Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-01-25

places were connected by grand Ro.
man road perfectly constructed and
accurately divided, which, as the his
torans tell us, extended from the wall
OF Antoninus TO Jerusalem--a dis
tance of three Thousand seven hundred
and forty English miles. Around
Rome itself, tho vast Campagna, now
n mephitic waste dotted with pools of
stagnant water and affording only
coarse pasturage TO herds Of shaggy
Italian buffalo, was one continuous ex-
pansc ofthe most beautiful gardens and
meadows, crowded with flowers and
fruit and picturesque shade trees shell
tering the colonnades of sumptuous
villas. These extended TO the very
foot Of the distant hills and clambered
mp thcir slopes, in well ordered luxu-
rance, revealing the opulence which
argosics sailing at stated periods from
the numerous ports of the empire
brought from every accessible shore
of the Orient and Of the West TO lay
in the lap of the world acknowledged
queen.
While all this, in the peculiar form
and fashion of the age of the Anto-
mines, can hardly be replaced in these
late days, since the nature Of our civil
lization is absolutely different, we may
readily anticipate that with the loco
motive already stretching in TO the
ancient gates from every part of Italy
and steamships daily multiplying in
Civita Vecchia and at the mouth Of
the 1iber, all essential spendors will
soon be revived. The affection Of
twcnty.seven million Italians centres
intensely upon the seat Of ancient re-
nown, Of modern art, of political sig
ni6cance and of supreme ecclesiastical
control, which is their pride and boast;
and the tast and culture of all Euro
pean nations converge to the same
centre of past tradition and present
influence. TO Rome the whole Catho
lie world looks with profoundest ven
Grafton and interest, and TO Rome the
scholar, the statesman, the orator, the
poet, the printer, the architect, turn
necessarily for ever fresh ard lasting
inspiration. Tho plans of Southern
Italy are as prolific of the vine, the fig,
the olive and the rich grain Of imme-
mortal repute as ever, and modern
cultivation will work magic in such a
cline Tuscany on the north ard
Naples on the south are continuous
granaries, orchards and vineyards, and
the sea on the west and cast opens
wide the doors of African and Asiatic
trade; while through the Mont Gents
tunnel all upper Europe and through
tho Suez Canal, Arabia, India, China,
Japan and Australia are made tribu-
tary to the Italian ports. The majes-
tic aqucducts still stretch over the
Campagna to The mountains beyond
and once repaired would bring the
sparkling waters of Tiyoli and Albano
to tho city; while the broad plain
itself would be easily drained and
again covered with verdure and bloom.
But why continucl Tho site, the
land, the associations, the occasion,
are all there, and the time is ripe for
transformation so natural and so
salutary. The work has begun, and
the hour hastens when the dome OF
st. Peters will rise over a scene Of
brilliant life and a social power far
wider and grander, because more hal
lowed to the law of love and peace,
than the wonderful display Of half
barbaric opulence that eliminated in
the Golden House of Nero and the
storied carvings Of the Pantheon
! N. y. Herald.