The Argosy — page 372: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Irish Convent Life. 351 _ this nunnery was not one of those where the far-famed Irish point is manufactured. This beautiful work is extravagantly dear, the buyers having to pay for the eyes of the girls employed, who continually be- come blind from the excessive fineness of the materials used and of the stitches put in. The most interesting school-room visited by us on this occasion was that in which a number of infants were assembled. Some of the wee dots were endeavouring to be very good and solemn over their lessons, while others were dropping off fast asleep ; and, as this happened, they were tenderly gathered up by a watchful Sister, and were laid upon a large bed, settled for them all in one corner of the chamber. Lady Mary Agnese went with us all over the establishment, and finally led us to the door of the convent chapel. Here she paused and crossed herself. One of the nuns was playing a soft voluntary above in the organ-loft, and in the distant dusky choir a swinging lamp was burning before the altar. We asked leave to enter, and our guide said there was no objection to our doing so, provided only that we behaved reverently, and kept silence: Our Roman Catholic friend had, however, hurried on before, and was now calling for us to follow. She talked loudly as she pointed out the sanctuary’s tawdry adornments, which she admired, but which we secretly lamented over, as subtracting from that simple beauty and dignity which we Protestants love to see in a building devoted to God. The Roman Catholic people of K were free to worship here, but a beautifully carved screen at one side of the chancel partitioned off a sort of inner chamber, or chapel, fitted up for the use of the inhabitants of the convent, who knelt within this division during the celebration of the mass. I think I have told nearly all that I can now recall of my visit to K Nunnery. The lady who accompanied us about the house had a refined and most attractive face. Her appearance was far more winning than that of the other Sisters, with whom we came in contact. Some of the nuns looked very sad: a weary, heavy depression of spirit seemed upon them. Each wore a broad silver ring on the third finger of the left hand, and a rosary was suspended from every girdle. connicloooks CO im