Evening star., 1899-04-01
II en- coute de Bien vivre,


fecting on the motto that hangs on the con-
Vent walls.
II en- coute de Bien Vivre,
mais
Quill sera doux de Bien Mourir
Visit to the Convent.
So one bright. sunny morning I set forth
from the famous hotel facing the blue Bay
of Biscav once the palace of luckless en-
press. and naturally her favorite home be-
ng so near to her native and beloved Spain.
to discover the Convent of the Bernardines
Or Sisters of Solitude. There was little 81
lence as walked along. The birds in the
air were singing; bells tangled on the col
lars of the horses and the oxen: the steam
ears pulled away on the road from BiaTritZ
to RayonEe; they We're all laughing merrily
on the golf links by the sea and in the club
house adjoining. where the English resi-
dents and visitors seem TO spend the best
l.strt of the day between meals. all as golf
mad out here We are in England. The
blue sea dashed upon the rocks, fiinging a
torrent of white spray into the air. and one
felt in this glorious atmosphere, bracing as
tonic. the full exhilaratiOn and joy of ex-
lstence- This was the exact contrast that
was required before visiting the retreat in
the pine WOods-the home of solitude and
silence ] was evidently nearing the SPOT
that was 10 end my little pilgrimage As I
passed along the pasture and the fields in
stead OF rough peasants and laborers ! saw
silent women in their sonber habit OF black
and white. hooded in black and with
large white crosses on their ''tabard like"
manties. hOeing the turnips. tlling the soil
gathering the fir cones. guiding the cattle
all speechiess. all with eyes cast down ON
the ground. Suddenly bell rang out from
the convent. Down went these silent work.
ers on their knees; they had taught the cat
tIe 10 DO the same, or. ar any rate to hum
bly, stOop when the good sisters induleed in
few seconds Of silent drawer At every
quarter Of each hour. day and night. this
bell on the convent clock strikes ont it4
omlnous message. bringing a moments mod
itation 10 those sad women who We NAV
hope. after their grievous trouble. are al
last At peace with all the world
scant Comfort.
You approach the lowly solitude bv a
sandy lane. with small hedges on either side
s'arred with camelfas, cacti and Towering
laurusunus- 1t is nearing the sunset hour.
ana night frost Is expected, so the Ber-
hardines are surrounding the tender pIants
and vegetables with mating and are busv
at the top of the glass conservatory peat1y,
rolling down preserving mats of nIaifa1
straw FOR them in their humble sanded
hrsad d!S at nlghtfaH VIII be piece of dry
pre5u ana jug Of cold water; a PRAYER on
behned knees. abased on the sand everr,
ItiT tuatleT oi an hour silent meditation in tho
IoMIy chapei. bare. whitewashed sanded
unadorned, save for the statue on tn bioi
altar OF Notre Dame de la SoIitnda'. = =
miraculous gift And then a few bourss
Sltep IN the plainest cell. comfortless bn+
hitter niarn;r. u.Sa' scarcely protected from the
pIttgr' piercing air outside. Believe me The
.dtsLe OF the Convent of the Solitude In
their warm, cozy sheds are better tended 'h
A DesoIate Place.
am met at the gate by one of the Sisters
nt 'Notre Dame du Refuge who ts ho,,,,tz
by no laws Of silence and who snends h.
aay az the entrance of the solitary convant
our hrst visir is. of course. to the chanel
appalNngly plain and bare
lore.
mere Is the first instance of the sevsrit,.
OF the rules OF seIf-dcnfaI In 80.
converts there is con,fort a. IN II olher
napei ol Inc order. where all the rAjieio,,s
iitet 70 pray morning. noon and nfgbt 60
9nI fra.aa, s.aleeS on The altar painted Windows
ana irescoed walls. gaiIy adorned ..s,att,'s y : :
OF the cross" lace flowers H.. s'dLioils iols
music, hght and brightness relieve ~ slLs
nent me elsewhere from its dreariness Io,i and
one patient figure on the altar 81 20, Ohiy
o. Loneliness" and no more Elsavvb.r t-ehIy % y !,
iOr the floor. whitewash for the vsIG m ~ u
"''Ii-i'Ae' desoiate and deserted place
The Prayer of an Empress.
mere. prostrate on the sand, in this var,,
chapei many long years ago. was fo,,n4
the empress of the French
P'@sihs with all the earnestness of her
DesuuiuI nature for a special pift fro-.
Cod The good Abbe Cestac seair7rr I'm
utude OF intense devotion, yentura5 10. -,
proach her and whisper words os oo,,,tI1.
ana OF nope in her ear Madame" said tbe
gentle priest. Il have been pravine atIn
ana ! have an inner conviction. fortifias -.
my appeal to the Mother of Sorrows ths,
your prayer will be answered" Notbina
Htore Wa said In four months time. to the
Joy OF the empress, the emperor and Franco
the Prince Imperial was born. Shall ws,
%1hGe,, tnen, that the penitents OF the
Soituue, the spot. scene, the history of its
foundation and its work of mercy annsai7
ed directly 20 the generous heart OF our ov.-n
queen OF England? Shall we be surnrise5
TO hear that her majesty. with her gentle
tender nature made her way also to the
Convent of Solitude that was 40 dear ao
her well-loved friend. the lonely. widowed
and diseonsolate Empress Eugenie? The
sister who took me round this home or rest
told me that she had had the honor on mora
than one occasion to escort the Queen of