Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-01-04


ported by four stupendous PIERS
Each OF these piers covers as muc
space on the floor of St. Peters, as
occupied by a church so feet long an,
so feet wide. It is said that if tn
dome could be lifted from its restin.
place, and let down over Henry Ware
Beecher's church in Brooklyn, i
would completely cover it withou
touching it in any part. And yet
neither the dome nor the piers ap
pear out of proportion in the Immense
building.
A broad spiral staircase leads ur
to the roof and so gentle is the as
cent that yon might drive up in your
carriage. Upon the top we passed
among the smaller domes and spires
tothe greater one. Before ascending
higher we paused awhile on the cir
cular gallery that sweeps around the
interior base of the great dome 1t
made me dizzy to look down the
frightful distance to the floor Of the
church. The people walking in the
cathedral below seemed like creeping
pigmies. Letters which looked to me
from the pavement Of the church to
be II or IA inches, Ifound to be SIX
feet in length. From this point we
ascended between the two walls of
the dome to the "Lantern" which sur
mounts it.
From the balcony around the Ian
tern we obtained a magnificent birds
eye view of the city and its surround
ings. To our left was the Vatican
palace and the Popes gardens. To
the east a little way from St. Peters
was the massive circular castle of St.
Angelo. Further on was Princian
Hill with it9 noble trees, beautiful
flowers and fine promenades, At the
foot of this hill we recognized ''Piaz-
"a de- Populo," (thc square of the
people.) by the Egyptian obeIisk
which rises from its center. To the
right Of Princian Hill could be seen
the summer palace of the Pope sur
rounded by its beautiful gardens
Just down to the southwest was the
old Pantheon, and beyond it, on Capt.
toliHe hill rose the lofty tower Of the
Capitol. We could mark the course
OF the yellow Tibcr'' as it passed
through the city. Beyond the walls
was the desolate and deserted Cam
pagna, across which we could trace
the ruins of the ancient aqueducts of
Rome. These old aQueducts were
more extensive than the watcr-wOrks
of New York. Boston and Philadel-
phia combined. Far to the east was
the blue waters Of the Mediterranean,
and in the opposite direction We're the
lofty Apennines. Near US were the
churches. converts and palaces of
modern Rome, and beyond were the
dark ruins of the ancient city. Here
was the Rome of the Popes, there the
Rome of the Caesars. Here the Rome
that is, there the Rome that was.
Before descending, we climbed the
vertical iron ladder leading to the
Ball" This we found to be eight
feet in diameter, and capable of hold
ing sixteen men-(not sixteen ladies.
for | remember while we were in the
ball a party of ladies and gentlemen
came up. and one of the ladies at
tempted to enter by the small aper-
ture. but could not succeed, at least
without a change of dress.) Our par
ty consisted Of five persons, viz: c.
Grey and H. G. Tillinohast, both of
Chicago. Illinois S. G. Earle of Wor-
cester, Mass; Rev. Mr.. Brown Of
England, and your humble servant of
Schuyler Falls, n. Y. Imet with these
friends in Florence, and found them
very pleasant travelling companions
for several weeks.
In the lofty Ball, more than 400
feet above the pavement of the church
we talked of home and friends, ard
of the Virgin worship and supersti
tions of the great cathedral below US
Then we sung:
"All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of ALL"