Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-03-09
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FLoRKEcg. IrALv Ian ts7l

4 ~ 'front.' OF church aud watched the funeral
grocession Of the deputy from Pestorla. Civt.
mini The papers haye been IN mourning since
bis death, aud from accounts, the Italians
deeply regret bis loss. 1t was a sight we'll
worth seeing, VIC calculated on Itshan Gus.
toms, and 50 were on the street an hour afler
the appointed time, and were still In good
time Crowds were IN the via Cavour, from
the side street, from which the procession
started down TO the Duomo. Soon after start
Ing, the military band in full, grand uniform,
began those first thrilling noes Of the "Cujus
Amman" from Rosini's Slabat. and Just as
the people filled up the vacancy after the last
carriage passed, the last note died away, 50
that We had the full benefit Of the rich, solemn
music. The heurse was OF bright yellow, open
all around, and on the coffin were little yellow
angels, with paper flowers in their hands
they looked more like Cupids-and the con.
veyance iantastically trimmed with black
Grape Before the four horses marched the
soldiers, citizens, several members Of the Com
mon Council, and many prominent men, be.
| sides the band. Following the hearse were
half dozen carriages, all empty but one,
which contained two ladies. About twelve
hundred people were in The procession on the
way to the stationi at that place speeches
were made, and then the remains sent to his
home--Pcstoria.
How shall tell you about the Midnight
! Mass at the "Anunciata" preceding Christ
mas morning, il WIS so grand, so sublime
would not have missed it for two nights of
sleep. A large party Of us went at ten O'clock
and even then the church was so full we could
only pass through the Sacristy and several
| passages to get behind the choir, where we
found ain empty chapel for ourselves. You
must understand in this church, which is In
the form Of Latin cross there are chapels en-
both sides Of the nave, aud beyond the tran
septs the great space under the dome is called
the "choir" In different churches this occr-
pics various PLACES, as in the DuomO ii is un-
der the dome where the transcpts cross, ard
in front of the high altar; but usually il is b, :
hind that, us in the "Anunciata" Around
this choir is high wall, so that we could not
see, but that was of no consequence, for who
would enjoy the chOru5scs the more for seeing
the Hat priests within? l liked better TO sit
down IN the dark corner on the stone steps,
and look up 10 the dimly lighted frescoe above,
on the roof OF the dome, which really seemed
at that distance rs il ii were The sky it repre-.
sented. and listen 10 that rich music that seem
ed us if il might be issuing from the heavens
abovc us If the angels themselves were re-
peating their song of Good will to Men" as
before they sang for the wondering shepherds.
Al III O'clock one Of the gentlemen said if
we would be willing to try the jam down in
the nave, lie would try to pilot us through.
Well, you would have thought it impossible 10
push ones way through that mass Of closely
packed peoplc-thousands of persons must
have been standing in the church, for there
never are but few seats in these churches.
After an hour or more the TIE Dcum drew TO
an end, the priests came out with huge silver
candlcsticks, the remainder Of the fifty altar
candl,s were lighted, the music grew louder
and finer towards the finale-then Christmas
morning having come. though the TIE Deum
was half an hour late in closing, the veil was
drawn and the "Bambno" displaycd-a small
fantastic wax figure, representing the Christ
child over the High Altar. Immediately tic
bells began to ring, and the great organ in the
nave TO peal forth its notes OF joy, and all
seemed to say, The Lord has come"
On coming out one Of my friends told me
that he had been lisies>ly enjoying the music,
hut when the fresh notes Of Christmas morn
ing sounded, and the carols followed, lie was
fully aroused to new feeling Of thankfuness
and gladncss. We were glad 10 get back to
our old station in one of the eleven chape!s
around the choir. and listen for an hour longer
in the pur.r air. There was a large orchestra
and organ with the singers, and it was only
after nilnight that the great organ was used
1t will long seem 10 me like a beautiful dream
the strange hour, the surroundings, the in
visible choir, the new appreciation of the an
nversary; and a(tcrward the beautiful city as
seen in the light of the brightest of southern
moons, the pavement shining, the palaces re-
fleeing, The wondrous DuomO and Campanile
looking never SO lovely since their days o
pristine glury the Arno flowing peacefully
between the rows Of gas lights that follow the
gentle curve of the river, forming q pretty
sight as one looks up from near the Cascine
while the silver waves played prettily with the
dancing foam below the dam.
Reaching home at three O'Clock IN the morn
ing, necessary sleep made our daylight o
Christmas not much more than long enough tC
prepare for dinner. We numbered thirty ",
Americans at table, and with the after fcsyi
ties it proved Christmas day on any calen
dar long to be remembered
We visited the Pitt Palace lately, but th
pictures in each room are so attractive W,
only went half way through The twelv'
| salons are named according 10 the frescoe
above the paintings, rs, ."The Hall of Jupiter
of Saturn" etc. The statuary is all in tn
: Uflizi, except few for the centre of the room
in the Pitt 1t is a pleasant place TO go, III
rooms being in the palace of the king, the,
are handsomely furnished with elegant tables
inaid with precious stones, and chairs ant
brazers for comfort.
Also at the Ufizi one day for a couple o
hours we looked at one of the choicest collec
tions of paintings in the world. They are il
the Tribune" with the five master pieces @
sculpture,-the "Venus di medici," Tx
Wrestlcrs," pa satyr, playing with cymbal,
, a" Grinder" and young Apollo of the schoo
of pnoNititas This lnst has one arm thraUI