Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-24
NO. "a
What "a Merchant Saw i'm Europe.
ROME, Italy, May 3, 1872.

SlChk AhlCAISt, SAICAhy OSSobsoS ~ io " AeAAA-
ly ascertained fact that st. Paul was
confined in this miserable, dark, damp,
dungeon. Tradition says
that St. Peter was also confined here,
and while authorities differ with the
Holy Church in this, we are shown an
indentation on the stone wall which the
guide assures us was occasioned by the
infuriated iailor knocking Peter against
the wall once upon time, and that same
jailor was afterwards baptized in the
waters of miraculous well which Peter
created. We took a quaff of the waters
from the miraculous we'll and found it
quite like that of any other. We have
taken a round of the artists and sculp-
tors studios, and rare treat we found.
At one of these we were admitted by a
gentleman with long, flowing beard, of
large frame and pleasing features. We
were not a little surprised when he in
troduced himself as Randolph Rogers,
one of the greatest of American sculp-
tors. He was quite ready to exhibit to
us his latest works and the models of
such as the Capitol doors at Washing
ten, Mydia, the blind slave, Isaac, Ruth
and others. Mr. H. told us that he was
born in New York city, and in early
life mosed to Ann Arbor, while yet
Michigan was territory He had in
\ al ofiono1 oI ht1t
early in life while clerk in store he
acquired the art of drawing and en-
craving. Finally he engraved wood cuts
for Illustrated papers. ''All the while
longing to Qet hold piece of marble,
and finally | secured sufficient money to
90 to New York. After various trials
and triumphs here | am" Yes! | said,
here you are, most triumphaalty. While
we were admiring a new model in clay,
a short, rather thickset man, came in and
addressed Rogers familiarly. We were
not slow to recognize face we had seen
many times, a face which | regret to
say, bears the shameful bloat of liquor.
4 versatile, brilliant genius, to whom
this world would have been less a strang-
err had he been less fond of the wine
cup. ct Buchanan Read" poet and
painter He welcomed us most c0rdi-
ally, Notwithstanding his last potation
was almost the chair that broke the
eamels back" Read insisted that we
90 with him at once to his studio, and
there for an hour he entertained us roy
ally. He talked almost necessarily, and
l must say most fascinatingly. He had
some particular "reminiscences connected
with each of the many pictures about
the room, and when in regular order he
came to Little Phill'' seated on his
charger, he grew quite eloquent in
his praise of sheridan. We went with
him to the American Club and again met
Rogers with reporter Of Wilkes SPIRIT
of the Times The studios are one of
the choicest treats of Rome, and Amer
ioa may well be proud of her represen-
! tation here.
We have been to the Vatican and
wandered past miles of pictures, statu-
/ ary and books Some one has said there
/ are $4,000 rooms in the Vatican, and
while We believed it d story of the Moth
er Church, we should not be inclined to
discant it much over half 'Tis the
largest palace of ancient or modern
| times, and has been centuries in course
! of erection One cannot form the faint
est idea of its untold immensity and
wealth. In the library | begged per
sistently and then offered round fee to
get peep at the CodeX Vaticanus, that
choice old original of the bible, but my
pleadings were wholly in vain. The
wonderful Sistine chapel had a good
share of our attention, but we were
/ not enough yersed in artistic lore to APP
preciate much of what we saw. We
have passed to-day quietly in our apart
ments, for we find ourselves quite over
done with sightseeing, which, pleasure
able as it may be, readily overtaXes one.
We have been to Mrs. Dr.. Gould's school,
which is the only one of its kind III
Rome, A few months ago the ''lnfalli-
bic Shepherd would have imprisoned
| Mrs. G.. for such work, but now that the
shaekles of papal tyrany have been
broken, | hope soon to hear OF the multi
nlieation of such schools as this. Twen-
| ty.nine cleauly dressed Italian children
were assembled in beautiful room, and
/ for an hour we listened to their exer-
cises Mrs. G. kindly translated for us
the songs they sung as with graceful
gestures they marched about the room.
| 4 Scotch lady, deeply interested IN the
evangeiization Of Rome, has been dis
trihuting bibles among the Jews who,
for ages. have been allotted to a given
portion of the city. witness TO the
distribution of these bibles told me that
their ayidity for Pauls Epistle to the
Romans was most surprising. The rush
was so great for these bibles that the
good lady had to beat a hasty retreat
from the eager pressing throng. "Aftel
she had gone" said ny informant,
s"twas a wonderful sight to see the
crowds gather about the lucky posses
sors of the bibles who read aloud to the
throng, the teachings of Paul, which
were both new and strange to these be-
nighted souls" We took dinner this
evening with DR.. Parmalee, and a rare
treat we had of it. A bachelors tea
party with all Its social abandon. The
doctor gave us an opportunity to test the
various Italian wines, but one among
the number we find rich, and luscious as
nectar. 1t is quite unknown to Americs
because it cannot be transported and re
tain its sweetness and delicious flavor
There is an amusing story connected
with this wine which is key to its sin
guiar name. A wine-tippling Bishop
once, riding from Florence TO Rome
sent connoiseur in advance to test the
wine for His Holiness, and twas under
stood that such inns as afford a goot
article should be marked by the connols
seur SC ar in red keel, Est, which means Here
When the Bishop neared Rome he cam'
TO an inn marked Est EST Est! ant
there he tarried and drank until he diet
of this wine. Hence the name Est, Est
Est, meaning Here, Here, Here, but W.
find it misnomer, for ourpalates are IS s.
tickled It's here but a moment. w
shall class DIR. P. one OF the kindiies
4 - oxxor ~, opd hil kind atten