Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-08-14
I visit to the CataGOmbs of paris.
BY ocrAvEs LAcIox.

We made one of hundred curious visitors
among whom were Mr.. uausmaun, Prefect
of the Seine, the Ottoman Ambassador, an
Armenian Bishop and his Vicar, pr. Paul
Gaimard, the accomplished and witty travel
er, several professors, literati and artists, be-
sides a gCodly company of wor'!en of fashion
The gate by which We entered is situated with
an interior court OF the Octroi Office, at the
barrier of D'EnFet Each one was provided
with lighted torch and tihder box. We
colhtieiiced the decent Immediately, by a
long and very narrow spiral staircase, one on
which two children even could not have
walked abreast, after descending two hundred
and fifty steps, being then more than hun
dred feet below the surface of the earth, we
took, by direction of the guides attached 20
the catacolnbs, one Of the many galleries that
orened before us. The road, like the stair
case, is of the narrowest kind, but smooth
and Yaultcd with tsre.tt care, aud neatly eye
rywhere OF. the height OF five or SIX feet
Here aud there Upon the walls, are inscribed
the Quarters Of Paris, with that Of the parish
Under which you are passing; and a!prg the
r66t black line has been drawn to Indicate
the road But let nc 1ne trust too confidently
to its guidance FGr Tie line is frequently. bro
ken; and any visitor who should bIindIy adj
vance twenty or thirty steps intothis labyrinth
of galleries and corridors Unattended, could
only b. :! miracle r,trace his way.
From place to place, you find both the
floor ana roof lttIy h;iinid, and the water
tricknr down TIE vallS, but not sufficient
10 prevent your Passng further or continuing
your way. Having walked thus along the
road of the CutacCinbs, for thirty or thirty
five v!;int;tes-the name is frequently repcatp
on the walls-you find before you a gat' way
of cut stone covered with funeral IL lrrpt us,
in French and Latin; as stop your feet are
on the ashes OF the dead LIic yunt dc0ione
reSurectiomem erPecta'.ucs, etc, etc. Directly
over the door on me Intel, these two words
Nem0rir pu1"rum are carved in large, raised
letters This gate is kept locked; 1t was
"TT.uncd to US, and then we indeed penetrated
the CatacombS then we were ~ t!'9 teal
Metropolis Here the galleries are broader
and the roof higher the air within Us. cooler
too, but impreguated with Il cadaverouS odor
that SURROUNDS you Instantly, cIngs in " mo-
ment to your face, your hands, and clothes.
The uatacoml's are III special manner
the last abode, the eternal doinaln ct the
IIcnd, From the different GSl' etsrisl Of Ear,S,
thev Lave been brought, here, .hcnfsd up III
large wagons or we'll filed heurseg, ard these
remains as they Rte more less umbroEen, or
Dack. $r GHowr,.. or humid, or dry, all are
l'laced i; order like ,he, books in a library in
their arrangements. 2he bones. are formed
into crosses and loSeiiges, placed one upon
the other Just is the size permitted, every
STAGE is two or three fret il height, uniformly
crowned by Il row Of skulls, which serve IN
their turn, for the foundation Of another story.
The artist has sometimes varied his models;
thus he has amused himself with the COnstruG-
ton of a large cross with its pedestal, the
latter formed of skulls, chosen from some
thing striking or Singular in tleir aspect.
Each cabinet of the dead is, as it were,