The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
PR0UDEST RELIGIOUS ORDER.
THEY ARE THE NOBLE LADIES OF
PRAGUE. THE SHIFTS DAMIEN.

press Maria Theresa ind Always
Has Daughter of the Imperial
House for Its AbbeSs-Member Are
Free to Marry and Are Allowed
Carriagc Horses. BoN at the
Theatcr and other worldly PriVi-
Ieges.
New York Jan. 19-Of the many who
visit Carlsbad comparatively few break
their journey al the quaint old city on the
Moldau that crowned by the Hradschiu,
rules the river like queen. Yet Prague
is one of the most beautiful towns in Flu
rope, whether as regards situation or ar
chitecture. The Karls Brucke alone il
worth the journey that wonderful bridge
with its thirty groups of statuary. Al one
point is inserted in the parapet slab OF
marble having in the center a small dou-
be-armed cross of brass. This the way
farers touch as they pass, at the same
time uncovering. for II marks The spot
whence John NepoVucen was hurled for
refusing to beray The secrets OF the con
fessional.
The whole place teens with historic in
terest. 1t has known sieges and tumults,
IiuS uS anu lIHllilt lNleA'He 81 NV tittNt ~
war of contending political parties; yet to-
day an the sunlight its market place crowd
ed with gany clad peasants from Nora
via, Pilsen and Taus il looks as peace
full as if the call to arms had never sound
ed through its narrow streets one feels
inclined to envy the Suits Damen, the No
BILE Ladies of Prague who live amidst
scenes hallowed by so many memories, and
with which the families of more than one
have been identified in the past The Sec
ular Canonesses of Prague belong to the
proudest religious order in Europe To
their ranks no maiden is admitted who
cannot prove on both sides sixteen quar-
terings of nobility. II was founded by
the Empress Maria Theresa, and has haa
ever since for its Abbess a daughter or
the imperial house.
Intended as a provision for the "penni-
less lass, wi a long pedigree it's rules
are not of the strctness to be found in
less aristocratic associations. Its MEM
bers are free to marry-if they get a good
offer-and though they are required to
spend a certain number Of months annu-
ally in the Royal Palace of the Hradschin
they are allowed to visit when they like.
to receive visits, and to seek change of
air in summer. Each Canoness has at her
disposal a carriage ana horses, and box
at the theater, while medical attendance
and drugs are provided. In addition she
receives a pension of over one hundred
guldens month, or about forty-fiVe dol
lars
While Maria Theresa's foundation at
fords a retreat for many girls of high
but limited means it must not be taken
that all the members are impecunious. To
belong to the Stifts is esteemed an honor
A sister of the present Count Taaffe Zone
of the many Austrian mobiles Of Irish des-
~.
tina Taaffe, was a Canoness. At the pres
ent day Count Taaffes own daughter is
numbered amongst the members of the
community.
Amongst those who have held the post
of Abbess have been the unfortunate Ma
lie Antoinette, and the present Queen
Regent of Spain, who governed the order
until her marriage in 1880 The present
Abbess is the youthful Archduchess Maria
Annunciator to give her full name,
Maria Annunciata Adelaide Theresa
Michaela Caroline Louise Pia. She is the
daughter of the Archduke Karl Ludwig,
brother TO the Emperor Of Austria, by his
third wife, the Princess Maria Theresa of
Braganza, and was born at Recheuau on
the 3lst of July, 1876. On her investiture
in 1885 she was consequently only nine
teen years OF age. but she bore herself
with the dignity of a mature woman.
The immediate predecessor of the pres
ent Abbess was the Archduchess Maria
Immaculate. who was born in 1869 al Alt
Munster, and resigned office when On May
30, 1884 she married Prince August Leo
pold of Saxe-Coburg Gotha.
The inVestiture of an Abbess Is a solemn
religious ceremony. She received at the
hands of the Archbishop an ermine man
tie, and the insignia of her Office a gold
cross and crozier resembling that car
ried by bishops ana mitred abbJts. a
royal crown is at the same time placed
he .nftl - .fH.rr
a reminder that she is of royal birth and
exercises royal jurisdiction students
will remember that in England ADDRESSES
formerly sat in Parliament. ana in Anglo
Saxon times numbered amongst them
more than one remarkable woman
The Canonesses OF Prague are obliged to
don their distinctive garb only eight times
a year, on great festivals. Like their
Abbess, they wear on these occasions a
black silk gown and an ermine trimmed
mantle, but the fur is narrower than on
hers Across the chest "A blue ribbon is
displayed. on the head is worn a Maria
Stuart cap with long pendant tule Vcil.
The Stifts Dameu are privileged to APP
pear at the Austrian Court attired In
black. our illustrations in the portraits
of the Countess Lazansky and the Bar0-
ness Skrbinsky show the distinction be
tween the costume Of private members
and that Of the Abbess
Besides the private apartments allotted
to each lady in the Hradschin or Royal
Palace at Prague two fine reception
rooms with paraquct foorinEs and lofty
WinowS are placed at the general disposal
for large gatherings These contain por-
traits of former abesses painted on their
resignation. In one of these saloons
stands a curious fire screen embroidered
delicately by poor Marie Antoinet'e with
flowers in silk. From the balcony there
is a beautiful outlook on the city beneath,
with its slopes. its innumcrable
towers. the winding Moldau, and the
hight Of Weissbers beyond.
one of the obligations of the ladies' who
are so comfortably endowed for life is 70
pray for the soul Of their founder. This
they do in the adjoining Cathedral of st.
Vitus, remarkable for the huge mtus1leum
of 81. John Nepomucen in solid silver,
containing a silver coffin enclosing sec
end in crystal, in which are his remains.
At the end Of the choir is the hereditary