The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-05-05
NUNS LEAVE OLD CONVENT.
40 Rico. Vacated After Three
Centuries' Occupancy.


For the irst time In 2bs years the feet
Of the worldly tread the floors of the an.
eient Carmelite convent In San Juan,
aud the nuns who were sheltered IN the
old structure have gone forever from
the capital OF Porto Rico. and the shad-
ow Of the cathedral, says recent San
Juan correspondence In the st. Louis
Globe Democrat. 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 en-
tered the convent. Many OF them en-
tered the convent when they were
young girls. and are now old women.
No one 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 bomhardment
OF the city By Admiral Sampson the
nuns were removed from the little con-
vent building for a few days. and were
taken care of in Rio piodras. but with
this only exception, It is said, the nuns
OF this convent have never left the Sc
aluslon.
This Is the only order Of this kind on
the island, and these nuns occupy their
new quarters IN San German possibly
never TO again be disturbed in their per-
petual devotion TO God for another
epoch OF centuries.
II was not intended that any ono
should know Of the movement Of the
nuns, and thai It should be done as Sc
erely as possible after dark, but they
had no sooner left the building than Il
became nolsed about town, causing
quite a stir, for every one knew OF the
absolute seeluslon Of these pious wor-
shippers aud the character Of their deyo-
tion and sacrifice
Special preparations were made on the
steamer so that they could be as abb
soutely secluded there as they have
been in the convent They we're in
charge Of two priests. the pastor Of the
San German church and Father CaneIla,
of San Juan The nuns made an appli-
cation to Bishop Blenk some time ago
70 be transferred, as the building which
they occupied is falling down and needs
repairs very much.
The scene at the pier was one seldom
Witnessed When the carriages con-
ainlng the nuns arrived a crowd fought
70 see the yelled women Many relatives
we're there and some OF the sisters wept
bitterly. while others said they we're
perfectly happy sobs and cries. how
ever. predominated. and the gathering
was a weird one. The steamer sailed at
two o'clock IN the morning The nuns
OF this order are. perhaps, the. most
plous and sacrificing Of any Of the Cath
olic church. They are welded to Cod
alone. and when they enter the con-
vent they leave al earthly things be-
hind them. never again TO look upon the
face Of a mortal but themselves. They
have some Communication with the out
side world but do not see those with
whom they communicate 4 high
screen Is arranged over which they can
converse with their friends upon GER
tain 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
sisiine convent IN San Juan occurred
during Spanish times Then pretty
young senorita erawled out of window
On The Christie stree, side to Join friends
Of her lover a Spanish officer In Cuba.
she fell 70 the sidewalk and broke her
leg. but was safely carried away. recov-
cred and later happily married her cav
llier. She Is living IN Spain