The New York herald., 1870-01-19
ROME.

Solemn Feasts at tho Close Of the Year
Christmas Day Mass in st. Pctcr's--Ss.
stephens Church Open-History Of the Sa.
cred Ediflco aud Glance lnside-"SliphtIy
Muddied'-The Prosecutions Under the EN-
pcron-6trccts and City Trndc-American
and Spanish Bishops Trying their Lungs.
fOME, Dec. 81, 1899.
This the last or the solemn feasts until the 1st
prox Since midnight OF the 2lth we have had
number OF professions and rare singing In the differ
cnt churches suficient, II minutely described, to
Nil large volume.
The Pope celebrated mass at his own altar In st.
Peters on Christmas DAY In presence OF the Sacred
College and four or ve hundred bishops from all parts
Of the world The attendance was large bur not equal
BY onehalf, to that al the opening Of the Council.
We have had the usual procession IN the Sedt1 Ges
taod, the long mass, the rich tones OF the Pontin
cal trumpets, the noble guard In gala dress, the
fantastic Swiss guard, with their useless halberts
the grenadters IN Dearskin hat and snowy Dreccnes
and the Palatine guard In blue coats and ciaret col
0red pantaloons. The diplomatic gallery was filed,
The Empress OF Austria was present. At st. Mary
Major tiere was the procession Of the holy mangcr,
which remained exposed upon the altar all the day.
In tho evening vespers, which were well attended,
as the singing was not only good but unrivalled.
Yesterday at the Church OF st. Lawrence Hors-les.
great point Of attraction the Church OF St. Ste
phen, near the Coliseum This church Is only
opened twice year; yesterday being the anniver
sary OF St Stephen 1t open all day. 1t is OF
the most curiously constructed churches In Rome.
Some say that II was an ancient edince like the Pan
tbeon and changed into church. Others aver that
IL was buiH for church, and lately II has been
stated that 1t Is the great meat market erected In the
We know only one fact for certainty. II was con-
1ecrated as place OF Christian worship by Pope st.
eimpcins, A. d. 467. The walls are covered with
fresCoeS representing In chronological order from
the crucifxiOn OF our Lord 70 the reign OF Tullian,
the tortures suTerings OF the Christian martyrs
There are tbrty-four large frescoes, and many OF
them are sickening TO look ar The horrors OF Roman
cruelty painfully set FORTH but as works OF art
they are OF no consequence Near the altar are
Massacres OF the Innocents and the CrucdxiOn OF
our Saviour. What appears remarkable ABOUT the
latter picture Is, that the dying Redeemer Is sur
with mre and vestments being the most promln ent.
We're there any bishops when our Lord died, and Al
OF Psrisf When looked al this rresco Il reminded
me or prlnt i read or--tfe ascension OF our
Lord from the tomb the guarcs dressed in the late
regulation uniform OF the United states Army,
with musket and bayonets, lying around the tomb
and their cartridge boxes turned inside ont.
work, but there are many others, horrible dauDs.
the chief martyrs who suffered under Nero Do.
rsan epmus Sevsr anS caraas ana arps s Au e
other monsters to Julian the Apostate are set forth
upon the walls Ihsy must make make an indellbe nm
and women gaze on them with sorrow paiD1ed in
their every lineament, and full grown boys ann girls
stood before them In an attitude OF deep 0nder and
revercntsi awe. Inc history. we know OF Chris
tian persecution under the Roman Bmperors was
long and sangulnasy. but we detract from the glory
OF tho martyr and make the judicious grieve when
such historical scenes are executed as carelessy
as II they were for scene IN some village theatre.
Rome surely 10 not, and II she ls there was time
when sh. was not without good fresco painters. Tney
ought for che honor Of tile great art, repaint the
worst OF these sccaes, and hold las 'iwere the nn
rOr I'D 10 nature.u
In st John OF Lateran there was excellent sing
Ing ana the number Of foreigners was very large.
To-day she Church Of Mary Major was nlled
with strnngers At St John OF Lateran the chapel
or relics was open. Few or none OF the natives at
tended, on account, i presume OF the broken
weather. Rome - q barbaroua place TO WAX IN
when iine. ana abomlnable when wet. A man or
wolaan would certainly Ie piously inclined who
foot today. All the visitors came In carriages or
common UOftu, eS
Taxing the opinion OF rich and poor, hatcher,
barber baker and banker. the Christmas just passed
was about tie duiiest rnat has been seen mere in
many years. As drowning man clings to plank,
tAo isVaa4a cling 10 thex tancful prices but they