The Irish standard., 1893-11-11

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entrance gray bearded, brown. robed
monk gave serious bnt kindly greeting,
and after a few questions, including
my name and residence, he left me
seated mopping my perspiring face. The
guest master soon appeared, q pleasant
old fellow, whom one could 'sget on with"
very readily Under the strict rules of
the order only the guest master aod the
abbot were allowed the privilege of con-
versatioD, but the rule has been modified
somewhat
Hard manual labor continues to be q
prominent feature Of the discipline, and
as there are men of nearly all trades
among the monks they do most of the
varied work such an establishment re-
quires. The regular work of tilllng the
farm and the teaming is chiefly done by
hired labor, as the frequent necessity of
attending devotions makes it inconveni-
ent for the monks. When all other oc-
cupations fail, however, there is more
wilderness to reclaim. It is a pictur-
esque sight to see q file of bare-headed
monks in coarse and somber garments,
belted with leathern straps, march out
to spend the interval between spiritual
exercises in battling with underbrush
and clearing the land for tlllage.
The guest master deputized monk to
show me about after finding did not
intend staying any time. The buildings
are Of stone, severely plain and not i'm
posing, but are extensive and commodi-
GUS. The immaculate floors and walls
prove the monks good housekeepers and
believers in the motto: Cleanliness is
next to godliness.
I. The floors Of various rooms and corri-
dors were IN up, and workmen were
busy laying pipes for y complete system
of steam heating, Ny guide admitted
the increased convenience Of this, but
was afraid it would make the monks ''too
comfortable
We met number Of monks and priests
about the corridors. About thirty Of the
seventy live monks are priests. and they
wear robes of white to distinguish them
from those who have not taken priestly
orders. The countenances of ell were
grave even unto solemnity, and they
gave no sign that they saw or noticed us
as they passed. The old rule was that
on first meeting each other for the day
the monks were to use the cheerful
greeting "Memento mori," but that and
the daily labor at their own graves have
been discontinued.
In spite Of the mo 'ern aspect OF. things
there was enough of the atmosphere of
the storied cloister to make idle ques-
tions seem out of place. The guide gave
information freely, however, in SUBJ
dued voice that seemed appropriate
amid the surroundings. But even that
was not permitted in certain portions.
Passing into the long corridors, or clois-
tors proper, the single word ''silence"
was seen in black Oh the white walls in
letters SO bold and stern that the admon-
ition seemed command. AS We neared
the dormitory the guide remarked that
they were not allowed to speak within
it's walls. Think of room where seven
ty-tive men spend q quarter of their lives
that has had no word spoken in it for
years. 1t is long, we'll lighted, and
perfectly plain with high ceiling. The
beds are hunks like steamer berths, but
palmer, in two decks, SO that each pair
backs up against another pair. They
stand at right angles to the wall about
six feet apart. In silence that was op.
pressive because enforced we walked
across the room and the monk turned
down the scanty coverlet to show the
hard bed. The monks come very near
to sleeping on the 'soft side of plank"
The really handsome chapel was in
disorder both from the steam filters and
from workmen putting in new organ.
Standing in the aisle between the stalls,
my guide said: "Here is where we come
every morning to say the Offices, the
priests in the row facing the wall and we
monks in the lower row. The books
have all Offices for the year. At 2
o'clock, when scarcely enough light
comes through the great stained window
to let as find our places, it is impressive.
It's fine place to come for meditation.
Those arm rests were put on because it
was thought to be Injurious to stand SO
long without support y
The library contains fine collec ion
Of books, but the title would / OF tempt
the average modern reader. There are
samples of fine binding done by some Of
the monks. Much Of the time the library
is occupied by monks teaching theology,
and visitors may not intrude.
The guest parlor is furnished quite IN
contrast to the baroness OF the monastic
apartments On the walls are number
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