The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-14

truly remarkable. even in a fertile land,
but is all the more so among these in
hOspitable hills.
The regimen TO which a Trappist monk
subjects himself is Of the most rigorous
description. and some of their practices
are such as one would scarcely credit in
this age of the world. Perhaps the one
that most forcibly strikes the imagination
Is that respecting burial When monk
dies he is carried from the monastery in
the garb of his order, which he has never
laid aside from the day he took his vows,
and laid in a grave already prepared and
which he himself has hoped TO dig.
Flowers and a huge wooden cross are then
placed over his last resting place, and the
monks proceed TO prepare a fresh grave
by the SIDE of the one just filed. Each
monk at stated intervals removes a spade
full of earth with the spade that is always
left there, and so it continues until the
new grave is digged and left yawnng for
the next one who may pass away And
every day the monks pass by this grim re-
mindef of death. Their vows entail upon
them perpetual silence. the only greetings
exchanged being the grim words 'memen-
to mort as they pass each other II Is
a weird scene to see the monks at work
in the harvest fields The bright sun, the
golden grain or the sweet-smelling hay,
the busy forms of the monks reaping or
garnering present an attractive spectacle,
and yet one Is oppressed thereby for the
silence of IL all weighs upon the spirits.
The brothers never converse except in
case Of the direst necessity, but the Abbot,
the guest masters and the brothers who
conduct the monastery's business are eX-
empt from this rule in so far as the needs
Of their calling demand. Work is obliga-
tory for all and the monk divides his time
between labor, prayer, study and sleep.
Neither abbot nor novice is exempt from
the meanest tasks. and lest a man should
become attached to one kind of work IL
is frequently changed. The working garb
Is a long white robe. Topped up from the
waist. which is encirced by a large
leather belt while a black scapular falls
from the shoulders The uninviting-look-
ing dining-room is situated in the base
ment. and the table is a narrow, rough
board, surrounded by vanished stools, the
floor being dark, sombre stone.
one meal a day is the allowance of the
monks, and IL Is partaken of In this place.
They enter at O'clock, in single file, with
bowed heads. and silently stand around
the narrow table, facing the center Of the
room When the superintendent strikes
the table with a small hammer they draw
from their girdles small knotted whips,
with which they scourge their legs ami
shoulders so long as the hammer con-
tinues 10 sound. The meal consists of
bread. soup, cabbage and on ons, or other
such vege tables, each monks portion be-
ing brought in a small tin dish. Occas-
sionally, for some fault a monk arises,
and his portion Is removed. Then, in
token OF humility he passes around and
begs portions from the others. Many who
wish to be monks are unable TO stand this
regimen and are freely allowed 10 depart
The great object aimed at Is the complete
humiliation of self once a day the
monks repair 10 a place furnished only
with wooden benches for meditation and
the confession of faults. For a time not
a sound Is 10 be heard, andpthen those
who have done something for which their
conscience reproaches them walk into the
center of the room and face downward lie
upon the floor, which they pentently kiss
Curiosity is considered a deadly sin. IL Is
needless to say that women are not adj
mtted 10 the monastery and signs TO this
effect are plainly to be seen.
AT O'Clock they retire 20 their beds Of