The Ocala evening star., 1915-04-27
SAINT LEO COLLEGE AT SAINT Leo

and is training all the scholars into
oarsmen. They are very apt, and when
half dozen of the youngsters are
pulling altogether they make the craft
cut through the water almost as fast
as motorboat. They also take much
pride in their big American flag,
which generally ripples in the breeze
from its staff in the bow.
The writer watched these boys
closely all day Saturday. They were
all happy, healthy and well behaved.
There was not a sick boy in the
school, and while some of them were
brimming over with mischief, none of
it seemed to be harmful.
The abbey is quite a remarkable
buildings. It's three stories and a
basement is of striking prominence in
this land of low buildings. The writer
was taken thru it. The first floor was
of special interest as it contained the
kitchen, dining room, bakery, cold
storage and other such vital neces-
saries. The cooking is done on big
range, IL which the fire never goes
out. And the cook is some cook, too.
lie also has big bake oven, in which
he bakes loaves of bread about the
size Of thirty-pound watermelon. It's
what you call homemade, and if you
get couple of slices of it buttered
land they amt afraid to put the but
ter ON you have almost a square
meal. There is a pantry full of pro-
visions, one side filled with preserved
fruit and vegetables, raised on the
abbey farm and put up in the abbey
kitchen. The refrigerator is a good
sized cold storage plant, and there are
} fresh vegetables in plenty. The dining
hall is long, wide room, full of
tables, which the writer can certify
are well covered at meal times. Ev-
!, erything is screened and kept i'm
maculately clean.
The priests and lay brethren live in
The upper stories. Their quarters are
comfortable, but severely simple. They
have libraries and chapels, and all
needed for study and devotion. The
priests are all well-educated men.
There is probably no question in lit
erature that some one of them could
not answer, some are highly versed in
science or accomplished in art, and
half the languages of Europe could
find interpreters among them. The
: lay brethren do the work of the mon
astery. They keep it and the college
, and grounds in order, work on the
: farm and carry the building on toward
completion.
st. Leo comes near being a self
sustaining community. 1t has big
: farm, a truck garden, cattle, hogs and
: poultry. It has it's own electric light
and water plant, and they are both OF
the best. The great abbey building
> is going up block by block from sand
dug on the premises and made into
: concrete in hundred yards from
where it is put in place.
They even have printing Office, ii
; which they do all their job-work anC
: publish a most interesting little
!, monthly, which, tho simple in typo
: graphy, is correct and in good taste.
Looking thru the abbey, the writer
: obtained little comprehension Of tbs
= day when the monastery and the con
v safeguard of the civilization that ha
come down to us; when their WALL
!: were the only haven in Europe fo
6 the innocent and oppressed; and shar
: ing the simple but hearty and sufi
) cient hospitality of the brethren h
8 was reminded of the time when prime
: and beggar alike was sure to find il
I the abbey food and place to lay hi
3 head, tho all the rest of the worlt
81 might shut it's doors. Few of US com
3 orders, that were so necessary thou
1 sand years ago, and are observing tn
:; same vows and doing much good worl
! today.
< During the day, Father Benedict
4 who is the prime minister Of the com
4 munity of which Abbott Charles i
! sovereign, took us over to the Con
Z vent and Academy of the Holy Name
I The sister superior showed US all Owe
! this institution, in which many Sout
Z Florida girls have finished their edu
Z cation, and a number are now receiv
ing instruction. The young ladies an
: their teachers have their school in
I large, recently constructed building
) with all modern conveniences. Tn
& scholars have their dormitory in tn
I convent, with the sisters. The con
! vent is a large building, furnishe
: with the simple elegance that can b
Z expected of an institution of its kinC
i The sisters, of course, live very plain
Z ly, but their charges have every com
Z fort, and the convent, in its beauti
I full situation overlooking the lake,
= to them a home that they will loo