Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-06

L was much Interested in the places
where some of the celebrated miracles of
the church have been wrought. In the
Mamertine prison is the cell of Peter
The apostle. naturally reluctant to 60 down
into the dungeon, was precipitated thither
by his rude guards. The place on the rock
where his face struck the wall is still evil
dent. 1t nas been piously preserved by an
iron grating, and through this one can see
the distinct impression of the apostolic face
And on the floor of his cell there gushes "a
fountain, which was brought into existence
for the purpose of baptising his jailor. All
increduility is dispelIed as one drinks, as |
did, from this sparkling spring. Who
could doubt the miracle with the fact of
the fountain before his eyes? In the San
Sebastian church there is a stone from the
Appian Way, which bears the imprint of
Christ's feet, when the Saviour met the flee
ing Peter aud sent him back to the city to
win the crown, martyrdom. | saw the
stone With the evident foot marks in it,
1t was marble and had the marks of the
chisel lpon it. Tell Miss that |
admire he statuary of Christ and his moth
er in the subteranean chapel of San Giov-
ami as much as she does. 1t is the most
exquisite production OF the chisel | have
seen 1t is said to be by Bernini. but L
doubt it. If so, it is the only thing of his
| would care to look at the second time
nave been into many of the picture
galleries of Rome The Corsini, the Cap
itol, the Borghese, the Rospigliosi, the St
Lua, the Vatican, and the Lateran.
have fallen in love with Carlo Doci and
Gulo and Maratta, and yet the eye is so
crovded with the beautiful sights that the
bran is absolutely bewildered. There is
an infinite profusion of Madonnas on the
walls of the palaces, exquisite faces of
moher and child And yet when walk
in he street, see the living Madonnas.
theveritable models of these old artists.
Tn, beauty of the Italian face is so pecu-
liaI that you cannot fail to recognize IT,
whittier it is found in painting or in life.
Fol myself, Iprefer the Madonnas of life.
| meet them everywhere. The old, sweet,
gloious faces of the canvass gaze upon you
from the shops and balconies of the streets,
and one is at no loss TO see where the art
lists bund their studies The Spanish stairs
who or dime an hour will disclose their
beauies to the son of the pencil and the
bruh
Yesterday, Holy Thursday, l went to
St. Peters again 1t is great festival in
tn, calendar After mass in the Sistine
ch,pe, the Pope was brought In on the
shoulders of his attendants to the great
ba.conv of St Peter, and gave his bles-
srg to the crowd assembled IN the grand
square below. The spectacle was splen-
dii one In the square were formed sever
al regiments of infantry and dragons with
a large number of military bands. Thou
sands of people stood in front of the
soldiers The background was densely
packed with carriages and showy equipa-
ges. At twelve O'Clock, the Pope was
borne out upon the balcony and IN clear
loud tone recited or chanted the benedic-
ton was at some distance from him, on
the roof Of the grand colonnade. whittier
had bccu allowed access by the grace OF the
Swiss guard But | heard every word
and was saturated with the beatitudes.
1t is said that blessing reaches not only
the person, but everything on the person
permeated with the benediction. | car
ried some beads with me so that they should
share in the sacred affiatus. After the
benedction, it was followed by the sound
of cannon and music of bands. | hasteneC
down the Scala Regia into the Church, tc
see the Llvanna, or the washing of the
feet 1t was down in the transept fitted
up for the occasion. Soon after | had Ia
ken my place near the great altar, and il
full view of the raised dais. where His
Holiness was to initiate the humility Of
Christ he came in, attended by the car
dinals in their mantles of ermine, and by
other great dignitaries. Several priest:
| then went on their knees before him anC
! bowed their heads to the floor, and two O
them were permitted to kiss his cheek. In
cense ald candles were burned before hin
/ and the choir filled the church with then
music Then his Holiness was divested o
his scarlet robe or surplice, and girdec
with an embroidered apron, and went Il
the thirteen priests, who represented the
apostles and the angel Gabriel, and while
cardinal bore a silver laver, he dippeC
napkin in it and quietly touched anC
wiped each priestly and angelic foot. Thi
was done amid jubilations of music, and a
it was performed, each priest reverentl.
kissed the gracious hand that had so con
descended to lowly office. The RAISED
tribunes filled with beautiful ladies from
every land. the vast transepts and rotund;
cline, witnessed and admired the singular
| ly lowly act The throats of cannon oil
the castle of St. Angelo and the blair
of military trumpets attested to th
meekness of the High Priest. Thel
followed the Tarola, or Last Supper, il
the corridor of the church The sam
priests whose feet had been washed, the
sat around long table, loaded with fruit
and bon bons. The Pope stood at tn,
corner of the table and asked the blessing
Then he waited upon the apostles, frs
gave them soup, then fish and then wine
He then retired from service and the
helped themselves, and amid laughter anc
general hilarity cleared the table of ii
confections and bore off the remnants Of th
feast in their napkins, while the flower
and some of the bon bons were scattered I
the jovial crowd around. Our youn
friends got one olive and flower
After this ceremony went through tn
Vatican, with its miles on miles of curiosi
ties. Halls of inscriptions taken from tn
Catacombs; Halls of statuary. of tn
Torso, of the Apollo Belvidere, Of tn
LAGOON, of the Animals, of the Cartoon
of Raphael ofthe Bronzes, of the Egypt
ian and Etruscan antiquities Of tn
Paintings of the Library,-these with tn
gardens detained me for several hours.
then returned to the church; measured
hack and forth with my naces hard III