Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-16
sEvKRKsT OF EnELEGIoUso ORDERS
The Carmelitc Nun Pictured In Her
 Cell by a Former Carmelite.

SEN NERhsT OF fS ORDERS The Carmelifc Nun Pictured In Her Cell by a Former Carmelite. From the Fisarol
 It is five o'clock the morning bell rings. Alone fn her little cell, whose whitewashed walls have big cruciix and holy water font for their sole ornaments, the Carmel ite sister awakes. She rises from her lit tie couch, a folding bed with hair mat tress and 10 sheet or pillow, and, after having in brief invocation given her heart to God, she commences her toilet. In a few moments sue finishes her sblu- tions in little earthen basin (the Carmel ites never take bath), puts on her serre- tete, the eack of Canton flannel which takes the place of chemise, and the brown iupon of the game stuff, which compose all her linen, which she changes every six months! The serge dress, inc long scapulsr, and the veil complete the adjustment She ties her waist with a leather girdle that holds her rosary, and then puts on her rude sandals
 Fifteen minutes after the morning cali the Augelus ringe, and the Csrmelite be gins her prison. Saint Tberesa. the founder of the order, wrote for tae in struction of the novices in this exercise, which holds such conspicuous place in the rules of tae order: "The Road to Perfection," work of mystic theology and moral instructions. The morning ori- son Is intended to give tAs plan of the days labor, to perform one's duties to God, to meditste upon the mystery of the life of the eaint whose feast Is celebrated, and to take resolutions to serve the Lord.
 After the orison the "hours" are rung. The nuns quit their cells to go to the chap el. Along the sombrs corridors they pass with little lamps in their hands, complete ly lost in their great veils, while they drag their sandals along the cold flags, In this way they appear like ghosts gliding through the cloister in dead silence. The nuns do no. speak 10 each other. Each one takes her place in the chapel and the recitation of the offices begins. chanted in three notes, always the same.
 At the close of the "hours" the sisters go to their occupations, which include du ties in the convent or manual labor Work Is suspended to attend mass, which is celebrated every day. Then 1t is re- sumed
 The Carmelites work at embroidery, make church linen, sacerdotsl ornaments, artificial flowers, beads and holy images which gre exposed for sale in their psrlors, and form the principal revenue Of the community. The text of the constitution of St. Theresa prohibits ell curious works and all working in gold or silver. But times have changed, and those who ex pound the texts say now that the prohibi- tion does not extend to the ornaments of | the church.
 One of the most curious branches of | Carmelite industry is the manufacture of | ,,- >f xr-hinh ba ah | ject of a special trade. Horse hair shirts and belts snd bracelets abundantly sup | piled with steel points, &c., are gold at from two to ten francs; but the applicant muet ba supplied with 8 special recom- men!ation before he can procure any one of these luxuries. Saint Theresa was in favor Of the use of instruments of peni- tence. Her daughters make frequent use of them. They are called the "Jewels of pockets nutshells bristling with nails fast ened in cement, the points, of course, turned outward If Satan torments them with worldly visions the Csrmelites have ths remedy in their ''jewels."
 When noon Is announced by the bell the Carmelite, no matter what part of the con- vent she may be ip, throws herself upon her knees, offers her soul to God, makes a short examination of her conscience. and then arises to proceed silently to the re- factory. No feast awaits her there, and many poor people who complain of hun ger might well frown st the dishes that are offered to her. The Csrmelites sb- stain from meat throughout the entire year, except when they are sick, and in their convents there Is only one meal a day, with a collation.. The meal consists of one plate of thin soup and a dish of beans or vegetables, according to the season. The collstions on regular fast days of the church are two ounces of bread and one or two apples. The colla- tions of the order axe four ounces of bread and & quantity of fruit, srsw or cooked, which the superioress sometimes or oil. This kind of nourishment has the effect of making nearly all the nuns | dropsicsl.
 After the midday repast and the grsces said in chorus the superioress gives an hour for recreation, and suspends the | rule requiring silence during that brief | time. But games are forbidden and con- | versation must be general. The Csrmelite has no particular friend or fayorite. She must love her sisters iu general, and If an affection arises in the heart of one of them she planes herself for 1t, and is bound to guard against it
 | When tor any purpose WnstsoeFer stranger visits the oloister. two "tierces" are immediately warned of his approach. They put on their great veils before the door is opened. The younger one rings | bell before the visitor comes in, so that the eisters who may be in the yard or near the windows can st once retire. | Still ringing her bell the 'tieTce" precedes the visitor, closing all the doors of the | apartments that must not be sesn, while | l
 The last office, the longest one, is at eleven o'clock at night. The Carmelites reoite 1t kneeling upon the cold flags and holding heavy brevisries. This Is extreme ly painful during the winter months. The heavy mlssals often drop from their half frozen fingers, and the fatigue brings on freouent fAinting fits At midnight the Carmelite has finished her day of labor, Of
 penitence, prayer and modification The
 same ordeal Is recommended on the mor- TOW and so on during her entire life.
 No religious order is so severe as that of
 the Carmelites. and 1t requires special grace to be able to bring one's mind and body to bear such susterities. During the
 novitiate the family sacrifices are softened
 by maternal kindness and attention, which are deceptive ss regards the future; but. after the profession, encouragement is re-
 placed by the dry Rusterity of the rules in all their cold and lsconic rigor. She who in the world has been accustomed to the most delicate and tender care, Is often