The Irish standard., 1903-05-23

storm above us we found driving
rain storm awaiting us. We arrived
at Saint-Pierre-d de-Chartreuse wet and
cold and hungry. We halted at the
small hotel for lunch. There was an
air of suppressed excitement about
the inn, and indeed in the usually
quiet little village as we'll. From the
direction of the convent came a sue
cession Of women and children, trudg-
ing along in the pouring rain, care
fully balancing under their arms
cheap-framed pictures of saints, of the
Virgin, Of the infant Christ-the fare.
well gifts of the Chartreuse monks.
But longer procession passed them,
ascending the steep mountain road to
the convent, procession composed
of peasants, some white-haired, their
backs bent with age, others in the full
vigor Of manly strength, and still
others not out of their boyhood days.
Not for monllly gifts were these peas.
ants going-they left that to their
women-kind-bu to join the army of
campers outside the convent walls.
My attention was, however, particu-
larly attracted to Il quiet, elderly man,
military in appearance, and possessing
IL fine air Of distinction. He was keen
ly alive to all that took place in the
dining room, and watched sharply
each new arrival. Once his stern
features relaxed and 1 saw him smile
kindly upon tall young man who ell
tered. Madame c. whispered to
me, indicating the new arrival, 'that
is Monsieur Poncet, the 'advocat' of
the ChartreuX brothers." This young
lawyer has for many days remained
behind the convent walls with the
monks. advising them. directing them
in every step they take in resisting the
government action against their Or
der.
Later during lunch Madame C.
learned that our military-lo
neighbor was Count P de c.,
with whom her husband was well ac-
quainted. She promptly made herself
known to him, ut the same time in
Producing us. We had most inter-
esting conversation with him. For
eight days he had been in camp be-
yOnd the walls of the monastery. He
came up on the first rumor that gen.
darmeS were to be sent to eXpel the
monks and such was his haste that
he stopped for nothing, not even for
a change of clothing. He was in a
white velvet costume, very much soil
ed as to color from his long exposure
in the mountains. He intended, he
added, to remain to defend the monks
if any violence was offered them.
We heard him give an order to send
forthwith all the necessary ingredients
for punch, to the camp about the
convent. He turned to us with a
smile and said we must not suppose
him capable of consuming that
amount Of liquor. that he intended it
for his men in camp. who had slept
for nights in the cold and wet. without
covering of any kind 1t was almost
two in the afternoon when we again
stepped out in the pouring rain and
into our carriage. The count had pre-
ceded us, his picturesque figure en-
veloped in long black cape. and a
''beret" "a species of tam-O'- -shanter)
covering his gray locks.
Three-quarters of an hour later we
reached La Grande Chartreuse. Be-
hind the great stone enclosure of the
convent no sign of life was apparent.
The heavy wooden doors were locked
and barred: the "avOcat" alone can
gain admittance there. But beyond
the walls curious scene of ,anima-
ton reigned. In all the little sheds
and outhouses of the monastery bon
fires blaZed; around them peasants
We're drying and warming themselves.
while on some fresh-laid straw near
by tired watchers slept. One young
fellow stepped up to us as we entered
n shed and invited us to share the
welcome warmth Of their fire. He