Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-15
a Remarkable City.

The city of Nice, so interesting to the Chris.
tion for the celebrated council once held there,
and to the artist, for the beautiful fragments
yet remaining of ancient splendor now shares
with many of its compeers the dust of oblivion
At the mandate of the Emperor Constantine,
A. D. 326, there assembled within its walls a
greater number of Christian ministers than the
world had ever before seen together From
the splendid cities of Asia, from the caves of
remote Europe, aud the burning sands of AT
rca, three hundred and eighteen bishops, and
and a large number of priests, and deacons,
and laymen assembled in council, upon the
welfare of the Christian Church, and estab.
lished the celebrated declarations of faith
hence called the Nicene Greed It is said
the appearance OF this city, after you ascend
the hill which environ it, is of the most strik,
ing and romantic character. An extensive and
beautiful plain meets the eye, mapped by
streams of water, aud scenery of The most
pleasing aspect.
ln its center the waters Of the famous Lake
AScenius repOse-fringed with the enllvening
green OF the forest trees, so luXuriantly beau
titul in this tropical climate. At the extremity
OF this lake is situated the large and beautiful
city of Nice Its walls are six miles in cir
conference, and are of an imposing height
from twenty five to thirty feet, aud fourteen
feet thick at the base-and Did fair to continue
for centuries. They are mantied as usual with
parapets and battlementS, and the walk UPON
the summit is beautiful The entrance is by
three gates, the one inside the other, and rich
ly ornamented with figures and basso relieves.
The second or centre gate is Of magnificent
ciz nd L-rno oDShjp yri+
and all the ornaments which mark the pure
age of architecture and is in perfec; state Of
preservation There is an inscription on the
frieze over the gate, latimating its erection by
the Emperor HadriaB The whole exterior is
imposing and would plainly tell the most in
different observer that be was 10 the neigh
borhood of one of the largest cities. The
traveller would wonder on his approach to
this spot az the circumstance OF meeting none
Of the inhabitants of this great city without
its gates But this wonder wOuLi be changed
to amazemeut, when, on entering its walls. he
finds neither street nor house nor inhabitants.
nor even the remains of either of them The
whole iuCloSure is one vast solitude OF all
the splendid palaces, marble fountains. paved
courts, magnificent ampitheatres, temples
baths, and innumerabc dwellings which once
flled this great and populous city. not a yes
tige remains. The only trace of any buildings
having existed within this large space, are the
walls Of the Greek chapel vet remaining, COW
cred with tracerY in Mosaic aud Greek in
scriptions and figures worked like embroidery
in small square stones. There is also a spot
on which some fragments of large building
yet remain, which is said to have been the
palace OF Constantine. From the fragments
which yet strew the spot, little doubt can be
entertained of these being the remains Of the
celebrated palace. Here met those holy men
of Christendom, the llustriouS disciples of The
sainted dead and though their declaration of
faith-theiT creed-yet remains, their bones
whiten every Iand-their very names are lost.
and the magnificent aud time-defying palace
in which they assembled has now crumhed to
Its native dust Nay, even the vast aud pop
ucus city in which they net has been swept
away a with a bosom Of destruction from the
face Of the earth