Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-06-20

divfduaie. buy home they are usuai-
~ supposed 10 have fbe priyiiege -
protecting and preserving that home,
II improving and adorning it, ~ MAX
log any or all changes they see -. II
tsey do not Obsfruct the view ~
their neigbbOrg, or maKe the house a
ppnblic Nuisance.
This deos not seem 10 be the case
viii, the Sisters II NOtre Dame. a
religious community which governs
itself, and - a private, not a public
household 0f good women who have
taken the VOWS ~ the church, aud
not public organization, (which
some people seem 70 fbfnE who walk
ia their home unaunOunced and poke
cameras everywhere and af everything
therein sacred and secular
some tep months ago, after exper-
iencing ilI health from dampnefs, and
with the walls and wood work show ing
signs Of decay, the Sisters Of NOtre
Dame began 20 take steps 10 protect
themselves from the dangerous eOndi-
ton of their convent, Ar old colonial
house built some where about 1863,
since an iron 6rebOard has been dis
covered IN the house recently bearing
the following Nv. i Patuxent,
1865"
The Sisters scarcely began the work
Of restoring the old house % n habit
able state when there arose a bue and
cry from the "lOyers Of the antigue"
as to the desecratiOn Of the old colo
NAL residence. Protests were made
individually and collectively. Persons
went to the Sisters, called them ignO-
rant (this community Of NOtre Dame
teachers known ~ be cultured and in
teIligent the world over said they did
not appreciate art, or the antique, and
made assertions or all sorts, not found
cd on fact, by the way. Some went
10 the Rev. Father Rector, among
these were the local Chapter -. 4. r.,
who made a protest about painting
the old house, and one gentleman, q
former AnnapOlitaD, now registered a.
n citizen Of Baltimore, but who spends
the greater part If his days and ap-
parently all Of his nights in AnnapO-
lis, went 50 far as ~ call upon the
Cardinal IN Baltimore, and present a
largely signed protest against what
the Sisters have done to preserve their
home. 1T goes without saying that the
Cardinal has nothing Whatever To
DO with the Sisters, 50 long As they
deport themselves properlv--as they are
religious community, governing
themselves.
All this and more was done BY the
ofIicious public. IL came - the
knowledge OF the press-the local
press, which most people want to use
as n tool to hit somebody else in the
head with, oftentimes, and this paper
was asked to take up the fight against
the Sisters, having painted, hung
shutters and otherw Use desecrated their
home, --'slhe grand old colonial resi-
dence" OF Governor Eden.
A wise newspaper never pOkes its
nOse into other peoples business, IN
less il first Investigates and delves for
facts. Accordingly, one Of the staff
Of The Capital called on the Sisters
last evening and, as usual, was most
courteously received and cordially
welcomed. Somewhat ashamed - the
object Of the visit, the Capitals rep
resentative stated the case, telling the
Sisters it was with a desire Of present
ing things in a correct light before the
general public that the visit had been
made. In an interview covering
nearly two hours, the Capitals repre-
sentative CLEANED the following facts,
the first two assertions having been
made by the general public and hav-
ing come to the Sisters notice
Assertion I. Sisters have not lived
long enough in Annapolis or perhaps
do not understand the art Of the Co
Ionial Houses enough TO appreciate the
value Of them.
Assertion III. Sisters probably had
some money to spend and thought they
would use il in painting the exterior
Of their Convent.
Facts Against FIRST AsseEtiOn-Ibs
Sisters purchased the house thirty
two years ago. when il was in 3 stats
Of dilapidatioD and since then bav'
been constantly making repairs Prob
ably. owing 10 the fact that the build
ing stood alone on the bill exposed 4
the elements and storms the bricks
were so porous that the walls beeam'
saturated with dampness. 50 much 50
that the paint and plastieO in many
places fell from the woodwork ans
walls. One room in particular VAS II
such a bad condition that although
the Sisters had scarcely means sum
cient to reDovate IL. necessity com
PEELED them 20 make the attempt Il
scratching OF the old paint the WOO,
work cayed ina carpenter vas call
ed in for a day or two. as the Sister
thought Upon removing the old-fasb
| ioued window seats. they crumbles
| TO dust; the same was found 70 Be tn
/ case with the supporters Of wash an
| chair boards and some Of the windOg
| sills. SuppOsing the rest of the hOus
70 be in the same condition. the Sis
- --s1~.a ..~.s.~. stsc De- nf~esear TF~r.