The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-14
TO THE EDITOR
A DAY IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.
Key West, Fla, Feb. 25, 10

ACy VOoLS Il Ac1 l. COs AOB 4O41'
Editor of The Catholic Bulletin:
Rev. Dear Father:
1t will be difficult for denizen Of
the frosty North to imagine the daz-
cling sunshine and balmy breezes of
this Ash Wednesday at the Gem of
the Emerald Seas
AS we wend our way to attend
Mass, the roses and oleanders are
filling the air with fragrance, the
cocoanut palms are rustling and sway
ing, and it is really too hot to walk
the short distance of six or seven
blocks.
Mary, Star of the Sea, seems such
an appropriate name for the church
of this busy seaport with it's harbor
crowded with innumerable ships of
every size and description from the
stately ocean liner to the tiny sponger
with it's rag of sail no larger than
my lady's lunch cloth.
The church is a beautiful building
of native stone with two graceful
spires. 1t has one feature peculiar to
itself, namely, the windows. The up
per part of stained glass is set high
in the walls, while the lower extends
to the floor with shutters which may
be closed during the sudden tropical
storms or opened to let in every stray
breeze. The light inside is subdued
by them, so the church proved well
come retreat from the glare of the
DO %Ioo yrry1of %0
streets. The Sisters of the Holy Name
from the Convent of the Immaculate
Conception nearby ushered in their
pupils, SO we knew we were just on
time for the services. Over the main
altar, the large stained glass window
on crescent moon, in the midst of a
storm at sea. Rays of light shine
from lighthouse and from star on
the brow of the Virgin, while the In
FAINT in her arms has His tiny hands
extended to help vessel in distress.
After the distribution of the ashes,
the pastor, Reverend Father Friend,
S. j., one of the most beloved men
| in Key West, conducted us about the
grounds, pointing out the points of
interest The immense cement els
tern which contained $4,000 gallons of
rainwater made us realize that Key
| West depends very much on the rain
for it's supply of drinking water.
| We spent an hour at the Convent
of the Immaculate Conception, which
is located in beautiful grounds adjoin-
ing the church property. 1t is the old
est educational institution in Key
West, having been founded in 1868
by the Sisters of the Holy Name from
Montreal. The first school was open
ed in a building which had been used
as a barracks during the Civil War.
In 1878 a tract of eight and one-half
acres was selected as the site of the
present imposing building of native
coral rock quarried on the island.
In 1898 the Sisters placed the en-
tire institution and their services as
nurses at the disposition of the naval
authorities for hospital purposes. The
infirmary of the convent was used as
the operating room. At the close OF
the war, two adjoining buildings were
turned over to the Sisters by the gov.
eminent. One of these buildings is
now st. Cecilia's Hall and is used by
the music pupils for practicing and
musical entertainments; the other is
now the kindergarten, one of the most
interesting departments we visited
The room has an ideal location in a
| re rxyf% 1o%
in which were arranged tables and
chairs for the little ones to have their
luncheon parties. Another feature was
a merry-go-round with music box at
tachment. The children operated the
apparatus and while it was in motion
the music box played familiar tunes
for their enjoyment.
The art department is justly famed
for the splendid work done by it's pu
pills and we reluctantly withdrew from
room filled with treasures which oul
limited time would not allow us tC
enjoy. Sister Rosalind was an idea
guide and kept us in constant excla
her the folding doors slid back and
the entire lower floor of eight school
rooms was thrown into one long vista
of 294 feet. After visiting the bal
comics near the roof for view oil
the Gulf of Mexico on one side and
the Atlantic Ocean on the other we de
scended to the rose garden, where we
said adieu and departed with mem
cries Of golden hour with Mary I'm
maculate.
Yours very sincerely,
MRS. C. D. WRIGHT.