Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-13
III THE NUNNERIES.

enc season are entirely gwen up to this
charming debutante quality After the
genteel comedy OF an introduction. Is
over. no doubt many are reHped in the
matrimonial harvest. But while quite
number make their market early. II
considerable prpportion-mure than the
world dreams of-abs ndoh the Turmoil!
and excitement OF society life for the
seclusion and peace of the cloister. That
something in humanity that responds
to the inclination to get away from
the maddening crowd not infrequent-
Ily takes hold on the imag inative young
girl. who. in obeying the impulse. seeks
the retirement of the convent to carry
out the work of her souls salvation.
This career. out of the world" as it
is called by the devout. not infreduently
requires just as much energy and deter
mination as is needed to carry one sue
cessfully through a worldly career.
Some of the largest, most progressive
institutions in the land are guided and
managed by clustered nuns. whose con-
vents are never lacking in accepted re-
cruits.
Only few years ago Miss Constance
Edgar. daughter Of Nine BOnaparte by
her first marriage. after q brilliant de-
but in this city, Withdrew to the Con-
vent of the Vista ton, where she is now
a clustered nun.
Like her young half-sister. Miss
Loinde Bonaparte. who married a title
Miss Edgar's advent in the fashionable
world of Washington and Newport was
made the occasion of many brilliant
entertainments. But little more than q
years experience of the world sufficed
to make her think it was all vanity.
Colonel Jerome Bonaparte left his step
daughter legacy by his will.
Miss Katherine DreXel. daughter OF
the Philadelphia banker. is a notable
instance of a great career out of the
world" She made her solemn vows as
Mother Mary Katherine of the Blessed
Sacrament in 1895. With her sisters,
Mrs. Morrell and Mrs. Smith. Miss
Katherine Drexel inherited great
wealth. With her portion of her faith
er's immense fortune she built St. E1iz-
abeth's convent. about eighteen miles
from Philadelphia. 1t was in the chapel
Of this house. founded by her. that
Katherine Drexel made the solemn
VOWS binding her forever To the life of
the cloister. The convent Of St. EIiz-
abeth of the Blessed Sacrament is. in
its architecture, something quite unique
for this part of the country. 1t is mod
eled after the old Spanish mission
buildings of California.
Mother Katherine Drexels /good
works did not stop At this fine establish
ment. She has also just completed a
monastery at Rock Castle. Hampton
Roads, Va. of which corps of sisters
Of the Blessed Sacrament are nov in
charge. y home for colOred boys under
the dictatorship of the Christian Broth
efs has also been provided by Mother
DrexeI's wealth.
Miss Marie Sands. daughter of Mr. F.
p. II. Sands. of Connecticut avenue en-
tered the Sacred Heart convent at Ken
wood. Albany, nearly a year ago. Miss
Sands coming out was one of the
events Of a brilliant season. In addi-
ton to personal attractions. Miss Sands
inherited. through her mother. a De-
troit heiress. quite a little fortune.
Miss Eosalie Hill, daughter OF Mrs.
Peter Heiskill Hill. II Sixteenth street,
is another recent debLtante TO take the
veil. Miss Hill. like Hiss Sands. select
ed the order of LADIES of the Sacred
Heart, in which to pass her life. The
noVitiate is at KenwOod, A large and
beautiful convent in the suburbs of
Albany. These Sacred Heart converts
are almost palatial in elegance Of their
appointments and the comforts thrown
round the inmates. Every luxury and
convenience known to modern house
building art is to be found in these
establishments. which are always con-
Quoted as seminaries of learning for
young ladies.
The Georgetown convent commenced
very early in its career to absorb the
young lights of Washington society.
Miss Iturbide, the daughter OF the en-
peror of Mexico, was one of the first to
receive the veil.
Miss Virginia Scott daughter of Cen
cral Winfield Scctt. died a clustered
nun. at Georgetown convent. At the
outbreak of the civil war, when spa
cious buildings were in requisition for
the needs of the sick and wounded.
General Scott, who then commanded the
amy. saved the Visitation convent
from the grasp of the government.
through the sacred memory of his
daughter.
The old Van Ness mansion. near the
presidents house. is still in a fair state
of preservation. 1t held a convent secret
that Washington society was never able
10 solve satisfactorily. one of the sis
tiers of the Georgetown convent was d
kinswoman Of Mrs. Van Ness. who was
-eminenty the social leader Of the
day. As much visiting as the rules of
the order permitted went on between
the members of the Van Ness family
and the nun, who was said to be so
happy in her convent. But one evening
just after nightfall. Miss White Cthe
worldly name of the NUM- knocked at
the great door of the Van Ness man
sion. I;Umnrs Went through the town
Of an exciting night in the great house.
where, for several days. no visitors
were received. At the end Of week.
dinner of ceremony was given. at which
MISSY White was formally presented as a
member Of thc Van Ness family. Why
she skipped her convent no one ever
knew. As Miss White. she became a