A Retreat at La Trappe [pp. 862-883]

A RETREA T A T LA TRArPPE.
these the western wing forms the hospice already alluded to,
while the central and eastern portions are occupied by the
monks themselves. The remaining wing will be devoted to a
handsome chapel, or rather church, when the funds at the disposal of the monastery will permit of its erection. Meanwhile
a temporary chapel in the upper story of the east wing is used.
The three great centres of monastic life within the building are
the chapel, the cloister, and the chapter. The cloister, the
study of the monks, is a long, narrow room or hallway running
around the three sides of the building and looking out on the
enclosed courtyard already referred to. The chapter, the official meeting-place of the community, is a square room forming
a sort of annex to the chapel, and bare of furniture save for a
wooden bench fixed around the walls, and a rough wooden
throne or seat in the centre'for the abbot.
At one side of the main building stand ample and extensive
barns and stables devoted to the accommodation of the stock,
of which the monks possess an exceedingly fine show, and to
the storing of the produce of the farm. On the other side,
turned by a picturesque little mountain stream, are grist and
saw mills, for the community supply themselves with both flour
and lumber. There are also creameries, cheese-presses, and
wine.vats, besides other necessary outbuildings, the whole forming quite an imposing array. At the entrances to all the buildings are affixed notices to the effect that women will, under no
circumstances, be admitted, this forming the one exception to
the universal hospitality of the monks. From the enumeration
of their outbuildings it will be evident that the Trappists are
farmers, and support themselves by the sale of the produce of
their farm. And excellent farmers they are. I have been told
that in the time that they have been at Oka they have worked
quite a change in the appearance of the whole country-side, not
alone within the limits of their own demesne, but likewise in
the farms of the habitants for miles around, who have adopted
their methods and followed their example with most gratifying
results. That their example is worthy of imitation will be evident from the merest glance at their neat and well-kept fields,
their trim and regular stone fences, and the marked absence of
waste and rubbish from about their premises, to say nothing of
the excellence of their stock, and in fact of all the several
products of their farm. The success they have met with will
be the better appreciated when I say that twelve years ago
they came to Oka, a party of ten without money or capital of
866
[Mar.,