Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-03

ing after our arrival, our host of the Hotel
procured for us valet of great experience
and modest good manners, Mariana Lachara;
whose book of testimonials, afterwards shown
to me that might add my own, which did |
with great satisfaction contained tine |
strong certificates of many New Workers of
distinction whom he had rived and ofwhom |
he always spoke with delight and affection, |
secured his constant services during my stay, |
and he im mediately gave me the private in
formation known to few evnnrt tho narties
and their friends, that a princely wedding
was to take place that afternoon, of happy
pair from two of the nobest families of
Rome, the Duke of Sora and Borghesian
Princess, the ceremony to be performed by
Cardinal Article in the chapel of the Borgh
esan family, in the celebrated Church Of
Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the Seven
Basilicas of Rome and one of the noblest
churches in the city and that, if we de-
sired, he would get carriage and take us
there. We were not slow to embrace
80 fine an opportunity for so rare sight,
and at the proper hour our carriage ap
peared. Mariana had wisely selected an
open barouche that we might utilise our
time as we rode. Having waited upon us
into the carriage he mounted the box with the
coachman-and keeping his ears open for
us. and his eye, his hand and tongue ready
to point us to objects of interest, We turned
from the Lion mouth (the street of our
hatel) iuto the Corso the Broadway of
Rome and after drive of a mile or so in
that famous street. we turned again and
passed the ruins OF the Forum of lrajan, an
exceedingly fine AM. interesting ruin-ap-
preaching the church through the via
Santa Maria Maggiore-and res'ed IN the
open place Of the church, on the summit Of
the Esquiine Hill, at the base of that most
beautiful of columns, the column of the
Virgin. which ornaments the court Of the
church There we waited while the
few stray carriages like our own came drop
ping in, and until the nuptial cortege, the
a,s.ely equipages cf mobiles spiritual and
temporal Cardinals and Princes and high
bred ladIe6, made their appearance in
princely but modest attire have no eye
for dresses &c, aad finding that M-has
written home to the ladies giving the de-
ia;,s irtellgibly to them, extract in her
words =. coon The royal equipage drove up,
glttering in the ra,Ts Of the sun, bIa7oned
in scarlet and gold. Atterw~'ns came 'Ne
.. -t H. ,.i;,, form
the ceremony. His servants were three
iootmen in gorgeous livery, cooked hats
trimmed with broad yellow, red and green
galouu, the outer edge OF the hats being
trimmed with wide fringe Of the same
co ors red velvet vests trimmed with gold
lace, red velvet brooches and high top
boots. The Cardinal was clad IN scarlet
silk robes with scarlet cap ON his head.
The bride appeared ON the arm Of her father,
clad in dress Of Brussels lace over white
glace silk, II i,rkct made oi tia, same silk
and trimAcd with the same lace. y wreath
OF orange buds confined IL scarf of the same
lace. Not an ornament Of any kind nor an
attendant, save II few members OF the family.
who were simply clad in bonnets and plain
HAntillas The equipages were very i'm
posing. varying a little III colurs but quite
similar to the Cardinals by this time
there was quite crowd and we did not
think 1t wlse'to dismount and mingle with
it, rs it would be impossible to make our
way into the church, strangers as we were +,
~ We glanced at the eternal city from this
point, and curiously scanned the motley
crowd of Romans and rum-uns' of all
sorts, from tatterdem alton children. huary
beggars and mendcant monks, up to the
titled nobility of church and State, No
one can fail to be struck with the demo-
cratic equality Of an Italian crowd in
aud about church. After while
Mariana stepped quietly from the carriage
to ask of an acquaintance-one of the servi-
tors Of a cardinal, if the newly married pair
would, as Is sometimes done, proceed to
St, Peters, lie learned that they would
do SO and We apparently alone Of all the
spectators carriages then proceeded quietly
to that wonder of the world. 1t was our
first visit there Of course, and we had hardly
had time to glance through its wonderful
arches before We saw the happy couple enter
the church unuttendod,ut edo door, walk
to a near chapel and jointly perform 4 short
ect Of devotion-then arm in arm walk
quietly and respectfully to the Statue Of
St. Peter and kiss its foot then return g
few steps and kneel side by side by the mas
siye railing that surrounds the vault where
rest the remains Of st. Peter. before the
high altar and at the base Of that mos
magnifcentot all baldaquins, whose splendor'
are disclosed and heightened by the light Of
one hundred and twelve lamps that blaz,
there night and day. There, their head.
bowed in unostentatiOus humility, they
worshipped few moments, then rose anC
IS quietly departed at the door by which they
entered. Nothing could be more simple
becoming and religious than their whole
demeanor they had no train-no ostenta,
tion-no companions eyen-not one--their
ewes did not wander and their thoughts did
rot seem to be diverted from the apparent
solemn invocation Of the Divine blessing
upon that linked life on which they had just
entered. Besides ourselves there were al
most no persons, do not remember any in
that vast temple except that interesting pair
a peItiHacious small crowd Of beggars
an
that doggee -. I ','"'
in expectation appa. entity that they might
give an aims worthy of their wealth ana
position, did not perceive that they gave
baioccho' They should not. Beggars are so
sacred in Rome that no police seems to dare
to rebuke them, and their impudence and
persistence is exceedingly annoying to trav-
elers, and | presume to the citizens. of
eourse They must throng about the churches