Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-08-06
gelerten Misrsllany.
A TALE OF THE CATACOMBS.

The traveller who visits the Rome al
today, ifa classic scholar and antigua.
rian, occupies himself with the ruins
of ancient RomG-that mother OF
dead empires" The artist who visits
Rome spends his time in the galleries
of pictures and statuary. lie cares
little for the Rome of two thousand
years ago, or the Rome of s2,iay, ex-
ccpt in so far ~ they contrilSfg to the
enjoyment Of his fayoritc pu~t.
While there Is Rome for the artist,
aal another for the antiJuary, there
Is a third Rome for the Christian yisi-
ter-a Rome of three hundred church
Is. with 81. Peters. u world in itself,
and the treasures accumulated through
fifteen centuries in the Vatican. In
this he finds 3 world which occupies
all his attention.. And when he las
seen all that presents il<I..9on the
earth's surface, he So ~
other Rome beneath
the Home OF tie CatacoiS
Why these excavations were made
originally, no history tells MS But
in the second century Of our erl. they
were used by the Christians in Rome
as places Of refuge from persecution,
Of secret worship. and for the burial
of the dead. Here were deposited the
martyrs. the bones of those who were
Jcyourgd by the wild beasts in the am
phiihcatre. and the ashes Of others.
These catacombs are Of great extent.
There are long galleries, with recesscs
on each side for burial. When the
bodies. OF relies, were deposited, the
recess VAS walled up. and plastered
over with cement, and the Inscription,
giving the name and age Of the de-
ceased, and commenting his soul to
the PRAYERS Of the faithful. was carved
in stone, or traced in the soft mortar.
The lamps are found which were kept
lighted before the graves of the mar
tyrs. either Us :. mark Of veueration,
or to light those who came there 10
pray: and in many Of these tombs are
fouud yials of martyrs blood. and the
instruments Of their torture.
Our story opens in the second CEN
turv. Marcus Aureiina Autoninus.
the philosopher, was Emperor. \
fierce and general persecution drove
the Christians to the catacombS. The
necessities of gaining livelihood COM
PEELED them 10 attend to their business
and labors; bat their churches above
ground were deserted, and the mystic
ries of religion celebrated by the graves
of the martyrs in the bowels of the
earth. Many were thrown into prison
many were tortured and slain.
At this period. and at frequent in
tervals during the three first centu-
ries, the pagan was Jealous in his own
worship; the malicious man who wish
ed to CRAFTY a spite against his neigh
Dor; or the plunderer, who coveted
his worldly possessions, had only to
denounce him to the public authori-
ties, if he was Christian, to satisfy
his zeal, his malice or his cupidity.
Octavian, an officer of the Emperor
household, proud of his rank, his
wealth and his position as a iayorite OF
the philosophical sovereign, distin-
guished himself by his talent and zeal
and in 40 way more than by the activ-
ity with which he pursued these spe-
mics Of the old religion cushrinedin
history, literature and arts Of Rome
In one of his expeditions against the
Christians, he entered the house OF
A@rippa, citizen Of high position,
who had been accused rs Il convert to
the new and despised faith. He did
not find him. There were Christians
everywhere, even in the imperial pal
ace-and one Of them had warned
Agrippa of his danger.
But in place Of IL Christian, whom
he would have joyfuliy dragged to
prison, to be consigned, in turn, to
the torture and the wild beasts, Octa-
Wan found a young lady, whose beau
ty was accompanied by sweetness
which charmed the young and suscep-
tible officer.
AS he knocked for admittance she
met him at the gate. His soldiers
were scattered about the mansion to
prevent escape. Calm and sweet, with
an air Of purity and resignation, the
maiden met him.
"You seek my father" she said
ale is not here"
900 you know where he is" asked