The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-08-10

Z FAVOR IN the eyes OF the ladies. ana should
he have fought the battle bravely and found
favor, and the noble Roman matrons CON
clude to spare his lie, or the little of it
that remains, they show their consent that
he should live and not be SLAIN 10y his COM
petitor 10y presenting their thumbs in an
erect position, and then the vanpuishcd is
lifted up from his prone position, taken
from the arena, his wounds are dressed
and is held in greater esteem than the vic
tor, for has he not been favored by the no.
Bile, the rich and the beautiful of Rome ::
The appearance of the Coliseum at the
present day is like huge oval band box
with one end torn out. The interior con-
tans cross in the center of the arena,
erected 10 the memory of the Christian
martyrs. There is also i sluggish stream
Of water running through the arena, which
presume was formerly used to wash away
the blood after bloody conflict. The
whole building was probably covered with
canvas covering, but at the present day
the ruin stands uncovered, subject TO the
I intense heat Of the Summers sun and pitt
less storms. 1t is estimated that thc Coli
scum could comfortably seat over 60, 900
persons. The building is one hundred and
sixty nine feet high. 1t was partly demol-
shed by order Guiscard. in order To pre-
vent the Romans from using it as a maya
zine. The building itself. when originally
built, was nearly white in color. it having
been built Of stone called "travertiue,"
which is kind Of white, chalky lime
stone. but which changes in color on being
exposed to weather. 1t is now difficult to
distinguish the "travertiue from the
courses of brick used in its construction,
50 similar are they To each other in color.
have never heard at what time in the day
the races. the gladiatorial shows, and the
contests between man and beast occurred,
but | presume these contests Happened in
broad day light. because it would have
been difficult matter to light up SO large
a building with artificial light in those
ancient days. ] wonder If such brutal
scenes would receive the patronage Of the
present generation if they should be re-
vived? Prize fighting in this country, and
bull lighting in Spain, are nothing more or
less than relics of that barbarous age \
band of Christians were at one time placed
III this very arena, and the gates were
thrown widely open, and hungry lions came
rushing i'll upon them from their dcns. and
these Christian men and women suffered
4. II
their Lord and Master Now the Roman
people consider the place consecrated.-
They have erected cross in the center of
the arena. They have located the stations
OF the cross around the main cross, and
they hold very impressive and solemn
service in the arena Of the Coliseum every
Friday afternoon. Every stone in the
building is carefully watched, and if one
Of them becomes ioosened, it is immedi-
ately cemented and made secure. One day
while at Rome went out on the Appian
Way to visit the catacombs. only visited
one Of them, and was SO disgustcd with
The sights saw that concluded that one
catacomb would last me all the days of my
natural life. employed small hack
opposite the " Hotel De Roma. and men
toned TO the driver simply the words ''cata-
comb" and "Appian Via" He under
stood me, for at once he drove me ont To i
catacomb on the Appiau Way, about two
miles from the city wall. The driver at
last stopped opposite white building, and
made tn m - In tr,.fp on III IN the
door and knock. | did SO. and shortly
afterwards a poor looking, half starved,
>havcn- headed priest silently opened the
door and | entered. In the room were sew
cral paintings, vase of holy water, and
several other things too numerous to men
ton. | asked the priest where the cata-
combs were, but he uttered not a word,
but quietly lighted two penny dips. handed
me one, and We went through a small side
door, and down darl, aud dismal passage
until we came to a room in which were
placed the dried remains of some departed
saints, some lyin. in their collins, others
standing III one corner Of the room, while
others were sitting comfortably in t:leir
chairs, as though engaged in quiet CONVEX
Sation or awaiting TO hear the trumpet
blast on the last day which shall arouse
them and call them before the King OF
kings, to give an account OF their steward
ship. From this room We went along dark
aud gloomy passages cut IN tho earth. in
which are cut on either side rcccptaclcS fos
the dead While in the first room. ms
curiosity was aroused, and impressed with
the solemnity Of the scene, spoke to the
priest in a low. still voice, but in such 4
tone that | thought it would touch his
heart, and asked him a question about the
dead; he never answered my question, nor
did he seem to have even heard it, | then
asked him another question in a higher
key, looking directly in his face, but he
answered me never word. After he had
taken me through several galleries, he led
me up the same cartheu stairway To the
room had first entered, when asked him
several other questions, but he did not aI,-
pear to hear me. | then offered him n
franc. He understood that, for he took 1t
and pocketed it. | then shook hands with
him, got in my dug out, aud went back to
my hotel. | thought that | would ask the
clerk about my silent priest, stating that |
had asked him several questions, but that
he gave me no answers. lie laughed heart
lily, and informed me that the said priest
would not speak to any one, he having
taken the VOW Of perpetual silence. Only
when nearing death are they allowed to
speak. This explains his silence He wore
sandals upon his feet, course brown robe.
with a chain about his waist, his head was
shaved smooth, leaving a rim of hair around
the edges; he looked as though he had not
had good square meal for at least a cen
tury, aud there was 4 hollowness about the
eyes ana cheeks which was distressing tn
behold. | am informed that this priest
will never again leave the dwelling When
lac dies lie will be buried among the dead.
and another priest will be chosen to take his