The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-09-28
ADIoS TO CORDOVA AND OFF TO MEN
DOZA AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES.
THROUGH THE "HAPPY Valley OF
THE LONG DEAD JESUITS.

MENDOZA. ARGENTINA, Aug Is, 1903
One of the most interesting places to
visit in this former stronghold Of the
JeSuits, if one can gain admlttance
thereto, is the nunnery at Santa Cata-
lima. whose inmates manufacture fam
Gus bOmbilaS of horSehalr and bamboo
to be used in sucking Paraguay tea,
which appears to be quite as popular
here as in Paraguay. We did not sue
coed in getting into the nunnery, not
Withstanding considerable effort on our
part and that of local acquaintanceS;
but | will tell you the experience of
Mrs. Marguerite Dickens, who was the
former wife of Commander Dickens, I.
S. n, and came here with her husband
few years before her death. She says:
1--WE searched some time for an en-
trance to the convent, and not finding
any we went into the church of Santa
Catalina, which, like all the churches
protusely decorated with paintings.
Over the door is gallery with gratings
and cloth screens, where the nuns stand
concealed when they sing the service;
but there is no entrance to it from the
church. In small room to the right
of the high altar was a revolving cup
board, but repeated knockings brought
no response. At last, in an alcove be-
hind the altar, we found priest sound
asleep. We wakened him and told him
in our choicest Castilian that we want
ed to buy some bombillas from the
nuns, and he not only conducted us to
the inner court of the convent behind
some houses, but obligingly helped us
to interview the sister who answered
my knock at the turn-table. l never
saw an article of wood so tightly fitted,
yet which turned with such ease as
that cupboard-like affair. l could hear
a pleasant voice and musical laugh, but
not glimpse could | catch of the nun
who promised me she would see what
could be done for us if we would return
in the afternoon. When we came back
at the appointed hour and announced
that was the foreigner who wished
the bombillas, she put bunch OF keys
in the revolving cupboard for me to
give to the FORTRESS while she went to
speak to the Lady Superior. A quaint
looking woman, Shrouded IN mania,
whom | had noticed sitting in the court,
came forward, took the keys and coN
Quoted us to small door ip the corner
next to the church. She unlocked the
door and let us into long, narrow
room, which was perfectly dark except
| for the light that came through the
door. At one end hung a beautiful pic
| ture of the Madonna and Child, both
dressed in stiff brocade, and at the
| other end portrait. of Saint DomlDic
| Between them, against the wall, was Il
row of chairs, where we were directed
| to sit Facing the chairs was an iron
grating. that occupied the entire length
of the room, and was fastened into the
floor and the ceiling. 1t was made of
fiat bands, riveted close together; about
| five feet inside Of it was second, SINH
lar one: and inside of that veil of
thick black cloth. Soon we heard the
turning of lock somewhere and then
two female voices. | had converse
ton with them and found that they
knew all about themselves and their
| Order, but not much else. They are a
| branch of the Order of Saint Dominic
and this house was founded by the Con-
quistadores from Peru in 1918. There
are rooms for only forty nuns, and as
soon as one dies another stands ready
to enter They draw only from the
best families and are strictly clustered
living, dying and being buried within
the walls. They said they were happy,
but their voices had hollow sound as
' if coming from tomb