The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-10-08
A CHA Silly SIGHT


A ASTLY SIGHT.
, Lady Bessington, in her latest work, the III
dier IN Italy" gives the following highly inter
estng description of an appalling exhibition IL
naples, which we do not recolect 10 have seer
ue'ned before Il yesterday Witnessed an eX
hInition OF an extraordinary nature, one to b,
seen only in country like this, where super
stIioh nllngles IN even the most sacred and sol
emn things. A community is formed in Naples
each member of which, during his life, subscribe
an annual sum in order that after death, his re-
mans should he deposited in one of the curtain
Vaulls, the earth conveyed into which las the
peculiar quality Of preventing accommodation
ana OF preserving bodies as if dried bv some
chemical process. But the preservation of wha
| was Intenped to decay, is not the only object OF
ms institution, nor the only mode of applyinn
It's Iuhds. HE exposure, on certain day ia
the year, oil the fra wreck of mortality thus
strangely rescued from corruption, alfred in the
hab'Iments worn by the deceased when living
Is secured 10y he subscription the number OF
annual exhibitions being dependant on the a.
mount OF the sums received. Can ANYTHING
more Preposterous be imagined nothing am
quite sure, more disgusting can he heheld.-
Three or four subierraneous chapels in The
Church OF Santa Chiara, divided only by part-
tons, are dedicated to this extraordinary exh
oiuoh, which presents one OF the most ghastly
scenes ever disclosed. All the sublimity of
death disappears, when the poor remains of his
victims are thus exposed /; and instead of an np-
palIing sight, they offer only so grotesque one
mar IL Is dlthcut 10 believe that The figures be.
Iore one We're ever instinct with life or that
they are not images formed Of brown paper. or
Russia Leather, dressed up to initiate hu manity
The subteiraneous chapes are guarded by sol.
diers. The affairs are arranged in the usuoI stvle
of those in Catholics chapels innumer;ble inr
ches illuminate the place and an abundance
OF flowers and relig ious emblems decorate it,
Ranged around the walls, stand the deceased,
unhapply diSinterred for the occasion md
clothed IN dresses so little suited sto their pres
ent appearance, that they render death still more
hdeons. Their bodies are supported round the
waist hy cords, concealed beneath the outward
on less nut this partial support, while il pre-
Guides the corpse from falling to the earth, does
not prevent It's assuming the most grotesque at
titudes. Old and young, male and female, we're
bron Eht here in juxtaposon. The octagennrian
with his white locks still flowing from his tcm
WRf f s'H em6roi Iere sirl collar aud jacket with
we II polished buttons, indicate the pains bestow-
ed upon his toilette. Those rngets Irvine round
n face resembling nothing human, Il sort Of mask
Of discolored leather, with fallen jaws aud dis
tended lips and the embroidered collar leaves
the shrunken dark brown chest, once
fair and full, where, perhaps, ii fond mothers
lips often were Impressed ; but which now looks
fearful, contrasted with the snowy texture Of
this bit of finery. This faded image of what
was once fair child has tied to lis skeleton
fingers top, probably the last Gift of affection
the hand, fallen one side, leans towards the
next dsintered corpse, whose head also, no
longer capable of maintaining IL perpendicular
position, is turned Us if to ogea female figure,
whose ghastly and wilhered brow WreatEed with
roses, looks still more fearful from the contrast
with their bright hue. Here the mature maron
her voluminous person reduced to Il sy PHI
like slightness, stands enyCopeI in the ample
folds Of the gaudy garb she wore in life. The
youthful wife is alfred in the delicate tinted dra-
over beouty. Each figure had large card pac-
ed on the wall above the places they occupied ON
perry put on in the happy days 10 charm l'Is-
bands eye; the virgin wears robe of pure
white, leaving only her throat bare and the
young men clothed in the holiday suits OF
which they were vain in life some with riding
whips, and others with canes attached 10 their
honey hands. A figure | shall never forget was
that Of young woman,w who died OH the day of
her wedding. ROBBED in her bridal vest with
the chaplet of orange flowers still twned round
her head her hair fell in masses over her face
aud shadowy form, half yelling ,he discoiored
hue OF the visage and neck, and sweeping over
her as if to conceal the fearful triumph ofdeath
which was inscribed the names, date of their
ages, and death, with some affectionate epltaph
written by surviving friends 1t would be i'm
possible to convey the impression produced by
this scene the glare of the torches falling on
the hdeous faces of the dead, who seemed 10
grin, as if in derision of the living, who were
passing and requesting in groups around them.
Not single face among the CHASTITY crew pre-
sented the solemn countenance we behold In
the departed during the first days of death Il
countenance more touching and eloquent than
life ever possessed! No, here every face, ow-
ing to the work of time, wore a grin that was
appalling and which. combined with the pos
ture into which the bodies had falen presented
a mixture OF the horrible and grotesque, never
to be forgotten. Around several of the defunc
knelt friends, to whom in life they were dear
Offering up prayers tor the repose OF t''er SOUS
while groups of persons, attracted by curiosity
sauntered through this motley asse mbage OF TIM
deceased, pausng to comment on the appear
ance they presented.
i Scene on board Steamboat. The Louisville
Journal gives the following account OF an oc
currence on board Steamboat.
An amusing incident occurred the other GA.
on board Il steamboat bound up from New Or
leans between gentleman and ruttani,