Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-08-09
Papal Luxuries.
The SrcIusIvE GARDEvs WnrrE TIE poS-
TIFF SrEoIIs.


The SEcLusvE GARDENS WHERE TIE poS-
TIFF SrEoIIs.
[From Pryipg Kaigh Of dc guilt
A correspondent Of the Detroit F,ce Frcss,
writing from Rome, gives the following de-
scriplion of The Pope's private garden, 60
which outsiders are seldom admitted; Its
particular interest is in the fact that for eight
wears the Pores have not stepped out Of tho
Vatican Palace except TO 80 into .his gaTisc,
and naturally it is ealousy secluded from pro-
fare intruders. However, we bribci the oiii,
cials, and were LEI into the garden snrrepu-
tiously, with permission to remain an hoar,
and we improved the time to The utmost
Until recently il has been only place ostrol
about in on foot. But now the Pope Is having
A carriage road made through ii, and has just
had an elegant landau constructed IN Rome,
with the papal esculcheon upon Il expressly
10 drive ab0u; the garden in. The principal
avenues are bordered by llt hedges and in
passing along you catch glimpscs, through
green arches, of the sweetest little sylvan fe-
treats that yon can imagine-birds singing,
fountains bubbliug, light aud shade Playing
through tho fickenng leaves, tic air fail 81
the scents Of orange blossoms and roses, shady
paths winding in and Ont, up and down. IN
tho most dsiraciing way, tic ground covered
with thick mating Of ieep leaves, the accu-
mutation Of years. Here. an GacieL. ssfco-
phaqus, with sculpturcl isurcs 10 relief. there
A marble statue, gray with age, and SOME
thing incxpTessibly weird In the twilight
gloom. the solitude aud air cl neglect and de-
cay. Aglin, you emerge upon open, sunny
spaccs. and the promenade skirts quadran-
cular space sunken fifteen % twenty feet,
with perdoudicular walls, originally. perhaps.
The vault OF some ancient construction. This
is laid out in an immense flower garden, and
in the midst tho gorgeous Papal monogram
traced in living yerdure."
az pretty surprise. small erosto in rock
work. representing that Of Notre Dame DO
Iourdcs. in which stood little fancy figure OF
the Virgin, at her feet q iiilo grating through
which offerings wero dropped, and sho tiny
streams of water flowing from tiny spouis toto
nttle basin, and above these words, Drink
and bo healed OF course, we applied our
mouths 20 the streams and drank the ccuso-
Grated water.
1--WE thought we hal explored every nook
and corner Of the garden, but had iailos %
find the place we We specially in search sf
the famous casino, where Plus lX used 10 sil
on sunny days, aud which is said TO be IA
vori,e resort Of the present Pope Tor study aud
writing. We met a servant who gave us n
boquot Of exquisite dsmssh roses. The sa.iso
! /. completely enclosed aud hidden by high
hedges entered by.A single arch. Following
single path through shrubtery, We pais,d
under deep stone archway, lined With mussics
three nishes each side filled with ancient
siatues-and came upon a small circular es-
plansdc with fine mosaic pavement, enclosed
by two semi-cirenlst loggias or por,icos sup
portcd by marble columns, the ceiling and in-
side walls covered with beautiful bp! fade
frescoes and curious mosalc and shell work,
I with nichc5 occupied by -busts aud ftstues.--
/ All around was wilderness Of flowers and
shrubbery, end close by the great doms Of 81.
/ Peter filled in tho view. Finally, through
| distant arch. we saw vista Of trees, and fol-
, lowing it up we came out upon IN elevated
/ terrace, where, under the shade Of old trees
covered with purple blossoms, was large ba-
sin Of water. upon which was man.of-wet
in bronze, eight or ten feet long. the rigging
complete, rows Of cannons Projecting from i,s
sides. the mariners st their post. From this
terrace was view Of the city, the Castle Of
st. Angelo prominent In the foreground and
Monte Marie on the lcft, the Valley OF the Il-
Der beneath and the C,mpagna stretching out
TO tue Alban range in the distance.