Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-04
A Visit TO St. Peters. Rome,

A Visit to St. Peters. Rome, !;
We take the following from an intelligent
correspondence to the North Carolina Pres
byterian, dated Rome, February 8, 1859:
Yesterday being Candlemas day, we went
to st. Peters Cathedral to witness the
blessings of the candles by theNPope.-l
Though the day was inclement, we found
the Papal banners floating from the Castle
of St. Agues, and the people from every d.
rection throngihg up to witness the cere-
mony. a. = 4 - '..
When We arrived at the miracle of ar
chitecture, as a. popular writer, with good
reason. styles ST. Peters, we found the
guard in theft striking costume, stationed
around, while at the lower end body Of
troops were drawn up. Passing through
their midst we gained the upper part of the.
church. Before we were seated there came
sudden burst Of music from musicians,S
who Appeared to be near the doors 1t was
loud chant, which, softened by the dis
lance, foated sweetly through the vast ca
thedral. =: Every eye was instantly turned
in that direction, and there, raised high in
gilded chai~, borne BY some dozen men,
clad in violet silk, we beheld the Pope-the
successor to the humble fisherman of Cali
lee, and the visible representative of the
lowly Jesus, who had no where to lay his
head -. :a}
His gorgeous scarlet robe, sparkled with,
Jewels, but he wore on this occasion his
mitre instead Of thersplendid triple crown;
Of precious stones which USUALLY adorns his
head on public festivities. The high fam
like banIli1eerrs Of ostrich feathers, With are
generally carried on either side of him Civ
ing him the appearance of an Eastern,King,
were also, for what reason we know not.
omitted, but there was splendor enough
without them. Before him marched his
guard of honor, consisting of sixty Roman
noblemen dressed in brilliant uniform, His
cardinals, their long red trains Supported
by priests in purple also walked before him.
Next after the Pope came the bishops, sa-
mong Whcia we're soiae Of the Greek, Ar;
menian, and other eastern churches in their
most magnificent array. Then followed the.
heads of different religious orders and monks.
brown, white and gray, whose sombre robes
and sandalled feet'contsssted. strongly with
the dazzling court dresses of the princes,
distinguished military men and foreign en-
bassadors who helped to swell this train
the most gorgeous which probably ever en-
tered temple dedicated to the christians,
God. Sure, if Virgil or Agrippa and his
compeers could have returned for. the time
to this, the scene of their earthly actions,l
they would have thoughtit grand enough
for the Gods Of tkeir superb old Pantheon,
which is still even more than St. Peters it.
self-the pride and boast Chrome = =, - =.
Passing through The lines of soldiers who
fell on their knees as. the train swept by,
they reached il at length, the magnificent
throne of the Pope, which is raised high as
the altar it fronts, and isedecked with cloth
of crimson and gold. :Above it is suspend
ed gilded mitre. Here. amid his gilded
train, his Holiness was lifted down from
perilous elevation without injury to his
robes. and conducted to the chair of St. Pc
ter His noble guard arranged themselves
on each side of the area up to the throne. =
One by one the cardinals swept across the
church, ascendsd the.steps kissed the Pops's
hand and the hem of his garment, and pre-
sented the long Mass candles to be blessed.
After sufficient number had been present.
ed by them, and others to be, thus consecra-
ted, the Pope was again raised up, the pro-
cession formed aroand him, and each bear
ing in his hand a lighted candle, they pass
ed all around the interior of this immense
building, until they once more reached the
throne to which the Pope, with the same
ceremony as before, was again conducted.
Then commenced the service of High Mass,
in which his Holiness took part. But it
would be impossible to describe in the space
Of one letter the long end complicated SER,
vice whieh enseed. Nothing was omitted
which could add to the grandeur of the
scene land impress the thousands who were
assembled under that glittering dome. At
the close the poor old Pope, who locked
much wearied was for the third time raised
up, and followed by tie same dazzling pro-.
cessioni carried down the church to the side
chapel which communicated with the. Vati-
can. AS they slowly traversed -:the fields
of MARBLE as g poet has beautifully styled
the pavement Of this vast edifce,- the Cath
o1ics everywhere bent their knees as to a
God, while the Pope continually moved his
hand, and moved his lips as though pro-
nouncing blessings upon them. -.
- :. : - : : - ------';.,. sssr"
HINTS FOR THE .FARMER.-The white
washing of cattle and horse stalls, as we'll
as the inside of hog cotes and heneries, not
only renders more healthy, but prevents
the animals and fowls from being infested
with troublesome and filthy yermin' ,.s :. q
Keep your. stables aud barns well Uttered.
Leaves from the woods are excellent, and
absorb the liquid manure we'll besides, Of
themselves they make good manure. Meth
ing t1iat will make manure should be vast