Evening star., 1896-09-22

The Holy Far,ily of Sisters ut New
Orleans.

From the Boston Transcript
sight which Invariably attracts the at
fertion OF strangers in New Orleans Is the
coiored sisters One so seldom hears of ne
Groes processing the Roman Catholic faith
that when he meets a colo.ed nGn sur tine
first time he can but gaze after her in
opcn-moutled wonder. Accustomed as we
are, moreover. to associate the .,lac.l robes
Of the nun with white, pale faces The effect
Is Z little startling when a nearer Aiey- of
a sister Of charity d'scloses The meek.
brown f2ce Of a rauiatto. This little band
in New Orleans is known as the Holy Fam
liy OF Sisters. 1t was founded as far back
as 1872 by four free colored women, y ho
educated and wealthy, resolved 20 devote
their time and money 10 those Of thei:, race
so much less fortunate. The c!das; Of the
four became Mother Juliette. vino continued
at the head Of the sisterhood till her death
eight years ago.
The convent is what WAS once the famous
Orleans street ball room. and many are the
tales which are told OF the dancing and rev.
cry which for years held sway within its
walls. The building is an immense brown
structure, fronting directly on the narrow
French street. The great windows have
shutters, always closed, and there was such
ali air OF quietu1e when | visited the place
that quite started when the bell gave a
loud cianG. clang, as pulled il. l fit that
L mad aroused unwilling echoes-l,erhans
awakened the ghosts of long ago, and was
Almost tempted TO run away when I he; rd
footsteps within coming toward the door
But, Instead of meeting frown OF lfsap-
proNal, as L half expected, / was admitted
py asfk-laced min. who appeared to con-
slider ii no unusual occurrence thar a
stranger desired permission TO ,Ster
Inc hall was dim ard wide. with a gray
stone moor, and white pillars at the farther
! end. Nniie L was inwardly commenting
| upon its severity and scruDElous ,,aatr.ss
| Sister Frances came to show me aboI,t
She was rather a small muiatto. with a
slender. interesting face, black eyes de-
murely lowered, and long brown hands
| meekiy folded. Her uniform was of hlack
serge, with wide. white linen guinpe a
| white linen bonnet. the customary black
| Neh. anu the inevitable black beads md
| cross. We ascended the wide. easy STAIR
| case. ana on the first landing 4 was con-
! frontec with the words: Il hav. chosen
| rather to be an a5ject in the house of my
| do1 than 10 dwell in the tabernacle of sim
! ners.' - i''-
In the boarding department OF the con-
vent Sister Frances told me there were
| nineteen students. These came from nufs
| lana, Mexico, and even South a,nnri..
| Ihey are not only given a good ordinary
| edGcaton, some of them graduating AT
| e.eiteeh, hut they also have the advantage
OF instruction in music If it is desired In
deed could hear the monotonous RIM n,
| the scales as i passed through laa halls
and wondered If the little colorei maids
| Hateu ~ Itacuce as much NE Used 10 da
Wnen at School L fancy not. for occasion.
any caught Slimlses of figures seated al
Ire piano, and saw the little ,lusky faces
expressions which spoke neither of f,ripue
nor diSconte8t. Connected with the con.
vent is home for aged and infirm colored
men and women.
In this convent of the Holy Family there
are at present siXty-eight sisters twenty.
SIX noVlcss and six candidates. The can il.
dates remain for six months. and If M IN,
end of that period they still wish TO con.
tinue, they become novices. The novi:: ate
lasts two years. after which the ncrics
takes the black veil. Even then however
The VOWS only become permanent yher
they have been renewed ten years ia sue
ceSsion One must thoroughly uaderst ant
| the character of the coiored race to full,
appreciate The sacrifice entaiied By thes,
| vows of remuneration. The colored rsapl,
as class are always so light-heartsd an,
uShter-lolin ing, SO fond of payety snt
amuscneTt, that such rigid ,;-Ir-,g..It;a "a
must he essai ily require even create
strength OF purpose than that DISPLAYED b-
the white sisters who devote tne!r lives 1,
religion ard charity. And yet in all thes
years there has leen only one who has lef
| TIE sisterhood after taking the final VOWS