The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-01-06
EXILED NUNS HERE.
Dominican Sisters Settle in New
Home Near Baltimore.
Psrnaneat Convent 20 he Estabiished
81 Pretty SPOT II Maryland
asd where they Win seoa
NJ sAut Oct from World.

In I severely unpretentious house,
whose uneurtained windows stare
blankly out on Mount Druid Hill, Balti.
more, the first OF the exiled nuns OF
France have found q temporary shelter,
The house Is row called the Convent OF
the Perpetual Rosary, and the sisters
are the Dominican nuns Of Rouen, whose
convent of Bon Secours was closed by
order Of the French government 1t Is
evidently their intention to settle per-
msnsntly In the United States. for they
have purchased, at Irvinston, near Bal.
timore, Is acres OF ground. on which is
pretty house. containing IL rooms.
The property cost $4,000, and an archi-
tect has been instructed to prepare
plans for q chapel and other improve
ments At cost OF 100000
The house is now being transformed
into convent. When all is ready the
sisters In the old world will be notified
and a general pilgrimage to America will
be begun. BY that time the convent
grounds will be inclosed by wall IL
het high, which will shut from the view
0f the world the Sisters Of the Ancient
order Of st. Dominic. When the gates
ave closed on the exiled nuns they will
seldom afterward be seen outside their
convent grounds.
The Order OF ST. Dominic is curious
one In that It's discipline Is little more
elastic than that of most bodies OF the
Kind. The aim OF the founder appears to
have been to consecrate to the service
OF the church such talents as men and
women possessed, rather than to cloister
beings who would thereafter be OF little
use TO humanity, and the Dominican nun
who has a talent for art In any form
nav devote her life to Its cultivation
The French nuns embroider the mag.
nincent vestments worn by dignitaries
OF the church and fashion statues and
paint pictures to adorn sacred structures.
The order Is one Of the most progressive
In the Roman Catholic church, and there
are already many Dominican sisters in
American cities.
They visit the sick, teach In school, act
as mothers In the institutions fof
founding waits, provide employment
Tor old women and homes for working
girls. In appearance they are scarcely
TO be distinguished from other Roman
Catholic orders, for over the ghostly
white costume. which Is said to have
been revealed to st. Dominic by the
Blessed Virgin herself, they wear when
aver they leave their converts black
mantle. which nearly covers It. Always
worn. conspicuously however. is the
rosary, for ST. Dominic is credited with
having introduced this religious symbol.
The sisters decline to discuss their
plans for life IN this country or the causes
which led to their emigration. They de-
ciared that they bore no III will to their
prosecutors In France and even regard.
ed the action OF the French government
With some degree Of satisfaction, since
II had led to their coming to America and
finding an ideal home Their only de-
sire now, they say, Is to retire from the
world ard fulfil their various missions
quietly and without ostentation.
PsntiRs Once We're Red.
There are many people who will
doubtless be interested TO know that
il 10 only since the thirteenth century
thar the popes have been accustomed
10 wear white Until that time they
we're always arrayed in the red robes
now affected by the cardinals Boni-
fxee VIII. in 1894. however. realizing
chat the red was no longer distinctive
color OF the papacy since his predeces-
sors had accorded TO their lesates abroad
the right to wesr 1t, issued a deeree
grant .ng to all the members OF the sa-
cred college the red robes which they
nov wear. and decided that white should
hencefofth be the hue OF the raiment of
himself and Of bis successors. The
popes, however. still retain from these
ancient days the red hat which they
wear out OF doof and the red mantle
As well IS the re shoes. Detroit Free
Press.