The age-herald., 1899-12-17

The present Mother General of the Order of the Sacred Heart is herself an aristo- crat. Sir Kenelin Digby. an ancester of hers was ono of the unique characters of the time of King James l.. and of the un- fortunate Charles His curious memoirs are well known to bibliophiles. In the present century his descendant. Kenelin H. Digby, a close kinsman of Mime. Digby, Is the author of an elaborate work known as "Mores Catholci" and of "Broad Stones of Honor a work in five volumes, which describes the ages of chivalry and is full of ancient knightly lore For several centuries the Digby family has been conspicuous in history. While the majority of them have always remained Catholics, strange to re- late Mme. Digby comes of the branch that embraced Protestantism. She became con- verted at the age of sixteen, however, and since that time has been devoted to the Or der of the Sacred Heart.
 The Lady Abbess of St. Benedicts Rome, is also member of one of the oldest Catho- lie families of England. She is the daugh- ter of Sir Robert Pynsent D. c. L., and on her mothers side is a descendant of Lord Mcguire whose devotion to the house of King Charles only ended with his death.
 Miss Constance Edgar who entered the Visitation Convent a few years ago, was the daughter of Mme Bonaparte by her first marriage. Her debut was a most bril- lant social event and she was a great
 
 sake these vanities to enjoy the quiet life of a coistered nun.
 In Europe it is not at all unusual for titled personages to get away from the madding crowd, to see, in the retirement of a convent, their souls salvation. At pres- ent there are at least two princeSses of the blood royal who wears the habits of nun and follow the strict rules of their religious orders.
 One of these is the Russian Grandducles Nicholas Nicolawitch, the widow of the grand duke of that name. No member of the Russian royal family was more thor oughly disreputable than the husband of this good woman. The scandals of his pri- vate life were a great trial to his brother. Emperor Alexander IT.. but he was allowed to remain in Russia until it was found that he was dishonest, and had been carrying on the most colossal steals. Then he was banished in disgrace from the country by his nephew. the late emperor. The grand duke lived but short time after his pub lie exposure and upon his death his wife | retired to one of the underground con- vents that exist in the Holy City of Kieff There she took the final vows of a most strict order and since that time has de- voted her life in praying for the repose Of the soul and the final salvation of her wicked husband.
 The other royal man is another woman, | whose prayers are often devoted to the soul of absolute husband. She IS the SIS ter of King Humbert and the widow Of the | cousin of Napoleon III. On that memorable September 4 when the empire was over thrown the princess drove from Paris and sought refuge in a convent A few months | later she secured a separation from her elderly but disrerutabe husband and took the vows of Sister of Mercy, to which she has since remained true. During her husbands last illness at Rome, she nursed him faithfully, but she wore her garments of a nun and when his eyes had been closed in death she returned to her castle at Mon- tecalieri, near Turin. which she had con- verted into hospital and founding asy- lum. and since that time she has devoted herself studiously to the welfare of it's in- mates.
 Princess Clothilde is in every sense saintly woman and is so regarded from one end of Europe to the other. At the nresent time she Is extremely ill. dying, It is said, from an internal cancer. but she is still patient and gentle and when she dies one of the most lovable of the royal person. ages of Europe will have passed away.