Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-23

warned bv the mournful tolling of the iron
bell, every quivering stroke of which seems
70 say death, - to pray without ceasing
Many in the Prime of Life.
Many of the monks at the Grande Chart
reuse are still in the very prime OF their
manhood, and not few of them are menu
hcrs Of wealthy and distinguished families
Vet they have renounced everything; all the
advantages that influence and wealth could
give them; all the comforts of home; the love
OF wife and children; the fascination OF
travel and of strange sights-every tempta-
tion that this most beautiful world could
mold out has been resisted, and they have
dedicated themselves TO gloom, fasting ahd
silence Verify human nature is an un-
fathomable mystery. One may well ask II
these monks are truly happy? If they have
no longingS for the fiesh-pots of Egypt? Ii
;hev do not sometimes pine and sigh for the
busy haunts and the excitement OF the great
towns? Such questions are not easily
answered, unless we get the answer IN the
fact that the mOnaStic VOWS are faithfully
and religioUsly kept; and there is no
record of Carthusian monk ever having
broken his vows. Surely then there must
be something strangely, even terribly
attractive in that stern life which is so full
of hardship and trial, and from years end
20 wears end knows no change, until the
great change which comes TO us all, sooner
or later, whether we be monks or revelers.
I have already mentioned that, notwlth-
standing their sparse and meager diet,
which seems TO us ordinary mortals to lack
nutriment and sustaining power, the monks
Of the Grande Chartreuse are healthy and
vigorous. The Brothers labor in their fields
and gardens, and they cultivate all the
vegetables that they use, as well as grow
most of their own corn for the bread.
They do any bricllaying, carpentering or
painting that may be required, as well as all
The washing and mending Of the establish
lnenI, for Il
Woman Is Never Allowed to Enter
The sacred precincts. The furniture of
each cell consists of a very narrow bed as
hard as a board, and with little covering; a
small stove, for the rigors of the climate
Render a fire indispensable at times, and yet
ihe fires are used but sparingly; little
basin, with jug Of water for ablutlons;
and Of course there is the prie-dieu, and
the image OF q saint. Attached TO the con-
vent is a cemetery, which cannot fail to
have a very melancholy interest for the
visitor. 1t is divided into two parts, one
being for the Fathers, the other for the
Brothers, for as the two branches of the
order are kept distinct III life, so they are
separated in death. No mounds mark the
last resting places of the quiet sleepers; but
AZ the head Of each is a wooden cross,
though il bears no indication OF the name,
are, or date Of death of the deceased-onIy
Il number Having played his little part
and returned 10 the dust from whence he
sIrang, ii is considered meet that the Car
JnuSiau should be forgotten. And the cross
is merely an indication that beneath molder
the remains of what was once a man.
As is well known the monks distill the
famous LIQUOR which finds its way TO all
parts of the world, and yields very hand
some revenue. The process of It's concoc-
lion is an inviolable secret, but 1t is largely
composed of herbs and cognac. 1t is said
that the recipe was brought TO the convent
by one of the Fathers, who had been eN-
PEELED in 1872, and at first the liquor was
used as a medicine and distributed among
tie poor. ia the course OF time, however,
]. was improved upon, for its fame having
snread Il demand Tor 1t spraEg up: and 1t
was resolved 10 make 1t an article of COM
mercc. For this purpose a separate build
ing was erected apart from the monastery,
and placed in charge of one of the Fathers,
wl4O las Il stalt Of Brothers under him.
The Basis OF the Liquor
is supposed to be an indigenous mountain
herb combined with the petals of certain
wild flowers These are macerated with
honey until fermentation takes place. The
liquid is then refined and brandy is added
Formerly Ii was made without brandy. The
".reen' is most favored by conroisseurs, and
il. exquisite, delicate fragrance and flavor
nave never been initiated. More care is be-
slowed upon the green than the yellow"
which is somewhat inferior in quality and
of a coarser flavor. On several occasions
very large sums have been offered for
The right 10 manufacture the charJreuse
hy financial spectators, but ali such
oilers have been resolutely refused
Although l believe that the greater part of
the income Of the convent is spent in deeds
Of charity, it may be doubted by some peo-
pie whether II Is not somewhat Questlona-
ble way for religious order to augment its
funds by the preparation of an intoxicating
liquor for WlIch, according TO their own
doctrine, there Is absolutely no need. The
chartreuse has strong rival in the we'll
known benedctine, made by the Benedic-
zine monks; ana which, while being similar
in character, is said by some to be superior
There is little doubt, however, that the
cnartreuse has much the larger sale of the
two. Many attempts have been made from
:ime TO time by outsiders 10 manufacture
10Th these liquors, hut without SUCCESS, and
the exact secret of their decOction is as re-
iciouSly preserved as are the secrets Of
treemasonry
Like the Great ST. Bernard, the Grande
CLaTtreuse, though not to the same extent,
is show place III summer. Perhaps this is
hardly a fair way OF putting it, for it would
BE q cruel injustice TO let it be supposed
that The CharIreuX had the slightest desire
10 make an exhibition Of their loIely con-
vent. But the travelling facilities afforded
the tourist nowadays enable him to pene-
tra;e TO the remOteSt recesses of the earth.
No place is sacred TO him. and as ne thinks
nothing of going into Continental theater
dressed in a tweed suit, so he does not hesi-
Tsue. garbed in hObnailed boots and knicker-
bockers, to demand entrance into the Grande
Chartreuse, whose mystery he does not un-
derstand and cares nought for, and whose
solemnity does not awe him. To refuse
hospitality, even to the irreverent curiosity
monger would be contrary to
The Carthusian's Greed,
which teaches charity 10 all men, and to
turn no deaf ear to him who asks for bread
and succor. " And so anything Of the mascu-
line gender is admitted and fed with the
frugal fare that is now specially provided
foT visitors; and very properly he who par
;akes OF this hospitality, not being i'll actual
va:rU OF il, is required 10 pay for his enter
talnelL The ordinary visitor is not al
lowed TO pass the night under the roof of
the convent, and therefore that strange and
ghoStIy service in the chapel during the
!iours Of darkness is rarely witnessed The
Graade Chartreuse boasts of a magnificent
library, which numbers upward of 20, 900
volumes, for the most part of
a theological nature. Many of
these books are unique and of great age