The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-01-02

m ent from time to time, and, on these
occasions, be less plentifully supplied
with food than usual. In the great ma o
jOrity of cases. however, no instructions T
of this kind are given: the women are
simply handed over to the keeping OF d
the superior of the convent, to he dealt t
with as she thinks best. She houses d
them. feeds them. clothes them, ana {
provides them with instruction and oc- t
cupatlon; and the government gives
her for what she does 81 krentZerS day J
tabout pence for each prisoner under
her care. So long as these women are
in the convent the full responsibility ]
for their safe keeping and general we'll
being rests on the superior; and, III re-
turn. she is allowed practically a free
hand in her management Of them.
There are it is true. certain regulations
in force with regard TO the amount OF
work they may be required to do, ana
! the punishments that may be inflicted
! on them: but these are not of nature
! to interfere seriously with her freedom
of action. She is, in fact, virtually an
autocrat within her own domain; and
there are not half dozen women III |
Europe today who have so much power !
for the veal or woe Of their fellows as
she has. The only man attached to the
place government inspector is little !
more than her aid de camp: and as tor
the great officials who pay her dying
. visits from time to time, they are more
inclined to seek advice than to giveit.
, The convent itself is a fine old build
, ing which once upon time was cas-
tie, and seems to have been strongly
t fortified. The religious community to
| which it now belongs received it as
present from its owner, who cared more
3 for the church than for his heir. There
is nothing in the appearance OF the
/ place to show that it is prison; the
= courtyard stands open the whole day
S long. and there is never a guard within
t sight. The doorkeeper is a pretty little
: nun whom strong woman could easily
h seize up in her arms and run away with.
S She welcomes all cOmers with the
J. brightest of Smiles and leads them into
:, the parlor without making single in
o quiry. Although we went provided
]. with all sorts of intrOductlons, official
is and otherwise, it was only after much
n heart searching that the superior al
It lowed us to pass through the great iron
,e door which separates the part of the
4 convent where the prisoners live from
l. the rest of the building.
n Even here there is nothing gloomy OF
ly prison like about the place; and, beyond
Of the fact of the door being kept locked
s. nothing to indicate that they who live
u there are subject to any special restraint
re The beautiful old stone staircase was
ed flooded with sunshine that morning
and there was smile ON the faces Of
half the women we passed there. Th'
superior led the way into large, cheer
full looking room in which some lift.
at women were sitting working. Perhap
ed half a dozen of them were maxim!
n. match boxes or buttons; and the other
in were doing fine needlework, beautiful
in embroidery, lace and woodwork, unde
no the guidance of sister, who locke
is for all the world as if she had steppe
to straight out of one of Fra Angelica
est pictures. She passes her life goln
be about among these women distributin
+ a to each in turn directions, encourage
at ment, or reproof, as the case may b.
lch always with smile on her lips-on
rcy though, in which there is more patieI
US endurance than gladness. Anotht
an sister. woman with strong sphln,
ue. like face, was sitting at the further en-
lite of the room on raised platform. ST
is there to maintain discipline al
nds guard against those outbursts OF temp
Y which from time to time, disturb I'll
ere harmony of life in this convent. 4
her we entered the room all the women TO
ms and greeted us, in the most chez
g is fashion, with what sounded like
she couplet from an old chant. Th
sms speedily took up their work again, ho'
.ere ever, at sign from the superior.
jne 1t would be hard to find mo