Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-03
A Visit to the cataoombs of Paris

1 cpmpltshpd ana witty traveller, StN'laI pI"l'''
or. literati aud artists, besides goodiy compa'
ny Of women Of fashion. The gate by which we
entered is situated with an interior court oi the
Oetroi Office. at the barrier ID Enier. Each one
wa provided with lighted torch and timber
box. We commenced the descent Immediately,
by "a long and very narrow spfral staircase one
ON which two children could not have even walk
ed abreast after descending one hundred ana
fifty steps, being then more then II hundred 'ret
/ below the sultace IT tle earth, we took by N
rcction uf the guides attached 10 the Cntac"mb-,
one Of the many galleries that opened before rs.
+ The road, like the staircase, is % the narrowcst
kind, but smooth aud yaolted with great care
and nearly everywhere Of the height of Eve Or
six feet Here and there upon the walls, are
inscribed the quarters Of Paris, with that Of tho
Parish under which you passing; and along
the roof u black line has been drawn 10 indicate
the road. But let no ono trust too confidently
to It's guidance. for the line is frequently brokers;
and any visitor who should bIindly advance tween
ty or thirty steps into this bYrInth OF galleries
and corridors unattended, could only by a mira
Gle rctrace his way.
From place 10 place. YOU find both the floor
and roof little humid. aud water rickIing down
the walls, but not sufficient to prevent your
passing further continuing your way. llav-
ing walked thus along the read Of the Catacombs
for thirty or thirty five minutes-thc name Is
frequently repeated on the walls, you find before
u
nj inscriptions, in French and Latin; as stop
yoar feet are on the ashes of the dead: HE stunt
beutdm rfSureCtioHem erpecidHdeS, etc., ETC.
Directly over the door on the Intel, these two
words Memoria Nqjoram are carved in large
raised letters. This gate is kept locked; 1t was
opened to Us, and then we indeed. penetrated the
Catacombs; and then were in the real NEGRO
polls. Here the Galleries are broader. and the
roof higher the air within j. coolr too but i'm
pregnatod with cadaverou@ odar t)al surrounds
you instantly, cuy- IL a mpuaHh l. pur face,
your hands, aud yoar clothes.
These cat,combs are in "A special manaer the
last abode, the etcrn6l domnn Of the dead.
From the different cemeteries Of Pari-, they htge
been brought here headed up in latgr wuLnu+ or
well filled heerse-, and THESE remains ns they
are more or less unbroken. ~ hlack, brn1u, or
humid, dry, n! nre placed in order like the
books in library ia their arrangements. The
bones are formed into erosFes and lozenges, plac-
ed one upon the other just the size permitted,
every state is two three feet in height uni
formly crowned by row Of skulls, which s,rve
in their turn for the foundation ut another story.
The artist has sometimes varied his models; thus
he has amused himself with the construction of II
largo cross with It's pedestal the latter formed
Of skulls, chosen for something striking ar ~.u-
gulpr in thri. aspect.
Ench cabinet Of .t4a de5,3 l.. AS it were, ticket
ed, and bears craven upon the separating stone,
the name of tho cemetrv from which its contents
were drawn, and the data of their translation to
the catacombs, lerr aud there are entire con.
vents of monks and nuns. Ia a separate corner
ore entered the rcaahsof the prisoners masea-
cred in Scptrmbrf, -. Ihase bones urc Not yet
duly moulded Unl stripped iY corruption, So ~
- be- admitted t. thr final Pnee in this funeral
museum. Ina Il spot exposed Unan table tnot
far from Thermometer which stands at 10 deg)
are SOME extraordinary b,da- aud curious homes