The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-21

IN TIE CELLARS OF LA GRANpE CHAR
TREUsE.
business, employing hosts of peasants
and paying an annual tax TO the gov
eminent of over 100000. are lost to
France and to Dauphine. Catholics
have predicted that their expulsion will
have IN this province an effect like that
which almost ruined France industri-
ally when Louis XIV. drove the Hugue-
nots from his realm.
The monks immense charities. foo.
will be badly missed. 1t Is said that
they have every year given away the
greater part OF their vast revenues
They have built free hospital at st.
Laurent du pont and have established
an asylum for deaf mutes near the
monastery. besides innumerable less
conspicuous acts OF benevolence.
Most of the monks have already gone
to the home which they are establish
ing In Austria. In which Catholic coun-
try they hope to escape the persecution.
as they consider 1t. which they have
met with here. They have taken with
them their library. one of the largest
and most valuable in Europe, their
chronicles. their treasures and the APP
piiances for making their precious
liqueur. Only a few devoted brethren
remain In the bleak monastery high
up In the mountains above the wind
ing Isere. where since 1886 Carthnsian
monks have lived, prlyed and died
Almost a thousand years ago an &C.
clesiastical quarrel with the archbish-
op of Reims sent SIX earnest souls.
with st. Bruno at their head, into the
wilderness to seek lonely spot where.
untroubled by the sin and ambition Of
the great world. they could commune
with God and nature.
Before they started they went to the
bishop of Grenoble, q holy man. who
blessed them and showed them the
way to the heights where they took
up their abode and founded an order
which has for centuries been one of
the best known III Christendom. From
that time the Carthusians have multi
piled. From seven they have become
thousands and from being poor they
have grown rich and powerful.
The name Of the monks of Char
treuse Is associated In the minds of the
profane with the cordial which bears
It, but ut the outset their purpose was
not that Of gain. They lived lives OF
the greatest austerity, these followers
OF SC. Bruno. and set an example OF
rigorous piety to the most devout. Even
now their rules are very severe. Their
prayers and rites are of interminable
length. Their food is coarse, their re-
creations are few, and they cleave to
many of the Notifications Of the flesh
instituted BY their predecessors. De-
spite the profuse supply of liqueur
Carthusian monk Ia never drunk.
The secret Of the cordial was known
to the early monks. but the Iiaueur
was used for centuries only as medi-
cine. After 1t began to be used as
beverage the output was small for
long time. It was not until 1885. when
Pere Grenier, one OF the chief monks.
perceived the value Of their secret, that
II was commercially exploited. Now ii
Is put on the market In large quantities
and literally advertised.
The monks have been offered fabu-
lous sums for the recipe Of the liaueur.
which is sacredly guarded by the limit
ed number of the most active monks.
who alone know it. The trademarks
are In the possession Of Pere Rey, the
present prior. who has authority to
prosecute any one initiating them.
The selling Of the cordial Ii let out ID
private company.
The existing buildings are not those
erected BY St Bruno.s band SIX mon
asteries have beer destroyed four by
fire, one BY avalanche and one BY SOL
aiers during the religious wars Of the
sixteenth century.
No outsider is permitted to remair,
more than forty eight hours within the
walls, and women are religiously ex.
cluded ut all times. Queen Victoria il
said to have been the only woman who
has ever penetrated tue holy precincts.
JEAN PIERRE LUXOR.