The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-12
WITHIN GLOIsTERS.
Solemn Services or Holy Week Behind
Convent Walls.

AOAoJ Al VIC cRAADS3 Va AloSOOI WSOAsF N(A
the street the boys sell huge bouquets,
crying their blooming wares with hoarse
voices. In the shops the tired saleswom-
en- work early and late. In the churches
there are crowds of chattering people
who make wreaths and talk in garru-
lous fashion. There are rooms where the
gaslight burns far into the spring morn
ing. That is where the weary dressmak-
er is hurrying her work.
The orchestras are rehearsing new
music, the actresses are planning new
dresses, the florists are haggling about
the price of rose, the choir leaders are
nervous and anxious, the new clergy
men are wondering if their Easter serv-
ice will be success, and there are still
jealousy and heartache among the Wo-
men over their Easter bonnets.
In the convent garden it is very quiet
and different, says the San Francisco
Examiner. The lilac tree near the wall
is in bloom, and the little altar of the
Blessed Virgin in the arbor is draped
with the yellow sprays of the blossom
ing currant. There is no one in the gar
den except a bent little sister, with q
sweet. worn face. She is watering lit
tie bed of pansies, but inside the big
brick convent there is a sound of many
feet. The sewing class is just over, and
the girls are filing out into the study
hall to put away their work boxes-the
big, cool, clean study hall, with its shin
ing floor and very straight clean chairs.
AS the girls enter they drop deep
courtesy to tall figure robed in black,
which sits upon the platform. Then each
girl, after she puts away her box, walks
quietly to one of the chairs. The tall
nun at the desk shuts a little signal box
she holds in her hand, there is sudden
rap, and all the girls are seated.
Children" says the religieuse, 1--WE
are entering upon season of great joy.
Let US prepare ourselves. Tonight the
retreat will Begin
She makes a pretty, gentle little ad
dress and urges every child to put away
all worldly thoughts and make herself
worthy to celebrate the glorious Easter.
She calls them children, yet there are
girls of Is or 20 among the crowd. In
convent every one is a child.
The refectory is big and bare and set
round with long tables There is read
ing desk in the middle, but no one reads
tonight. The retreat has begun. Silent
sisters enter noiselessly and pass the food
to the silent girls. When the meal is
done, there is big dish Of warm water
passed. Each girl thrusts in her spoon,
her knife and her fork and wipes them.
1t is warm in the garden yet, and the
girls go out there. They wallS in little
groups of three and five. A few of them
walk alone. All of them are telling their
beads, with murmur as Of humming
bees. The big bell rings. It's time for
evening prayers. There is a snap of the
signal box; every one rises. Another
snap; they form in line. Another snap;
they turn and walk from the room, their
footsteps echoing on the hard floors. At
the door they turn and courtesy.
Tits 1880 o clock-bedtime at the con-
vent. There is glimmer of light in the
west yet, but the blinds are closely
drawn Up stairs in the dormitory there
are rows and rows of white beds, hung
with snowy curtains. In the middle of
the room is table with a slate on it.
If any one wants a collar or a handker-
chief, she writes upon the slate and
signs her number. In the morning the
article she asked for will be there, fold
ed upon her neat pile of clothing.
In few minutes the rustling behind
the white curtains ceases. A velvet
footed religieuse walks from bed to bed
to see that all are quiet. Then her low
voice sounds distinctly through the
room:
heart of Mary"
From behind the curtain comes the
answer, 81 give you my heart. -
~
ing-praying that the coming retreat
may be full of blessings to the "chil-
dren of the Sacred Heart. -
Before o'clock the next morning
there is long line of yelled figures fl
ing into the chapel. They are all plain
~ clad and dressed in black. Each one
carries prayer book and her beads. The
candles on the altar twinkle bright, yet
far away The incense swingers swing
their burden monotonously. The breath
of the lilac comes in at the window, and
the day is begun. There are services in
the chapel many times that day.
On Good Friday morning the very
small children are just little frighten-
ed when they see the chapel. The golden
draperies are gone from the altar, the
flowers have vanished, and all the
twinkling lights are gone 1t is gloomy
and grewsome in the chapel when the
altar lights are gone.
In front of the altar a row Of nuns
kneel with their arms out like a cross.
Some of the larger girls are allowed to
kneel there. too, and many of them are
sObbing. One of them stays so long that
she is borne out fainting. To the Young
er children the gentle sisters tell the
old, old story of the dreadful day when
Christ was crucifed. It is so quiet and
so dark in the chapel and the face Of the
pictured Christ is so sad that the little
ones are frightened.