The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-08-05

the Poles. It is inclosed with q fence
made Of the enemy's cannon and
chain. At the base a number Of pill
grims were resting as they munched
at some black bread, while others
were drinking from sacred fountain
first throwing into the basin an Of
fering Of kopecks.
Two miles from Troitsa is another
monastery OF men. the Tscherainoff
1t is situated beautifully and is quite
modern. having been built within the
last so years. The monks own the
land for miles around. hence there Is
no village nearer than Troitsa. The
carriage road led through fragrant
pine and In every direction turned
were avenues of 1t, stately isles OF
natures temple. This monastery has
two sections separated by pretty in.
land lake. Only one is opened to the
public and from the second. women
are excluded.
Converts for women, II less numer
GUS and less wealthy than those for
men. are still vastly interesting from
their intimate connection with the
country's history. Moscow has several,
the most celebrated being the Novo-
Dievichi. Helen. the maid" was Its
first abbess. The convent lies on the
outskirts OF the city where the Mosk.
| wa curves around at the foot Of the
Sparrow Hills. It's ancient site was
called the Maidens' Field where ira.
dition locates the market place al
which the Tartars In olden times
bought the pretty. fair faced Musco-
vite girls for the Mohammedan harems
| at Constantlnople and Ispahan. One
sunny afternoon. I found myself al
the gates Of the Maidens' convent.
voDieyichi. Two hospitable nuns
invited me within their simple. but
clean apartments. brought out steam.
ing samovar. some black bread and
self. Afterwards they showed me
| their retreat.
Russian nuns wear an all-black cos.
tune, not vestige Of white is visible.
Their time is employed In doing
needlework for the church and out.
side patrons. Community rule Is not
rigorous nor secluded rs that OBJ
| served by the sisterhood sf the Gath.
| Ollie church.
Ii was at the Maidens' convent Peter
the Great imprisoned his half-sister,
Sophia, compelling her to take the
veil under the name of Suzanne. A
regiment of the Strelitsi. who had re-
manned faithful to Sophia. Peter put to
death. and had their heads hung on
pixies outside of the imprisoned wom-
ans window. The Strelitsi was an or.
ganization Of fighters formed under
Ivan the Terrible and later they grew
into an hereditary militia. They
fought for Moscow when called upon,
and In return were exempted from
taxation and permitted to trade. keep
shops and mills and ply various handi.
crafts.
As We We're strolling about the gar
dens l was continually hearing a clock
striking. Then the gentle nun told
how Peter. to annoy Sophia, as also
to show her how time was passing
and her chances to the throne be-
coming no nearer. built the beethoven
In which he placed a clock that would
sound gong every minute. On their
way to Moscow the French army halt
ed at the convent-fortress: Napoleon
forbade any injury done it while the
king OF Naples ordered divine service
to be celebrated daily. as usual. But
later. after the French was again
quartered there and on leaving. they
endeayored to blow up the belfry
where the stores were held. The
heroic nuns interrupted the fired train
and succeeded In saving the convent.
/