East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-10-23
WHERE WOMEN ARE
SILENT As THE GRAVE
Hours Passed in Morning Prayers,
Then Comes Work, But No Talk
ing Even at Meals.

Then Comes Work, But No Talk
ing Even at Meals.
Probably not many of the women
who every year help to swell the tide
Of gayety at Barritz are aware that.
but short distance from their chat
ter and laughter, there is commu-
nifty of women. with voices as musi-
cal as their own, who pass their lives
in unbroken silence-not az penance
for their sins but of their own free
will.
The skeptic may smile increduously
at the very suggestion that a woman
who has a voice can exist without US
ing it; but a visit to the Convent of
the Silent Sisters would soon convince
him that there are women who are
not only content, but glad to pass
through life without uttering a word,
even in the solitude of their cells, the
London Tit-Bits thinks.
But come with me and let us take
peep at this sanctuary of dumb
women. In the distance we catch
glimpse of a procession of black and
white robed figures in single file,
passing ghostlike across the end of
the avenue. the sun lighting up the
crosses which CLEAN white from the
blackness of their cowls. They are
the Silent Sisters on their way to
! chapel refectory. or cell, with bowed
heads and downcast eyes, telling their
beads with mutely moving lips. Here
and there in the distance, as we
| emerge at last from the avenue, we
see solitary figures with large straw
hats STOPPING industriously over their
garden work, but no eye turns to note
the coming of strangers.
Our guides-two sisters from a
neighboring convent, who are under
no pledge of silence-conduct us first
to the chapel, plain. almost bare
building, part of which is screened
from view by white curtains. Here
we are told. the sisters perform their
| daily devotons where no eye can see
! them. At o'clock, winter and sum-
mer, they leave their bare cells, and
/ for three unbroken hours they tell
! their beads and say their prayers. un-
! til they are summoned to their Spar
! tan breakfast. Two more hours they
| spend. later in the day, with their ro-
saries and prayers in this secluded
corner of the chapel the rest of the
day being devoted to work of various
kinds and to meditation.
From the chapel We are conducted
to the refectory, a dark, uninvitins
chamber with sanded floor along
which run wooden tables and benches
Outside the roses are blooming and
the air is fragrant with the perfume
of flowers; but no gleam of sun and
no breath of odor enter this dismal
mockery of dining room. The ta-
bles are spread for the midday meal
with an array of brown water-jugs
and wooden spoons and forks dis
played on coarse serviettes, which
take the place of a tablecloth.
During the meals not a sound is
heard-a whisper, even would be q
grave offense bringing swift penancei
and every Friday the sisters eat theil
meals on their knees. At any mo-
ment, too, the mother superior ma!
ring her bell, and at the sound each
sister must remain absolutely motion
less in the position she is in at tn,
even ludicrous it may be.
The sisters. our guides tell US mus
first spend two years of probation
at the end of which they are free t.
depart if they so wish, If they decide
to take the VOWS they can never pas
beyond the convent walls again, eveI
in DEATH for then they are laid t,
rest in the LITTLE cemeterv where row!
of mounds marks the sleeping plac,
of generations of Silent Sisters TIL
survivors dig the graves. and Will
reverent hands heap the sand on thei
departed sister No headstone, no
even a flower, may mark the plac,
where she lies; a few shells sprinkle,
over ii are her only memorial.
Before we pass out again we catcl
a nearer glimpse of two of the Silen
Sisters. who pass with bent heads, a
!, oblivious of our presence as if we di
, not exist. They wear dresses an
! aprons of white flannel. secured a
D the waist with a girdle of rope. Clum
, sy sabots are on their feet; thei
, heads are covered with tight-fittin
, caps of linen. and over all is a blac
cowl, draped so as to conceal tn
. face, with a large white linen eros
d on its back. A large rosary hang
at the side of the skirt, and a eros
of metal bleams on the breast.
When at last we emerge with blink
, ing eyes, into the full glare of tn
light, we are shown Il curious stru(