr proceeded 20
eat. nr,t iiiiins the cup irpEi an '4sih"n
bottle Of cheap win. which stool on the
boari br.or- him.
We of the laliy Jared hc;;rr. being
served with rir-. "s'., nsh and drici
fruit. III. Italians seemed iit;l" oil
fed by the Latin sermon. which fow Of
them could have und.r.,pcd. Tho meal
VA, followed by = prayer. with low go
srsnar, from tho monks. after which
thor all fi-d OF through tho dim fzi.
icrl.a to their d.n., looking Ike lirin.
originals Of ,sc irc.ry portraits ranged
along the walls.
When had so, 10 my chamber and
was r-frcshin. myself vita The iio-
nrcr.. one o. them came In - convert
me. My father" said /. Il am afraid
your kindness will H. thrown away
iIu. hr eiapp"i RI" on ia" knee. and
exclaimed ch.criuily: "Ah. H.'iGo. you
will bo a good Catholic soon. No doubt
of IT,"
There was an amusing Siyari'y In
him. quite iIf.r-n, from al, .Sircmr
sal-mnl,y whom a. dianrr. In tho
coursr ci his talk. which vas rambling,
though plpus. hc kcp; Offering the hl,
tnuii.hoS. freely using T. himself mean.
while; and when he thought he hal
made good hi; In his argument. he
would wink al nae with cpinical look
Of triumph. on which SO both fen to
laughing A, length the Leii ran- To-;
moro prayers aud srruuus ia the chapel,
anil ,aib SpriFhily old apostle wen, bsc!.
10 his coll.
After tho sermon ID" iaymcn wcru
turned oat t. walk for while In the
conycn, garden, attended 10y valrr
Luca. lie was not. Ihink. ono Of the
PASSIONS, brotherhood. hgt a HrcYl.r
priest, and his pleasant. p!umr.
goDj.humorci couuiunsucc eoniFasicd
strangely with the dry, lEati-ry vi ages
Of the rrouks. \. VI" walked up aud
down the paths. shaded with olives aud
olcaIdcFs, lac took me hy the arm and
talked Of mat,rrsoi faiih. stopping from
:imc to timc a. the liiilc groups Of ltal.
ians, who. after rcvrrcuuy Kissing hIs
hand. began 10 chat and laugh with him
In an easy familiarity. Fsar fully tom
pcrcd with respect. lie srcmcd 10 have
their foil affection AMI cpn.iIrnar. al
which. juli'in; 10y what saw OF him.
did not wonder.
AY,s.tI,..Itr.