Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-05-05

cult to get sight at either. A portly,
weIl-to-do Cardinal stood nearest reading,
with an expression Of pleased satisfaction.
A very handsome striptling priest was
turning his large, dark, tremulous eyes up
ward in the same direction, with face OF
boyish curiosity, while we made note how
exactly the clasic cut of his features resem-
bled some Of the antiques in the Lateran
Museum. Behind him was a fat Domini-
can in his white robes and by bis side a
scraggy long necked Capuchin with his
coarse brown wooden frock, little black skull
cap, and deep-set eager black eyes, and
various priests in their great black shovel
hats, all intent on the document before
them, not word spoken, but evidently
pressing upon each other in n'eNgerness to
devour every word. A similar group was
gathered round the other pillars, but the
chance Of reading was so small that we
pressed by into the church
There was a rosy obSCurity within as the
twilight found its way down the long splen-
did uislcs, where were sweeping every var
icty and form of costume that Rome knows,
from the bright regimentals Of the officers
to the rags Of the poorest beggar The
lamps around the shrine of st. Peter gim-
mered like swarm of stars-golden bios
SONS of the sky wreathcd around tomb.
From the side chapel of the Holy Sacra-
ment we could see also the great candles
lighting the wings Of gilded angels while
the weird, strange voices Of the Pope'S
choir were rising and falling in bursts o.
ithful music. There is something in these
faesetto voices ghostly and unnatural-
sometimes startling you with strange sweet
ness, which like certain perfumes has o be-
wildering intensity that suggest something
morbid. They sound more like the wailingS
of departed spirits han the healthy, natrr-
al songs of earthly prayer or praise but
heard at twilight while the lights, the cos
tunes, the shadowy effects of the architec-
ture are upon you, their elfectis in the high
est degree striking and romantic.
II is one Of those enchantments by which
this great Sybil finds her way to the ncr-
vous fbers and creates a sensuous bewil-
dermcnt which may be mistaken for devo-
ton.
All through the vast church, people were
standing in knots, whispering, walking up
and down the assle or kneeling in long
ranks before the shrine of the golden lamps
One fair Italian coquette was kneelng
with bewtchment in her languid eyes,
which looked up seductively every now and
then, and not far from her ragged beggar
equal occupant of the SPLENDID marble floor
The row of scarlet-robed students stretched
off like band of vermiIion among black
robed priests who were kneeling among them
citizens, women, officers, all were kneeling
silently, while their lips moved as in pray
er and every now and then floating breath
bore the veSper chant from the side chapel
over their heads
saw tall, imposing figure in black
rob surrounded by knotgof eccleSiastics
talking earnestly AS drew near l saw
among them a beautiful little boy, with
perfect features, and large, dark eyes, dres
Sed in priests robes, to whom the elder ap
peared to be addressing earnest counsels
The boy looked not more than ten or elev
en- years of age One sighs to think thai
even before he could choose for himself he
is to lay aside all hope Of real, manly lift
to become like those other priests to whom
seem alike forbidden the virtues of man.
Yesterday evening was spent in service
at the house of a distinguished Italian
where we met many of the most dsting
uiShed Liberals. The accommodation wal
the common topic of conversation. Many
had seen, but few had read it. saw on
y one who had really got near enough t.
ascertain its contents. 1t is long docu
ment of three closely-printed columns, writ
ten in ecclesiastical Latin. mentioning NJ
names, but prcnouncing the Major Excom
munication on all who have indeed abetteG
or been accessory to the recent transfer o
the property of the Church. There is tht
usual complement of words ending in issim
which reminds one of the Ingoldsby Leg
ends
"Oh ,turpissime
Viz requissime,