Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-24
AN ANCIENT CONVENT
Spectacular Removal of Nuns
to San German.
IMPROVEMENTS BEGUN
MEANS CoNFIsCATIoN OF MANY
HOMES ON THE MARINA.
Associate Justice to Resign and Return
to Kansas City-only Ameri-
can on Bench.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN. P. r.. December 16 1903.
For the first time in 25S years the feet Of
the worldly tread the floors of the ancient
Carmelite convent in San Juan. and the
nuns who were sheltered in the old struc-
ture have gone forever from the capital
Of Porto Rico and the shadow of the
cathedral. A few nights ago fifteen Of them
were transported by steamer and overland
to San German. where better quarters have
been provided for them. Some of the nuns
are very old and feeble, and some are
young girls who have recently entered the
convent. Many of them entered the con-
vent when they were young girls and are
now old women.
No one ever enters their apartments
When one of their number dies, the nuns
themselves bury their dead. with their
own peculiar ceremonies, doing all the work
incident to the interment, the cemetery
being in the immediate premises of the
convent.
During the time of the bombardment of
the city by Admiral Sampson the nuns were
removed from the little convent building
for a few days, and were taken care of
in Rio Piedras but with this only excep-
ton, it is said the nuns Of this convent
have never left the seclusion
This is the only order of this kind on
TIE lSldIu, anu THESE nuilS occupy tIelT
new quarters IN San German, possibly
never to be again disturbed in their per-
petual devotion to God for another epoch
of centuries.
1t was not intended that any one should
know of the movement of the nuns. and
that 1t should be done as secretly as pos
sible after dark, but they had no sooner
left the building than it became noised
about town. causing quite a stir for every
one knew of the absolute seclusion Of these
pious worshipers and the character of
their devotion and sacrifice.
Dramatic Departure Of Nuns.
Special preparations were made on the
steamer SO that they could be as absolutely
secluded as they have been in the convent.
They were in charge of two priests the
pastor of San German Church and Father
Canella of San Juan. The nuns made an
application to Bishop Blenk some time ago
to be transferred, as the building which
they occupied is falling down, and needs
repairs very much.
The scene at the pier was one seldom wit
messed. When the carriages containing the
nuns arrived a crowd fought to see the
yelled women. Many relatives were there
and some of the sisters wept bitterly. while
others said they were perfectly happy. Sobs
and cries. however, predominated, and the
gathering was weird one. The steamer
sailed at 2 o'clock in the morning.
The nuns of this order are perhaps the
most pious and sacrificing of any Of the
Catholic Church. They are welded to God
alone, and when they enter the convent
they leave all earthly things behind them.
never again to look upon the face of mortal
but themselves They have some communi
ca ton with the outside world. but do not
see those with whom they communicate. A
high screen is arranged over which they
can converse with their friends upon certain
occasions. but the door between them Is
never opened so that they may come in
actual contact with even their. parents or
closest relatives.
The only recorded escape from the Sistine
Convent in San Juan occurred during Span
ish times. Then a pretty young senorita
crawled out of a window on The Christie
street side to ioin friends of her lover a
Spanish officer in Cuba. She fell to the
sidewalk and broke her Egg but was safely
carried away, recovered and later happily
married to her cavalier. She is living in
Spain.
Congestion Demanding Solution.
While the contemplated improvements in
San Juan by the Navy Department, which
have already been begun, are hailed with
delight by most of the inhabitants between
1000 and 5000 people are in a state Of
worry To them the expenditure of millions
means little as the work will involve the
loss of their homes. The situation just now
is one that reveals the congestion of the
capital and presents a problem demanding
immediate solution. The people living en-
the Marina fear that within few days o.:
weeks time they will be turned off the land
and all the property seized for naval pur-
poses. The news has not been confirmed at
thorties are only waiting for cable from
Washington to take final action.
Those who occupy houses on the Marina,
adjacent to the navy department, were
served with papers long ago, warning them
that they should not build any formidable