| Show I 1 I 1 I 1 1 r I 1 ay a S y r 1 1 1 z Z I 1 OF NUNS A CO CONVENT reent bong ASO ay A y buhy cd ored aladj e A sight which invariably attracts the attention of strangers jn in new orleans orl earitt Is the colored sisters one so seldom hears of negroes ne grods professing the roman 1 catholic faith i that when he meets a colored colored nun fo tor r the first time he car but ge gaze after her in openmouthed open mouthed douthe d wonder accustomed as we are moreover to associate the black robes of the nun with white pale faces the effect to Is a little startling when a nearer view lew of a sister of charity discloses the meek brown face of a mulatto this little band in new orleans Is known as the holy family of sisters it ii was founded ss far back as 1842 by four tree free colored women who educated and wealthy resolved to devote their time and money to those of their race so much two less fortunate the oldest of the four became mother jullette juliette who continued at the head of the sisterhood till her death eight years ago the convent is what was once the famous orleans street ballroom and many are the tales which are told of the dancing and revelry which for years held sway within its walls walle the building is an immense brown structure fronting directly on the narrow french street the great windows have shutters always closed and there was such an air of quietude when I 1 visited the place that I 1 quite started when the bell gave a loud clang as I 1 pulled it 11 I 1 felt that I 1 had bad a roused aroused unwilling echoes perhaps awakened the ghosts ts of long ago and was almost tempted to run away when hen I 1 heard eard h footsteps within coming toward the door but instead of meeting a frown of disapproval as I 1 half expected I 1 was admitted by a dark faced nun who appeared to consider it no unusual occurrence chatz that s stranger desired permission to enter enter the hall was dim and wide with a gray stone floor and white pillars at the farther end while I 1 was inwardly commenting upon its severity and scrupulous neatness neat new sister frances came to show me about she was rather a small mulatto with a slender interesting face black eyes demurely lowered and long brown hands meekly folded her uniform was of black serge with a wide white linen a white linen bonnet the customary black veil and the inevitable black beads and cross we ascended the wide easy staircase and on tile the first landing 1 I was con confronted fronted with the words 1 I have chosen rather to be an abject in the house of my god than to dwell ir the tabernacle of sinners |
