The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-01-22
FIRST AMERICAN NUN
THE DAUGHTER OF ETHAN ALLEN
HERO OF TICONDEROGA.
BRIEF STORY OF Her CONVERSION
INHERITED HER BRAVE FATHERS
DECISION of CHARACTER.
BEAUTIFUL IN FORM AND FEATURE
MISS FANNY ALLEN DIED JUST "a
YEARS LAST MONTH.

II EARS LAST MONTH,
II. c. Cleaner gives the following in
terest1ng sketch of Fanny Allen, the
first American nun, in a recent issue of
the Catholic Columbian:
The other day this little item appeared
in the local columns Of a New York
paper: Samuel Mallory Allen, son of
Ethan Allen, has obtained permission
from Justice Pryor, of the supreme
court, to change his name to Ethan
Samuel Allen. He lives at $50 St.
Nicholas avenue. He says that his
great-great-grandfather was Col. Ethan
Allen, famed for his conduct at Ticon-
deroga, and that his own interests will
be substantially promoted by the change
OF his name. His father, who bears the
name Of their illustrious ancestor, he
says, has been employed by P. Lorillar.l
& Co. for thirty years, and Is now sec
retary of the company"
Just Is years ago last month Fanny
Allen, 1.-The first American num-" and
daughter of the famous hero of Ticon-
deroga referred to in the above item
died at Montreal Old Ethan Aliens
name is yet spoken with emotion by the
people Of Vermont. 1t is told of him
that on one occasion, when demanding
surrender of the emmy, he was asked:
'By whose authority?" His answer
was: "In the name of the great Jehovah
and the continental congress-" One of
Eermont's poets, in his Grave of Allen"
Says:
Upon Winooski's pleasant shore
Brave Allen sleeps,
And there beneath the murmuring pine
Is freedoms consecrated shrine
Fanny Allen was born in 1854, and
her famous father died when she was
five years of age. Her mother married
again in 1893. Fanny's step-father was
a man capable Of appreciating the high
minded young girl and gave her every
possible advantage. A writer in tho
Vermont Gazateer says: "She Inherited
much of the energy and decision of her
fathers character, controlled by woman-
ly gentleness. In person she was rather
above than below medium height, and of
uncommon beauty in form and feature.
Her complexion was fair. her eyes dark
blue with singular depth and calmncss
uybf ho r =
ease of her manners gave quiet evidence
to the refinement and loveliness of her
character"
The same writer quoted above SAYS:
"At this time the gay society OF New
England was tinctured with the species
of infidelity introduced and fostered by
the writings OF Thomas Paine and his
disciples, among whom Fanny's father
had been conspicuous. Her step-father
DR.. Penniman, was not of that school,
but he detested the cant and puritan
Ism OF the only religious people he had
ever known. He conducted the educa-
tion of his gifted daughter with the
most scrupulous care to avoid entirely
all consideration Of religion in any
form"
When she was about twenty-three
years Of age she obtained her parents
consent to go to Montreal in order 10
perfect herself in the French languages
Before giving their consent they insisted
upon her being baptized by Protestant
preacher. She consented more from
desire to please her parents than from
any other reason. The minister who
baptized her was the Rev. Daniel Bar
ber, who in after years became a con-
vert himself, as did also Rev. Virgil
Barber, who entered the Society Of
Jesus, while his wife became Vista
tion nun, their five children following
their example by embracing religious
life, four daughters becoming nuns and
the son, Samuel, a Jesuit. Mrs. Tyler,
a sister Of Rev. Virgil Barber, also In
later years became a Catholic her four
daughters becoming Sisters of Charity
and one of her sons a priest, who was
afterwards the first Bishop of Hart
ford-Bishop William Tyler. While
Fanny Allen was being baptized, it is
said she laughed continually. After
reaching Montreal she became a boa1der
in convent school and on all occa-
sions took pains to let her unbalicf in
matters Of religion be known. On a
certain occasion one of the Sisters.
whose heart had been touched by the
infdelity of the young lady, asked her
to carry a vase of flowers and place it
upon the altar, beseecling her to adore
her Lord when she entered the sanctu-
ary. Fanny started to fulfill her re-
quest, but fully resolved not to bend
her knee in alteration. Three times she
attempted to enter the sanctuary, but
failed. Overcome by her emotions, she
fell on her knees and adorel her God
Of whose presence there she then and for
ever became fully convinced. In dut:
time she was Instructed and baptized
After making her first communion she
II - sss