Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-01-18

y
tent themselves by kissing the Ike,
hole, the metal around which is wor
smooth and thin by the pressure of s
| many lips.
THE SANTISSLdO BAMBNO.
One day we went to a very al,
church on Capitoline Hill to see tn
Santissimo Bambino or Most Hol
Baby. This is little wooden dol
about two feet long representing th
infant Christ. 1t was carved $50 th
monks say from tree on the Noun
OF Olives by a Franciscan pilgrim
and painted by ST Luke while tn,
pilgrim slept. Great honors are pait
to this doll. 1t is covered with goIt
and precious stones. The priests sa,
that on one occasion it was stolen fol
the sake OF the jewels that adorned
Its body, but it returned alone in tht
night to its own home and guardians
The Bambino is believed to be in
vested with wonderful powers in Gu
ring the sick. 1t is very successful
Doctor, having more practice thar
any other physician in Rome
When a Roman is sick and near tC
death, he sends for the "Most HoI,
Baby" which is brought in hand
some carriage of its own to the bed
side. Straightway the doll cures the
sick one, provided he does not die
If he gets well the doll has the credit
of the cure. If he dies, it was be,
cause the doll thought it best for him
not to live. In either case the monks
get the fee.
/ We entered the church and asked
to see the Bambino. A monk led the
way to the room where he was kept
He then unlocked a large gilded cup
board III which were two richly dress.
ed wax statues as large as lie, repre-
senting Mary and Joseph, and be-
tween them was the cradle containing
the doll. The monk lighted two great
candles, placed one at the foot OF the
cradle, removed the richly ornament
ed lace and coverings, and then utter
ing deep sighs, as if dOiag solemn bu-
slness, he slowly and revereutiy lifted
the baby and exhibited it to Us. We
paid the old man a paul for his trou-
bic, he kissed the feet OF the doll, re-
placed its coverings and blew out his
candles. As We left the charch We
said to one another: Are We in u
christian city, or is this pagan China
with its idols and idol worship p
THE CAPUCHINs.
And now ii YOU wOuld see an ex.
traOrdiuary museum in the court of
death, come with us to the cemetery
under the church aud monastery Of
the Capuchins. Reaching the place
all Old monk Of the order, wearing a
dark gray cloak, and having Il rope
about his waist 'for consideration.
showed US the cemetery. He toOk
down d bunch Of ponderou5 keys, anC
lighting lamp badc US follow him.-
We passed through several long cor
rldors and dim passages, descended
a Hight OF stone steps and entered the
apartments OF the dead, consisting o.
four low vaulted chambers, with cor
ridor on the side. Two or three
grated windows let in the light. The
floors o. the chambers are covered
with earth brought from Jerusalem
In this the members of the order are
buried, without collins and III t,eil
mon&ish robes The head Of eacf
grave is marked by black cross
with card containing the name OF
the occupant and the date of hi:
death
The space allotted for burial wa
long ago filled. Now, when a Capu
chin dies, they disinter the bod,
which has lain the longest in th,
ground, and give the grave to the new
conner. The disinterred skeletons ar,
| dressed in robes such as they wor'
when living, and then placed aroun(
| the rooms among their brother skele
tons. You may imagine what sigh
met our eyes as we entered theS
cells. There were the dead monks
standing, reclining, sitting and knee
ing, the eowl on their heads, and tn
cassock wrapped about their bon
, frames. Some had tufts of mould
hair hanging over their forehead:
aud remnants OF boards clinging t
their jaws, others with mouths wild
} open looked CHASTITY and horrible
, Each skeleton held a crucifix in hi
bony fingers and attached to the gil
. die OF the gown was a card bearin
!. the monks name and the time of hi
. death.
When at length the skeleton fall
! to pieces, the bones were arrange
E in strange forms about the rooms
f The walls are well nigh covered wit
\ them. You see them overhead, o
0 the floor and III every corner. Thes
5 bones are strung together in all ma
5 ner of fantastic shapes. Here, is
d great pile of skulls; there, the bone
e of the legs and arms are piled l
n like cord wood. Here, bony emp
# ror is seated on his throne of skull;
@ there a skeleton Time is. holding h
D scythe and hour-glass. Here, the rib
fingers and toes are curiously arran
v ed in cornces, arches and moulding
E. there, bony chandelier hangs fro
! the ceiling. Even the small bon
u and teeth are set in curious mosaic {
% intricate workmanship.
: Head Centre Stephens is said
= have been discovered living incog
an elegant up town residence In NJ
i York, at great expence. Result,
= tense Fenian excitement.
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