Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-20
XIV.


XIV.
Special Correspondence of the Nashville Union
and American.
ROME, -. lS7O.-There are three
hundred and sixty churches in Rome
and not one very common, no won
der there is Jesuits and mendicsncy.
The finest of these are st. John Lateran,
st. Maria MaggiOre, S.. Pauls, outside of
the walls, and Church of Jesus. Many
others are exceedingly rich but these are
the most striking. The latter is the rich
est and meanest association in Rome. 1t
is the church of the Jesuits. The most
beautiful is ST. Paul outside of the wall
The interior is a picture, the very perfec-
ton of architectural and ornamental skill.
st. Peters is the grandest, but does not at
all compare with this in beauty. Know
ing what l do, if one of the two, st.
Peter or st. Paul, had 10 be missed /
would leave out the former. expect to
feel pleasant on the recollection of the
sight of St. Pauls for years to come. ga
thing of beauty IS Joy forever" Don't
fail to see this most charming of all
churches. But the most jolly is
the chapel Of the Capuchin monks
There is sight to be seen at this one
which viii satisfy the most ardent lover
of the ghastly. In the cells of the chapel
are the bones Of 1000 monks. These
are so arranged on the walls as TO look
like flowers. Just fancy q rose, a tulip.
pink, lily, made from human bonesl
l am a wOrshipper of natures sweetest
children when seen in the ordinary way,
but here was q dose too strong for me
How deightful il must be to the monks
&c think of having their bones made into
roses The idea must be a good one.
Some of the skeletons were propped
against the wall, looking horribly grim.
These are yet 10 take their places in the
boquets. When a monk dies the one
longest dead is taken up and the re-
Gently deceased is put in his place. The
dust in which they are buried came from
Jerusalem. If seeing dead men is any
assistance 10 a man to face the grim
visitor, these monks ought 10 90 off
without much ado. Rome furnishes a
striking example Of the living and dead
being placed near each other. There
are numerous cemeteries in and around
the city, some of them nearly ,, 800 years
old. That of St. CalIxtus is one of the
most interesting. Here were buried the
ancient christians ], 700 years ago. The
catacOmbs are far down underline ground,
and are very extensive. Underground
streets stretch crest ways, and in all di-
Tections. inches or shelves have
been dug along these streets, in which the
dead were placed. Many inscriptions are
still to be seen. On some of the stones
the names and rank are easily made out.
Near the catacOmbs of st. CaliXtus are
- the ColumbaTia. where are urns contain
ing the ashes of some of the old Romans.
Near the museum of st. John Lateran is
the Scala Santa which the very devout
ascend on their knees. Luther had his
eyes opened while crawling up this. The
marble steps have been SO worn that they
are now protected by wooden
ones. Several persons were trying
their earliest way Of lOcOmotiOn
when l entered. While there two priests
came in. These, who ought TO have
known better, walked right ahead without
getting on their knees. The guardian
did not see them, bu. was so indignant
at the outrage that | called his attention.
one was too far gone. The idea of priests
not knowing the style of doing these steps
astOnished me, and / had no notion of
seeing the sleeky, lazy-looking chaps go
up in so easy manner, if could pre-
vert it. There were side steps, not quite
90 holy nor laborous as the ones men,
toned. These were my choice. In the
chapel at the head Of the steps are many
sacrod relics. There is picture of the
Saviour attributed 70 81. Luke. A Calho-
lie tod me that there could be no doubt
about it. Another bit Of information that
he gave me is that il is a histori-
cal fact that 81. Peter was the first
Mayor of Rome. l want 10 buy that his
tory. On the posts of the Scala Santa are
papal notices Offering an indefinite period
in which, with impuuity, 10 commit any
little sundry sins one may desire, as re-
ward for $50 holy an act as ascending
the stairs in the manner laid down by
such and such a Bull" TIE promise,
like many Of our quaCk advertisements,
goes il too strong. ! was afraid to trust
il. | might, on the strength Of it, knock
some meddlesOme fellow over, aud get
knocked in return, in spite of the indul-
gence. The Pore and Aft ought TO be
on good terms, for tbs latter bought
small bronze copy Of the statue of St.
Peter in the chuIch that bears his name.
This is the idol, the right big toe Of
which has BEEN kissed until there is only
q half of 8 toe left. Il was once
adored IS the statue of Jupiter, and as |
: never entertained a favorable opinion Of
the god that 50 utterly dIsregarded the
laws Of marriage, l could not get my
consent 20 give my aid in destroying the
great toe. / saw crowds OF people kiss
ing it. Some of them seemed wen en-
ouCh off 10 have obtained a better su Dject,
at any tate a sgeeter. Oae evening, as
Twas walking on the Piucio, the favorite
resort of Rome, l saw ahead of me quite
q cortege Surely something was in the
wind, 20 ] rushed up aud saw 8 splendid
carriage, al gilt with out riders, and
drawn by four fine hCrs,s. In the car
rage sat a fleshy, healthy looking ole
gentleman, whom I at once knew 10 be
Pope Pho Nin0. This was better luck
than had expected ! knew the Pope
would not come to see me, and l was
nearly as sure that l would not call on
him, so there was not much chance TO see
him, He seemed TO be all right, and was
locking as smiling SIS a maiden at a we'd
ding. They say he is a kind, good ma
tured man, but / could not see why he is
any less likely to get off the right track
now and then than plenty of fat old gen
tlemen who read your paper Indeed,
with his surroundings would rather trust
the question of infallibihiy 10 scores of
men who walk the streets of Nashville.
To look at the Pope's face, one would not
have thought him such a swell as to wish
TO strut in infallible robes.
No place have seen las SO great
supply of clear, sweet water as Rome.
AT almost every corner you see splendid
fountains, from which gush forth vast
Quantities Of water. Whatever may be
said of the Pope's general government
Rome is well regulated, and will compare
favorably with most of cities in all of its
internal affairs.
To see all of the ruins of Rome re-
quires no little time if they are more than
glanced at The first and greatest object
is the Colosseum. This was theaber of
theaters. 1t covers six acres of ground
and is high in proportion. Though so
immensely large, il has rather a delicate,
than clumsy appearance. The diameter is