The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-03

MeiIary, just outside Dubuque, is one
OF the most picturesque places in Iowa.
Inc buildings and grounds are valued
at about $250,000. Leaving the banks
| OF the Mississippi, the road to the mon
| aStery climbs a steep hill. At times
| II winds among the trees Of the I'M
touched forests, and then for miles
upon ridge of hills. Far down on
either side may be. seen the valleys.
dotted with farm houses and with
stacks of yellow hay or grain.
Just at the edge of the woods that
line the banks of the Catfish a little
stream that seems to be trying to find
some hiding place, until at last it loses
itself on the broad bosom of the Mis-
Slsslppl, begins the domain of the alb
hey. There are 5000 acres, and these
constitute the little world of the
monks. Almost all is in pasture, and
fenced. The fat cattle wander about
browsing on the rich grass, and looking
up wonderingly when a stranger, clad
in the garments Of civilization, passes
by.
over fifty years ago the monastery
was founded by sixteen monks who
came to America from the city of Wa
terford, Ireland. They purchased about
5000 acres of land, at about 25 cents
an acre. Today the land is worth about
$50 per acre. The monks are scientific
agriculturalists, and in many instances
they have by means of terracing and
irrigation transformed seemingly bar
rem mountain sides into beautiful gar
dens. They manufacture all their own
tools, furniture and clothing and all,
or nearly all, of the raw materials re-
quired for these things are obtained
from their land
Noted for Their Charity.
The Trappists are noted for their
charity and hospitality The needy
repair to the monastery and have their
wants supplied. A visitor is received
in the guest room," which is almost
bare of furniture, and after sending
in his credentials is committed to the
care of the guest MASTER who, by
virtue of his Office, is freed from the
bond of silence-so far as may be nee
essary for extending courtesies to
guests.
Each brother has some special en-
ployment. There are among them
blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, ma
sons, machinists, physicians, artists,
etc. Farmers for miles around get
their repairing and other work done
at the monastery, and it is optional
with them whether they pay for it or
not. Probably the most remarkable
of the rules is that requiring perpetu-
al silence. Without permission from
his superior, which is granted in GER
tain cases of necessity, a TrappiSt new
er speaks except in prayer or sacred
song. All sleep in one dormitory. The
beds are placed against the opposite
walls in two rows. In the center Of
the room stands an image of the Bles-
sed Virgin. A plank and a straw mat
tress constitute the furnishings of each
bed.
The monks retire to rest at z in the
evening and arise at 2 in the morning,
/ When they at once go to the chapel for
mass. There they spend several hours
praying, meditating and chanting
psalms. Once a month in the chapel
each brother publicly accuses himself
OF all his vanitieS or imperfections.
Flesh meat is never allowed, except to
the sick, and those in health take but
one meal and a collation. in winter and
two meals in summer. Eggs, cheese,
fish and butter are among the forbid
den articles Of diet. The only food
allowed is bread milk and vegetables.
On the last three Fridays in Lent dry
bread and water make up the repast.
Before meals a long grace is said, and
after meals the Miserere is chanted.
The luxuries of the community are
confined to snuff, which is doled out
in meager allowances on Sunday.
Salutation Is "Remember Death"
The march of the monks from dor
mitory to chapel, coWled and with
tunics belted about their bodies, is de-
They go in twos, hardly making a
sound with their feet as they pass I'M
der the hyssop of the abbot, and in
the di1nness OF the artificial light they
appear as so many skeletons march
ing to the grave. In their rituals in
the chapel they must kneel or stand.
Reciting the office, they all lower their
heads at the names of the saints Of
the order and kiss the ground at the
names of the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost.
The only salutation that ever passes
between the monks is "Memento Mori'
(remember death). Indeed the
thought of death always appears up
permost in their minds. Each monk
daily digs out part Of the grave that
is to receive his corpse. When the
grave is completely dug he throws
the dirt back into it and begins the
digging anew. Should he die while
the grave is only partly dug a brother
monk, assigned by him for such an
emergency, completes the work. The
cemetery is remarkable for the absence
of familiar names. The only thing to
tell who sleeps below is the single
name by which the dead brother was
known in religion. Notwithstanding
the extraordinary austerities practiced
by the Trappists, it is claimed that
they are less affected by disease than
are people in the outside world, and ,
that most of them live to a very old
age.
In the house all the monks wear the
coWl and habit, the only parts of. their
dress that are never taken off except
when new clothing is required. Their
dress is the same in winter as in sum-
mer. The motives governing them in
stunning the bath and changes of I'M
der clothing are the same that actuated
certain fathers of the desert-contempt
for the body and desire to be living
rebukes to luxurious worldlings. Some
of the monks are priests, others only
lay brothers. All, including Abbot Da-
vid, work in the fields long and hard
with the exception of the monks
whose labor is required in the shops
or in the house. Yet these do consid-
cradle farming also. The monks live
entirely by their own industry and
sell what they do not want the fowls,
cheese and other articles having a
reputation for excellence and being in
great demand. 1t is said that there are
no better farmers in the world than
the Trappists. A visit to Dubuque
is not considered complete without
trip to the monastery. Hundreds of
Dubuque people picnic on the monas-
terry grounds every Sunday during the
summer months, and it is considered
the most ideal place in Dubuque coun-
ty for an outing.
Only One to Leave.
The only monk that ever left the
monastery since it was established
was Brother Eugene, now known to
Dubuquers as Joseph Graham who ex-
poets to realize a fortune out of his
inventions. Brother Eugene left the
monastery about five months ago, after
being a member of the Trappist order
twenty three years, then q young man