The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-13
covering his gray

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 tine
walls a curious scene of animation
reigned. In all the little sheds and out
houses of the monastery bonfires
blazed; around them peasants were
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 a shed
and invited US to share the welcome
warmth of their fire. He pulled a large
log nearer the blaze, at the same time
apologizing that he could not offer us
more comfortable seats.
When 1t is war-time," he said, zone
can not have many conveniences. :"
"Ah! 1t is war them" l asked
Il hope So" he replied, significantly
There are not many of YOU" I con-
tlnued tentatively, at the same time
throwing comprehensive glance at
the figures about the fires.
The others are in the forest-every-
where" (par-touO, he answered quiet
~, casting another stick into the blaze.
Just then the count came up to us,
in his hands some small "objets de
piete, which he presented to us, say
ing he had begged them from the
monks as souvenirs for four ladies of
his acquaintance.
We were very DESTROYS of CONVERSE
ton with one of the fathers" and
asked the count If he could not per-
suade one of them to talk with us
through the small grating in the gates.
He promised to lend us his influence
to obtain our wish.
We accompanied him to the great
wooden gates before which stood a
crowd of men who also had come up
from Saint-Pierre to interview che
monks. They had rung the big bell,
Knocked vigorously on the doors, and
made, in face of every effort to obtain
some response. But no sign came from
the enclosure that they were heard
The Count pulled the bell gently, then
stepped up to a small wooden slide in
the gate and called softly:
"F'rere, frere, c'est moi"
Instantly the slide was withdrawn,
and through the grating a cowled head
was just visible. The Count explained
our desire to have a conversation with
one of the Fathers and added "as
we'll as a benediction."
The brother said he would inquire
and before long he returned with the
reply that if he could wait till O'Clock
our petition would be granted.
Unfortunately we could not wait As
we turned to leave, 1 noticed for the
first time, suspended from a tree, an
unfurled flag of France draped with
long streamers of black crepe; beside
1t fioated the red flag of the convent,
the Bleeding Heart" in the center.
"Who did that?" 1 inquired of our
new friend, and pointing to the black
draped flag.
I'VE did. France is in mourning"
he made answer. He then saluted us
gravely and disappeared.
AS We made our wet descent to
Saint Laurent-duP ont. we passed the
still unending stream of peasants
mounting to La Chartreuse. They were
all unarmed save for great mountain
sticks, but a certain unsmiling mood
seemed upon them, which augured ill
fod the gendarmes when they should
appear.
April 30.-Since this visit the monks
have been elected, but not by the gem
darmes alone. The government cogni-
zant of the presence of those watchful
campers In the woods, took the pre-
caution to send two troops of cavalry
and a battalion of infantry with the
police. Against these Well-armed SOL
ders, resistance was more than futile.
What would even a thousand unarm-
ed men-peasants or counts-do against
such a force?
They could only Indignantly protest
as the gendarmes. guarded by the
sternly silent military force-for the
soldiers, whether Catholics or Protest
ants, like i'll these recent duties-bat-
tered down the venerable doors and led
out one by one their beloved recluses
from the chapel, where they were found
kneeling in prayer.
But three of the officers-two cap
tains and a lieutenant-who accom-
panied their men to La Grande Char
treuse, after obeying the orders they
had received sent in their resignation.
with the statement that they entered
the army to defend their country, and
not to eject monks and nuns from con-
vents.
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