Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-11

and modern.
It is not known when ancient Rome
was founded. but the legend of Romulus
and Remus fixes the year at 753 B. G., and
this Is the date usually accepted by
chronologirts. Romulus established his
residence on the Palatine Hill, which
was the nucleus of the new city, and
around which new quarters grouped
themselves by slow degrees.
The situation was an advantageous
one, Il being the most central on the
peninsula, alike adapted for great com
mercial town and the capital of great
empire. Its river, the Tiber, (the
'saavus Theirs" of Horace was naviga-
bic for ships as far as Rome-14 miles
from the sea-and the tributaries were
la-rs enough to afford means for inter
nal traffic. The water of the Tiber Is
rurbil, and it is now a comparatively
insignificant stream. Its reduction IN
size Is probably due TO the leveling OF
the forests on the mountains.
The far-famed Seven Hills Of Rome
are the Capitoline, Quirinal, Nirninal,
Tsuuilina, Palatine, Aventine and
Caliaa. These were but small eleYa-
tons. varying from 155 (Aventine) to
1873 lEsauiline) feet above the sea-leveL
The wall, which enclosed the ancient
city. was about seven miles in circum-
ference. Rome once arrived at such a
degree Of prosperity that she sat upon
her seven hills and ruled the world, -
and at the beginning Of the 2d century
numbered from 1900, 600 TO 1000, 900
inhabitants. The Rome of to-day con-
tains about 100000 inhabitants. The
wall is about twelve miles in Circumfer-
ence. constructed of brick, and about
hfty feet high. The greater portion of
il was butt by the empeTors Aurellan
and PrObus 270-276. The greater part
Of the area comprising imperial Rome
il now uninhabited, the PalatIne hill be-
ing a mass of ruins, and the Aventine,
(once the residence Of the plebians)
Calian and Esquiline are covered with
vineyards. There is another hill, Pin
cion, the Calls hortvrltnz, [hill Of gar
dsns), Of the ancieuts. Here were the
celebrated gardens of LuCullus. 1t Is
now 8 faForite promenade, adorned
with trees. shrubbery and statues, where
q military band plays on Sunday and
Thursday afternoons, attracting large
audience of all classes in carriages and
on foot
Rome is now the capital of Italy. and
the Italian Parliament met here for the
h-st time in December of last year. The
Romans have long desired to be free
from the political bondage Of the Pope,
but French bayOnets kept them under
subsection. Fortunately for Italy, and
the Roman States in particular, the time
came when France required all her
troops in another place, and September
10Th, 1870, the Italian army entered
Rome. 1t was, however, for the RO-
man States to say ''Of their own free
viii and accord whether they would
Join their fortunes with united Italy or
underline dominion Of the Church. The
vote stood 40 7S5 in favor of the italian
government and 46 in favor of his Holt
ness Plus *. Since the occupation Of
Rome the Pope has never left his pal
ace, the Vatican, but insists in calling
himself q prisoner, hoping thereby 10
secure the sympathy of the Catholic
world and thus induce the Italian gov
eminent to return to him his temporal
power. But the weak old man who calls
himself Invaluable" Is doomed to disap-
pointment, as neither the Romans nor
the Italian government will submit to
such a proposition without severe
struggle.
RUINS OF ANCIENT ROME.
II is not modern Rome that attracts
thousands Of strangers every year, but
the ruins Of the ancient one The re-
manning monuments of the greatness Of
imperial Rome are few as compared with
the number that have been DESTROYED
At the close Of the third century Rome
possessed 81 city gates, 10 acqueducts
423 streets, 1880 palaces. and IS. 602
dwelling houses. Among the public
structures Were II lighthouses. 1852
fountains. 423 temples. IS triumpLal
arches. 10 halls and thousands Of statues
etc. The palaces and public buildings
were mostly Of marble and travertine
rock IA fine building material from near
Tivoh) and were the most magnificent
and costly structures Of the kind that
have ever existed
The introduction Of christianity was
unfsvorable for the preservation of hea-
then temples and statues and the inrOads
of the Cloths and N8ndals (410-455l was
subversive of the wealth and tast, ueces-
sarv for the maintenance of the-e monu-
ments. The Roman bishops used the
columns ami building material If ancient
temples and other buildings in the con
structiou Of tIeir churches and palaces.
many were allowed 10 -, to decay or
were thrown down. and thus the work
nearly q thousand years.
If the reader viii follow me- We will
proceed 10 inspect some Of the most in
teresting ruins Of imDe-ial Rome The
Forum ROm8num Roman Forum viii
usually attract the first attention Il
travellers. for here. and within short
distance, Is gathered the most marvellous
collection Of the remains % ANTIQUITY to
De found In the world
We viii take our position e the foot
Of the eastern slope of the Carit0line
hill The present capitol - Italy towers
behind In front, at our left. is the site
Of the Temple Of Concord (Senate
Chamber Here ths Pat7es C0nscripti
fRoman Sanste) met for their delibera-
tons. These old wslls once enclosed
the eloquenee Of the CAESARS and trembled
a. the tread Of either Brutus. The arch
ed wall IL front Of the Temple is the r.
mains If the RgStrNtn. or orators plat
form. From this place Cicero hurled
his scsthiug danurciatious against Gaia
hne. can almost see him now. point
ing his finger n the trembling traitor.
sc he saws, ''Quid est, Cstal;np - and
after recouutinE the histor,~ Of the cor
rup'ion and plots in witch the conspira- .
tors have been enEe -ed be .avs-.'mnre /
N sorrow man !: anger 30 temE@sEa
o UOrps =" -
Al the OF If the Temple IF Concord. +
lew r>ds distant, is s.t~ated the old
prlscyi whore Ju-urtks. and the Catalina
ornspi~atnrs persisted il is simply
two-story ho'e--n-thc-rround with one
room 10 each story. The lower ope j.
the place where criminals were inr.arrnr-
ste6. They were lgt down through a
snsN aperture by ropes. Tb-. Church
say that Peter and Paul were imprisnr7-
ed here by Nero There is an indeDta-
ION in the wall near the tor of the stair
case leading 10 the lower room. made bv
the face of Peter, whom the Centurion
pushed against il with such force as to
bury half his head in the solid rock, 80
the guide said ) The same cTi5a said