A PRESSMAN MONK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 17 December 1897, Page 20

A PRESSMAN MONK.

Somi, s-ens-ation ("writes the Paris corresp >ndent of the Edinburgh f'////n)//f Hi raid i h;is been caused among Paris pressmen by the announcement that one of them, a prominent member of the Petit Journal staff, had left the world to become a monk. The occurrence among Parisian journalists is rare enongh to warrant the sensation it has caused. The new monk is M. Gabriel de Combes, and he entered on the 30th of last month the Convent of the Assumptioni*fs Fathers at Livry. 31. de Combe«, who it, 3!) years old, was not exactly what can be called a practising Catholic, and his conversion is due to a peculiar circumstance. When, three years ago, a rulw.iy was-openet between ,J,iifa and Jerusalem, he went to the Holy Lund on behalf ot las piper to give an account of the opening-, examine on the spot the \alueot the uudert iking, and enquire into the changes it miyht make in the life of the- loaal population. He found on this railroad the roal to Damascus. Tne impression made upon him by lii t. visit to Palestine was so deep that his colleagues an rue that he never was the same man aiterwards. He intended becoming a Trappist. bit the Superior dissuaded him, and finally he settle I upon tiic Af-sumptionists. It is a curious coincidence that the Super. or of the Convent where M. de Combes has gone to is also a pn.«sman. and has also been on the staff o J the Petit Journal. Who could h-ive suspected that publication producing monks in that w ay !