The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

| coming directly from France. The monastery
buildings wore, erected during the civil war, and,
although only brick and the very toughest ma
tcrial were used, and the structure can BY. no
means claim architectural beauty Of any Kind,
the cost Of erection amounted TO upward or
The rules of the order arc very strict. and
every transgression, every. omission Is, severely
punished. In the chapter hall the monks accuse
themselves OF their faults, and submit to any
penance imposed upon, them, such as prostrat.
ing on the floor. giving their portion to charity.
kissing tho feet Of the community, OF taking the
""SaIl sSibIInS" i in the pr 6s ,ssS Of % The 60 o smeT ,o Tae
by every member OF. tho order every Friday
weeks following Christmas, after the last night
Office; Eotwi,hstondins al these hardships,
OF tho o%rder-at least, those that during my stay
ut the Abbey | had occasion to o~hserve-proscrve
: neyor.changing kindness Of heart; The mem,
hers VINO. from the nature OF the office they are
holding, such as the guest mastor, porter, pro
curator, inhrmarian. &c, arc exempted from Oh.
the small passions the flesh is heir to.
Their hearis arc open to everybody. who bur
eon%a 10 nna sc Weighed .nmnoT down ro sy so SrSIyd an" ma G sYsr
hospitahlc walls ~ the monastery. The door Is
opened for everybody. nobody ever knocks in
again upon the highway Of lie without first being
refreshed and comforted both In soul and body.
constant t"p pr raiS ~ constant rmS ; I irapp Morli n'G and c wni,n nj
on. When. finally the number, OF his days is
knocks ut Tho entrance OF his ,cll, bidding him
TO prepare for The last pilgrimage upon earth,
cross a"s" Of SlcssS SaPp asiiSs. Covered nS re- piS %iih p s;p%1 q
Rings sms Z the sheet belt. . 9r f Srst6rcn The Sast I@alr% To iSe
body is washed, and after due ceremonies IN
worn IN life, arc taken TO the little graveyard
back Of the church. The hood is drawn over his
grave is incensed, and 10 tho mournful chanting
OF his former brethren his ~lifel,ss form Ia placed
In the grave, and slowly, Mother Earth covers
The habit Of his order and Mother Earth,
knew III him nam" and the w dnie Of f'' his orS d /
marks his grave; In the stately cedar trees that
silent forever now, sing the robin and the mock.
ing bird; at nitht The. wind chants It's desolntc
low as the Whispering Of spirits, long. departed
from the flesh, the fulhlmcnt OF all earthly
hopes. all earthly l%onyinss: Peace. sweet. cter.
We people Of the world do not and viii! not
ever understand the life Of these monks; we can.
US in this world. force our ideas TO The same
level as these men have done. after casting away
from them everything reminding them Of the
world and OF the lonsings OF tho flesh. They
look upon their body only as upon the mortal
ana treasure our body as the outward appear
ance Of the soul. There Is the diffc; once! We
Lack the perfect control over our flesh!
Even now, while seated at the open window OF
my room, while ! am looking upon the hilly
landscape before me. bathcd In the last rays OF
the departing sun-how beautiful Il must he
hero in summer t~imc!-while | am watching the
RESTLESS moves Of n robin In tho fir trees and
bushes outside the monastery walls, while the
hclls are ringing and the brother who attends
the wants OF tho guests Is kneellng In the cor
ritdor, silently praying the "Angclus." l think
OF an old German song, an old melody, often
heard, often sung In days gone by:
The cloister bells are ringing sw.et
knowest thou the word "Fdniour-FdmoYr'
u. Y. ATZPoDIEN.