The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-02
Letter from Eur0pe.--NO. 6.

YOU nave Dccll cIiJct1l III lo"i Nfi ""y'
the gracious time, have been wishing
again and again that l could communicate
to you, as spiritual gift, the spotless
treasure of the snow upon the Alps, the
varied beauties of nature and art belonging
to Florence, the wonderful memorials and
,ranscendant music of Rome.
But ! have been Fastening somewhat
so as to avail myself of the zeal and ener-
gy of friends, Of whose society and aid !
shall tomorrow be deprived. They will
reach Naples and thence make their way
back to America. Ishall enjoy the sun
nv Italy little longer Besides do not
like to be saying some little thing every
day for | am sure that all can say
will be little enough, if l reserve myself
for some great place and some critical
time-for instance, the Eternal City, and
the first day of the year. 1t has often
seemed to me that St. Paul must have
been conscious of some natural curiosity
mngling with his apostolic earnestness
when he purposed in the spirit to 90 to
Jerusalem, saying, CATER | have been
there. must also see Rome Most hap
py should | be, having reached Rome, if l
were sure that | must also see Jerusalem.
However, | may we'll be content with
Rome, if can Get no farther. All the
world is here. As one looks at the Jew
ish spells on the arch of Titus. one is re-
minded that old Rene has gone down III
to Hades with old Jerusalem while the
monument of the one is the monument of
the other also Indeed, rs Rome was the
mistress of the world, so among her relics
are remembrancers not only of herself, but
| of all the provinces over which she bore
rule And certainly there is no place
where the modern world is more SINGULAR
ly at once contradictcd and represented.
| salute YOU from Rome | may even
venture to appropriate the words Of that
great ambassador in bonds, tit representa-
tive of the Christ crucifed, after he had
seen Rome Peace to the brethren and
love. with faith from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ Grace be with
all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sincerity.
There would be no end of telling. shoulC
one undertake it, the things that are il
Rome. should much prefer to tell YOU
if could, the thing, that is, Rome. The
details you may con over in the guide
books but Rome. as whole. Rome, a.
respects her peculiar and universal signiti
canoe, is not SO easy to be set FORTH
Rome must be understood and felt in ones
soul, and not at second hand However
let me begin on the outside. and see if
cannot furnish YOU with little suggestion
towards the unity and heart of things.
There are two prominent objects to
which the visitor in Rome will repair early
ard late St. Peters, the greatest o
churches, and the Coliseum, most impos
ING of ruins. These objects are very dis
tinct, separated from each other by almos
the whole diameter of the modern city
In character and position they are fit to b.
the types of all that lies between Or aroun,
, them. Nay, more-like the two noun
tains, Gcrizim and Ebal, they may SEW,
as symbols of two distinct processes in thu
government of God, through which thu
world that was, gave place gradually #
the world that was to come To st. Pc
ter : then. we link in our minds all TIN
churches and palaces of tie modern city
all the remnants of old Rome are asSocat
, ed with the Coliseum. But from thes
distinct types we come down into confu
o sions. Other distinct monuments ther
E are which cannot stop to name but ev
o erywherc one sees that the old has con
] into the building of the new. The Coll
scum itself has been quarried and rifed i
the interest of modern palaces. In til
present order there is a strange minolin
$ of chaos and old nj CHIT Not only has tn
: old material been used in new structures
: so that one may see a pillar, a capital.
i" cornice or basrelief serving in pitifi
= captivity away from all its appropriat
n supports; but old structures have bee
e seized upon as nuclei for accretions of ne,
n material, and While in some instance
y churches have serenely availed themselv,
% of columns and porticos that marked til
e outline of old temples, the great theatre
e of Pompey and Marcellus peer out frol
y dead brick, and know only commonplace
. occupations made needlessly repulsive b
is the filthy habits of the populace aroun
is them. Apart from numerous piazzas an
e thoroughfares, one wanders here in