The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-20

ciscans. in coarse gowns of brown cloth, rope
girded; bare-footod, shaver, begging friars,
soDsetimes leading asses laden with the pious
offerings Of the faithful-the more asses they I;
handsome, young abbsS who oontrive in some
inexplicable way to give dandical touch to
their ugly, unmsnly costume, and who are sell
dom too much rapt in heavenly contempla-
ton TO cast searching and iHsnuating glances
at the young and comely women they chance
to meet.
On the Pincian, which is the principal Ro-
man drive and promenade we often encounter
troops of boys and youths, in traini g for the
Church, dressed in flowing gowns, and some
thing very like petticoats OF black or white
flannel, and wearing immense broad-brimmed
hats. Nearly all these have faces either cum
ming or to the last degree stold in expression
We there often meet the higher church digni-
taries-Cardinals, whom we know by their red
legs, and bishops, who are proclaimed by their
purple legs. In short, one might suppose il
had rained priests for forty days and forty
nights on this devoted land
Religious professions are very common in the
streets-but it is remarkable that You seldom
see them followed, or observed with appsren.
reverence, by any but old men and women, and
mere children A long procession of monks,
chanting a dirge and bearing tapers passed
our house one afternoon, lately, preceding a
body, borne cofinless, but richly palled upon
bier Seeing that they entered church in
the Corso, near by, and thinking that after so
much street parade the ceremonies there would
be very imposing, hurried on bonnet and
shawl, and fastened to witness them But,
when | reached the Church, 10 the great null
titude of holy fathers had vanished, with the
exception of two or three who lounged near
the door, chatting and laughing. In the GEN.
ire of the dim church stood the beir, and a
couple of workmen in their shirt sleeves were
putting the body into a rough deal coffin, talk
ing loudly and unconcernedly, meanwhile. A
group of little children were witnesses with me
to the CHASTITY sight. Their large eyes grew a
trihe larger with instructive fear and wonder,
but they were not too much Mortified to beg
of me- in low, whimpering, spaniel-like whine
This morning | cav a less painful sght-a
procession of boys, dressed in white, parading
and following the body of child. The bier
was draped in white and decked with wreatht
of roses, and the dirge chanted by all those
fresh, young voices, was touchingly sweet and
mournful
| am sorry to feel compelled to speak slight
ly or harshly of religion which is yet dear
and venerable to few sincere souls. But the
more see of the pomps, superstitions. mum
meries, frauds, avarice, and arrogant DONNA
ton of the Roman Church, the more am con
vinced that it is the source, strength, and sub
7 tie essence of European tyranny-that it mar
rows, blinds grinds down, and brushes out the
very soul of the age. 1t is fungus growth o
error and falsehood, hooking the fair and fruit
full forms of TRUTH dark and gigantic un
reality, for the time fearfully real-the night
mare which Expresses the world AS it seem
to me, so must speak of it, cannot do other
wise, and keep my own truth towards God ant
my fellows, AS ever, yours,
|. GRACE GREENWOOD