The morning times., 1895-08-04

both on the harp ana piano, and possessed
a rich, well -cultivat ed cpntralto voice, pc
culiarly adapted tecfyhrc.i music, and wasan-
accomplished Frenc.Sana Italian scholar
At the breaking % Eofthe war the demand
for Sisters OF CharitE as=nu rises came. from
every army head center: 1t forced to the
front younger eienispt chan is usual in re-
Iigious orders, in chn rgH OF the numerous
hospitals. By reason af her executive abil--
ity, and regardless=of her youth, Sister
Mary Carroll was sent TO Washingto ton to
establish Providence Hospital
|, The old Carroll prison was, at that time,
oyercrowded with confedeTates, many OF
them officers of rank, and a large per-
centaGe ilkor wounded General Winfield
Scott was at the mead OF the army, and to
him Sister Mary Carroll applied for per-
mission to remove such or the prisoners
from the various prisons as needed regular
hospital treatment. The old gentleman was
easily won by the beautiful Irish religi
ense, and placed at her disposal squad of
soldiers and several army ambulances, be-
sides giving her the power TO administer
the parole. The hospital soon outgrew It's
original proportions, and the popularity of
its beautiful superioresS placed il at oEce
ona substantial footing General Scott was
always her stanch friend
Among the prisoners at that time was
a Confederate officer, gentleman Of the
old school, enjoying every prestige or
wealth and social position, who lcft the
hospital far more dangerously wourded
then when carried there. There were sew
eral scenes, wherein he begged the sister
TO leave the life she was living ard accept
his love At that time she was too entirely
the Gevotee to listen, but 1t is said that
in after years she regretted rot having
done so. The officer rever married, and
for years paid periodical visits 10 the only
woman he had ever loved.
After spending many years in Washing
ton Sister Mary Carroll was sent To New
Orleans, to take charge OF the immerse
hospital, Hotel Dieu, and during the
yellow fever epidemic OF '68 she was
the angel OF mercy in that stricken city,
until she. too, succumbed, ard her mag
nificent constitution received shock from
which she never fully recuperated, ara,
although still beautiful, the Irish roses
faded forever from her cheeks:
She was recalled from New Orleans ard
spent several years at the Mother House
of the order. The deaths OF both the
mother and of the father superior created
sad havoc among the old favorites Few
years later, and many of them left the
order. not To marry. as in the cases cited,
but to go penriless into the world to
seek living after so many years or devoted
service. Among them was Sister Mary
Carroll 1t was then that she regretted
before. she drifted 10 New York, ara
sought the aid of Gen. Dan Sickles, whom
she had nursed after his terrible wouru
received at Gettysburg, and through his
inf!uerce Ghe applied for and received a
pension as army nurse, at first OF go a
month. ard afterward it was increased
to $50 Later on she made her nome
with the family of Or. White. Of Boston,
who had been the physician OF Hotel Dieu
during her ircumbeEoy. Her health failing
rapidly, she lOnged for glimpse OF the
old home. She took passage, spent seV-
eral months amoDS the 'fenS ana Dogs OF
the Emerald Isle. returned, ard died the
very day after reaching her Boston h"the.
There are many OtbeF instances strongly
savoring OF romance OF those grown weary
OF the restraints of religious life, and
who forsake it, ThG~abEurdly sensational
stories OF rope ladders and wal-scalng
escapes have no foundation in fact. Mem
bers OF religious orders ran leave at any
time life vows even in ,Cloistered orders,
having long since been abolished. That
many become unhappy, and that often
the institutions are miniature political
machines OF which volumes nlght be
written, cannot be denied. If the re-
Hgiense is deeply iripregnated with reli-
gious superstitions, her fear or the here
after VIII keep her tound indissOlubly to
the life she has voluntarily embraced.
=
to fearlessly announce her resolve 10 for
sake the life, while persuasion and argu-
ments NAV te used 10 change her reSolu-
ton. yet neither physical force nor baTri-
ers viii be raised 10 prevent the eXer-
else OF free will.
The superiorcss of each institution has
il in her power TO make the life peace
full or uncomfortable by petty annoyances
and strictions. II, however, she - lib
eraI in her views, she may fan victim
of her own Kindness by being made the
subject or complaints by some underliiig
whose Jealous and tale-bearing assumes
the cloak of religious zeal, and who make
conscientious scruples the excuse for vent
ing spleen or for the furtherlug OF their
avn ambitious schemes.
The petty bearing OF these would-be
ZealOts is the most trying ordeal of re-
ngious life, and keeps up a series OF
domestic wars, which at times drive the
prosecuted one back to the world in
sheer selr-defense. Such was the case OF
the first love OF one ot our Attorney
Generals. She was a beautiful woman OF
the pale rose type, and was in charge OF
one of the noted hospitals not far south
OF Mason and Dixon's line. The parish
priest was coarse, lll-bred Irlshmen,
whose interference was au Irritating
source OF annoyance. She complained 10
the powers that be, but they upheld the
priest. She was q truly devout woman
welded TO a religious life. in every sense
OF the word, but the persecution she under
went because OF the ill-wIll of this man
having nominal position over her in the
hospital is difficult to conceive. 1t was
so petty, Yet so calling. She endured it
for several years, until she resolved to
leave the life in which all her inClinationS
Centered. \ sharp rcprinlard followed this
announcement, but no amGhoration was
proposed; so after years OF devoted SER
vice she laid aside the religious garb and
re-entered the world pennilesS
1t so happened that the United States
Attorney General at the time had been
desperately III love with her in her girl
hood, and when he heard OF her presence
in Washington. he volunteered 20 procure
her n position in one OF the depar rtments,
which she has been auls 10 mold secure
through all political changes FOR years.
Her hair is snowy white now butSheiS even
more beautiful. Sheleads thelife ofa perfect
recluse.
The wall OF cloister, is often but the
cover OF some history Of petty fnterDicine
war, or perhaps folds in its recesses the
saddest of romances, or @veD tragedies
STEPPED in tears of blood. VINO knows?
Secrets are safe beyond stone wSlls and
iron bars. They are good pure 'TOmeD and
whether they persevere 10 the eai in the
life they believe [ ODE au especial call from