Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-20
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

audience in attendance, by whom the discourse
was heard with marked attention. The lecturer
was Mr.. 6 Gajani, and his topic the 'Catacombs
Of Rome"
He commenced with remarking that, although
natural grottOS and subterranean caverns were
probably the earliest abiding places of mankind
there il, nevertheless, a sense of the borribIs
about them; One snoterranean place, however,
which should awaken less of the emotion Of hor'
TOR than others. because IL WAS first the place OF
refuge. and afterwards the sacred burial Oround
OF the primitive Christians Is subterranean Rome
This is acIty OF Itself, with its passages and sa-
looms, its chambers and corridors all plainly de-
iineated far below the surface of the earth To
be sure u Is enveloPed in eternal darkness, save
when lighted up by the flful glare of the visit
cr'S torch No sun, nor moon nor stars ever
shed their effulgence on its streets and lanes
ihere, 100 silence usually reigns, and very sell
dom Is The football of man heard within its deep
echoing vaults. IL Is now, indeed city Of the
dead TWAS not so always, for the time has
been when these underground passages and cav
ems were the homes Of men. women and chill
dfen, who, fleeing hither from persecution, found
in them a secure place of refuge.
The lecturer said there have been divers specu-
lations as to the reason why ard by whom these
catacombs were excavated What seemed to him
the most rational theory Is, that their excavation
was commenced by the Etruscans, who dug
thence kind of cement, peculiar to the earth i'm
that locality, which they used for building pur-
poses: great quantity Of this was required for
building their cities. 10 was, he observed in
the mouth OF one of the catacombs that Romulus
and Remus are said TO have been found with
hp
early Christians OF Rome also found refuge in
these vaults from Pagan persecution il NAV b,
said that both Pagan and Christian Rome came
forth from the catacombs TO the conquest Of the
world.
For the same purpose that the Etruscans had
commenced the Romans continued the excava-
tlons Tor they also used the cement for building
ana II II used, the lecturer said, even down TO
the present day. and is now a commodity OF COM
mercr. Thus the excavations constantly
increased in size. As il would not do, however
bv hat
would be undermined, various vaults or corri-
doTs, leading from the main entrances, had been
made and from these there are stiII others
Again, in some places shafts sunken in the
floors Of the vaults and other excavations a Q
made at considerable depth below and still
others below these for several successive stories
This earth, said the lecturer is so soft as 10 be
readily cut with spade, vet the sides and roofs
OF the vaults are not liable TO cave fall in liz
Is imPeTvious to water, and hence the catacomb,
are always dry, while their numert us openings
admit OF thorough ventilation, notwithstanding
their extent. 1t IL not known, said Mr.. J., what
il the extent of these excavations. as many of
them are yet unexplored but should we put TO-
gether what are known, they would ma Ike prob
ably distance aggregately Of five hundred miles.
They are not cODtued 20 the ground beneath the
city OF ome, but extend miles away in d fferent
directions, and have openings into the upper
world in numerous secluded places beyond The
city
The shafts, the lecturer thought, may have been
dug for clandestins purposes, by robbers who
lived in the vaults, or by the early Christians
who were thus enabled to find their way to places
OF security without attracting thithrr the atten-
ton CT their Prosecutors. The lecturer said that
before Christianity was introduced into Rome.
the cataCombs were used as burial places BY the
poor and common people. They were also at
times the abode OF gangs OF robbers. Several
semi fabulous stories which Originated in ron-
nectlon with this latter Circumstance were re-
lated, among which was the mythical account Of
the Staying Of the robber cheftain EsGuillino 10y
Hercules, at the entrance Of what f. now known
a. the cafacoInb of Esquilino During an cpl
demic in Rome, this same cave was used for a
place OF deposit for the dead bodies, which were
thrown in maSSs. The consequence was that
II became d public nuisance, and although in
the heart of the city, the efnuva emitted rew
thither yultures and other similar hi DIS This
fact gave rise to many monstrous stories of a Su-
perstitlous character
When persecution caused the Christians 10
avail themselves Of the protection and conceal
ment afforded by these caverns the common peo-
pie Of Rome associated their names with every
thing evil and demoniacal on that account; and
that, no doubt, had the effect of reta. ding the
growth Of Christianity in Rome to a very consd-
cradle extent. The Christians. eanwh ile be-
came to regard the catacombs as sacred places
and after prosecutions against them cease they
continued 10 deposit their dead within these va Il
and mysterious vaults, and deemed such burial a
high privilege.
When Rome was overrun by the northern
tribes, the barbarian hordrs searched the cata-
combs FOR treasures, opening the graves and des-
ecrdting the bod Of the dead in III r efforts to
secure whatever Of value might be on their per-
sons. This dissertation affected the estimation OF
the catacombs 80 much in the minds Of the Chris
tlans, that subsequently, they disregarded them
and again they became places OF mystery and SUI
perstiIiOn The lecturer related unmsroux aner
dotes in connection with them, which occurred
during the dafk ages Finally, u monk accident
ally fell into OF the shafts, and when rescued
his curiosity prompted him to explore the cata-
combs and copy the inscriptions on the tonbs
his life he led FOR thirty year and his copies o.
The inset lptionS are still preserve in the museum
!; Rome. The inScriptio are of both Pagan and
Christian origin; and the lecturer remarked tina:
while the former allude to deah only as a horror
D Rn he .fsa l.a.rr, .yssL
bright futurity to come
Mr. e delivered another interesting lecture last
evening, and will also lecture again on Monday
evening.
The LUXURIEs OF THE SEAsoy-Hanmack
Bros. display in font of their ne establishment
Pennsyl vania avenue-Willard's block-isa me 70
Circumstance TO the tempting things for the pal.
ate within doors we saw there yesterday after
noon; Grolse, English pheasants, parIEidges
prairie fowls, swans, wild ducks had crabs
venison, luscious oysters, wood cock shine rob
bins, &c, &c, such would make the mouth
on gGnIhana water, as served up by their ac-
down by one Of their own iuleps made OF the
spring mint garnishing their counters just now
duly STEPPED. OF course, In the arett brandy for
which the house has obtained such fame
WAITING CoSFIRNAIIOS-Yeste a man
from Massachusetts, named Alpheus Kane, was
taken 10 the workhouse as vagIant, but he is
clearly a lunatic. He says he had the promiss NJ
being sent as Minister TO England and he weni
up TO the White House to see the President hnt
the "thick headed dOorkeeper would mt let him
IN" He is Phrenologist, and declares that his
diplomatic bump is far more prominent than
those Of many who have before held the position
Mr. G. VsSDENHoTF, it will be seen by the
advertisement, Is to deliver a course of three
readings in this city next week, commencing on
Tuesday night. Not to know MI yandenbor
80 argues ones self unknown" In this city o.
pecially, MIR. " is an established favorite, and
he can count on good audience whenever he
chooses 20 appear here. No greater intellectual
treat can possibly be desired THAI these readings
MosE lScEspIARIsM.-About twelve O'Clock
last night the shouts Of a woman, crying Are, at
tractsd the watchmen on the beat near the Cant
tol, to the corner Of and I'd streets where they
discovered that an atteInPt had been made 10