Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-11-06

on the crest of Torquato Tasso lies buried.
4 tablet in the wall above his grave bears
his name and portrait. No ladies are per-
mitted to enter the grounds of the convent
behind the church, so, to my disappoint-
ment, we did not get sight of Tasso's 5
Oak, or rather what remains of it since it
was struck by lightning many years ago.
The prospect from the shady terrace in front
of the church is charming; its beauty quite
consoled me.
Sundoy, 1prH 13.-Lina and / have
visited several churches to-day. The first
was that of Capuchin monks, in which is
Guido's St. Michael When the church
ciceronc drew aside the green curtain that
protecs The painting. felt (dare say it?
after had aiken the first long look, a little
disappointed it seemed to me the head and
the expression Of the countenance were
hardly worthy of SO majestic and beautiful
form as tha; given by Guido to the arch
angel. However, / will not trust that first
impression ! must see and study that
picture again. \ short walk from this
church brought us to that of St. Mary of
Victory, one of the most richly adorned
edifces have seen. Over the high altar
hangs two flagstai1s. bearing fattered rem
nants of blackened banners taken from the
Turks at the siege Of Vienna, nearly two
hundred years ago. Think how interesting
the sight of them must be!
St. Mary "degli Angeli," The church to
which we next directed our steps, was for
med by Michael Angelo by adding wing
to the magnificent hall of the Baths of Dio-
cletian--one of the best preserved relics of
ancient Rome. The idea was ;he idea ola
Master, the result, the most beautiful church
in the Eternal City. Tie tombs of Saliva
tor Rosa and Carlo Maratta are the first ob-
jccts that meet the eye on entering. And
there, within view of his tomb, hangs the
masterpiece of Carlo Maratta-the bap-
tism of our Lord. This picture has en-
chanted me. The countenancc Of the Lord
rs he stands beside John in the crystal .Ior
dan, while the heavenly dove sheds . food
Of glory DER his his head, must have ap-
peared to the artistin dream. One can
hardly understand how any earthly imagi-
nation could picture an expression 50 beau
tiful, yet so divine Ever since | have
been in Rome | have been longing 70 be-
hold a church not only beautiful in It's form
and extent, but also beautiful in lis sim
plicity. | had almost despaired of finding
all these united, when L entered the peer
less St. Mary Of the Angels
Monday. the Museums Of he Va
tician for the third. l have found that al
the descriptions of its contents | had ever
read have failed to give me a just impress
ION Of what il really con aims, Of what
was here to behold-those masterpieces OF
the LAGOON, the Belvedere An
tonous. and the Apollo Belyedere; and the
magnificent works Of Rophael and Michael
Angelo. The Vaiiean may be called a
succession Of palaces rather than single
palace. i i, said hat if nj it~ buildings
we're placed in a lin they would reach
mile. To give even is. # he precious
objects within lis vast halls. would fill a vol
ume. Its antique gems. lis grand old Ii
brary, and its unrivalled pictures and At
ues make it, of all other places in the wide
world The one Of the highest interes..-
Within It's regal courts no earthly prince
or monarch rules. ART here reisns SUI
preme, The starry queen of a thousand glo
rious triumphs.
Ihursdoy l7H.--Lina and started out
on an amusing errand this morning. 1t
was to go the top of the Capitoline Hill to
buy piece Of the Tarpeian rock. or, n
least, of the rock that now bears that cqss-
ic name, and / have full faith in its being
the identical burial place Of the unworthy
Tarpeia. A rose garden blooms on It's sum
nit. from the brow Of which one may look
down seventy feet to the level Of the hous-
es below. We have visited the place be-
fore, but had forgotten to get piece of the
rock. "Now' said to Lima as we entered
the gate leading to the house of the custodc,
edo you do the buying, if | commence
speaking they will see by my accent that !
am a stranger, and will charge me more
than they would you, a compatriotc" But
Lima, who found it very hard to understand
what in the world wanted to buy frae-
ment Of that coarse reddish tufa for, WAS
positively ashamed to ask for it. and was
obliged to do so myself
What is the price of this said to the
old custode. pointing to piece about the
size of an ordinary papcrholder.
"Quohro paul.. Signor;ono mia," re-
piled the old man in his most insinualing
manner, "only quotro pauli"