Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-24
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

IA
the ''Vatican Of Pagan Romen Mr. G. first
urged that common opinion respecting the origin
Of the name "Vaticano'' is erroneous He .sid
the hill which bears this title was lopo before
me origin OF tne roman nation, used as place
Etruscans- The god, orecle of the hin ,v,s
believed to have the form of an infant and be,ce
the name OF his abode was called Vatican, from
rNft'ed, The cry OF a born Child This uod
was not dwelleT IN temples, prefprring rather
the trees OF the forest, therefore the Etru,can
priests, OF soothsayers, had never erected for him
any place Of worship, although one OF the trees
on the sllI was marked as his especial abiding
place, or IA the Uranium, by having several
brass plates nailed 10 IL. This tree the historian
Iagn": tels Us was still standing in his dav,
and al Is also spoken of by later historian in
connection with the Caligulian gardens Thus
the theory that Rome is older than history de-
CIaIcs IL To be by nearly one thousand Yeas is
destroyed, Tor this tree would, according to his
tory, have been nearly thousand years old when
II - last mentioned, and that period is pretty
good aye even for a tree
When Rome was built the Tiber river formed
the boundary between the Romans and Etruscans,
and the Vatican Hill, being ~ the east side was
IN the possession of the latter. IL finally, how
ever, after repeated struggles, passed into the
hands OF the Romans, and they continued to hold
il as sacred place even as the Etruscans regard
I'd it before them. Their sooihsayers became
priests of the god Of the hill, and performed the
same religious rites there rs were pTac,iced by
their predecessors. They never attained how
ever. that character for accuracy OF prediction,
Intellectual Romans there was but little resDect
felt, either for the god Ydttica OF his priests
CTsar said Of them, that his only wonder was that
they could 90 through their insane mummeries
without laughing at each other.
Later In the history of Rome the Vatican Hill
was used as the site for ciTcuses where festivals
and games IN honor OF the gods were celebrated
Here " was That the iInpiOus orgies of CaliguIa
and his Immediate successor were held ON fbis
hill Caigula built temples TO himself and en-
forced worship from his slaves aud subjects.
trbO bc y-,llh fai,
aud not a mortal being Here too was the sit.
Of the great circus which this monoIuapiacal FIN
TcTor erected for the accommodation of the people
81 Rome, while they were engaged in pames in
his own honor In The reign of Nero thai monster
adorned the Vaticano still farther with marnif-
cent buildings ana beautiful gardens, and from IL,
SUNNI, nc wished 10 survey the destruction, by
hTe, OF the Eternal City, that he mig hit rebuild il
and claim the honor OF being its founder The
bindings with which Adrian adorned the Vati-
can and especially the tomb which he built there
IN, were likewise described. The lecturer said
that The hill became a sacred place TO the Chris
tdHs during the reign Of this monarch for he
hr>t compelled them to unrequted labor and
that, too, Of the SevCTest and NEST mental kind
On the buildings he was erecting and besides
this. put great numbers To death in the circus for
Their TellEI"n'S sake. Thus conseCrdted by the
suhsTlngS and blood of the early martyrs Of
Christianity, the Christians bccame to regard the
Vatican with similar we're ati as that they sub
sequently entertained for the CdtacOmb> which
for wears furnished them secure hiding places
from their enemies.
The lecturer next noticed the Vatican in con
nection with the triumPhal entrees of the vic
torlOus Roman Generals and EmpcToTs Here il
wdN, that after reaching the city with their vic
toious armies they halted prepare for the great
JSt', the hi9 hest honor which their GOV, rnInPnt
could accord them Before going into the city,
they on red at the Vatican temple cxpiatoiy
sacrihCe for their m>deeds, performed their all
IutlonS, and assumed the triumphal robes. The
procession then crossed the TIbeT on bridge ex-
pfessly erected for such occasions, and after per
forming sOmew hat ciTcuitouS march STONED
at temple in tn" city, where sacrifices in com
InemOrdtion Of the victory were made One of
THESE PdSednts, that in which the conQueriny
generals were Flavus Vespdsian aud his son
Titus, and the COnqueStS celebrated those of the
cities of Babylon aud jerusalem, was especially
described by the lecturer. The order of the
COTte.e was particularly cited and the lecturer
said that on its arrival at the temple within the
cry, before tue sacrifice took place. herald an
nOunced that Simon GOrCe>, the Jewish General
had been strangled in the dungeon Until this
murderous deed was accomplished and an
nounced. said Mr-,G the festival could not have
proceeded, as the law required that on all such
occasions prisoner of distinction must he
stThnSled in the prison. The lecturer narrated
numerous other matters in connection with the
history Of Pagan Rome, which were not strictly
In The line OF his discourse, aud although mere
historical "reminiscences, were nevertheless very
entertaining.
The history of the Vatican, af.er the Chris
udniZatlon OF Rome, was briefly Sketched. and
as time did not prevent the lecturer failed TO make
any rema ks on its present appearance The one
great idea OF MS lecture was, that during all the
civil tranSmutations through which Italy has
passed since period prior to any recorded or
even tradtionary history which has descended
10 rs the Vatican hill has ever been dedicated to
religiouSu seS. Whether possessed by Etruscan
Roman, Vandal, or Christian that muun, MS
SUI been place for worship. and has esca-ed
tie dissertation which was often visited Oh other
portions Of the city of Rome.
NATIONAL ART CoNvkNTION.- our re-
porter left the room yesterday morning. the con-
shtuuon, whish had been submitted and was
tnen being discussed by sections, wds further d,-
Oaled' perfected, and finally fully adopted
discourse was then delivered by Browulee
B'oWn, ESQ ON the .. Relations Of the Ideal to
the Real" This was fun Of Interest and AZ
composition. merits high need of praise
Ga It's conclusion, Rembrandt Peai., Esq adj
di.Sseo the Convention on the manifold adv5n
t1ge> To be derived from IL unity of action on the
pat Of tine Artists of this country
An executive c"mmittee-tO consist of the Off
GERS oil the association and three other member-
"as appointed, To transact any business for the
association in the interim bPtwefn thi. and IT,
next annual meeting
The convention then ad ourned to meet again
Oh tht SecOnd Tuesday in January IsS~
Last evening, Rev. DIR Bellows of New Work
delivered an address before the delegates To The
convention, together with large audience of
Couture, and in his hands il was utan,ned n as
not only % interest his hearerS but 10 aw,ken
desires on their part to make further advance i'm
social and intellectual poo, essIon
"ASHINGTON THEATEE Have YOU seen the
Indians at t Theatre-the John Broughan del
eiNtIon, we mean No. Then 20 stand not IN
INC order OF your going, but 20 at once Be-.
borrOw or steal the whercwithal for ad,nitt,pce
nn' 90 "et front seat or a back scat 90 e1IIy
or late, but go That our advice c6,scien
Clously administered after lo.in" A row Of v,..t
nut'ons In consequence OF the M ,ariou>ness and
persistent inn OF tie GENTLE savage The
a he Ina.
electrical fun and every body in his neinbborhnod
(d>k Ia Nhnna) got a shock Yes-sir-pe vsS
ma NEE John Brougham is d brick win tho
corners on " 'A'
To-HiSht, in addition 20 s'PO-ca-hon-tas J; Ibar
Id } We are To have Brougham in his stnnend
ohsiy rich part OF wilkins Mcawber, - In dra-
hatlzed David Copperteld, and the audience
NAV count on all sorts of funny things nturninp
up" "'iS
IhH hlvER--At the southern terminus Of the
Long Bridge the fishermen Yesterday made a bauI