St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-16

EN-. The sanitary condition of Rome
has been greatly improved within
few years past, say, since it has passed
wholly under the rule of the italian
government, and the water supplied to
its people is doubtless as pure and as
healthful as any in the world. The
in various parts of the city are
alike beautiful ornaments and sources
of health. From some of them copious
streams gush forth, showing that the
supply is plenteous, and single one of
the principal aqueducts would doubt
less suffice to afford water to all the in
habitants. The supply in one case is
so fresh and cold that the Romans them
selves are 10th to drink it until the chill
has been removed, and yet the Ameri-
cans insisted upon adding ice, luxury
that costs half Ira, or franc, day for
each person in Rome and in several |
other Italian cities.
HOW WE SAW THE CITY AND ITS SIGHTS. |
During the sojourn of the Touriee
party in Rome, about a week, it's mem
bers had as a guide, counsellor and
companion, Mr.. S. Russell Forbes, a
distinguished archeologist, whose fa-
miliar 'talks' and explanations were
better than stack of guide books, or
swarm of ordinary guides. Mr.. Forbes
has long resided in Rome, has made its
ruins and antiquities study, and is,
moreover, thoroughly familiar with the
results of all the modern excavations
and researches. In not few cases, re-
cent discoveries have thrown a new
light upon ancient events, and upset
various mistaken theories which have
crept into written histories. To under
stand ancient Rome fully one should
acquaint himself with the developments
of modern researches. Mr.. Forbes will
not permit himself to be carried away
by bit of mistaken sentiment, but ex-
ercises the happy faculty of divesting
fact from mere tradition, and truth
from suppositious argument. Although
destructive of ancient myths, this is far
more satisfactory to the truth-seeking
traveller than blind adherence to old
traditions merely because they are old
traditions.
Mr.. Forbes's plan, formed in conjunc-
ton with the hotel arrangements made
by our conductor, Mr.. Gray, secured
for us as comfortable mode of sight
seeing as was possible. Carriages were
provided to take us from place to place,
and we made two excursions during the
day, each occupying three hours. Ordi-
narily, travellers would be served with
only too meals-a late breakfast and a
late dinner. Our conductor arranged
matters better. A "plain breakfast" ;"
omprising delicious coffee and equally
delicious rolls, was served at half past
seven o'clock. At half past eight we
went out on our first sightseeing round,
returning at twelve to our Irregular
breakfast" which was served half an
hour later. This meal included meats.
| Then came n SieStd until three within
| the palatial and cool salons, or comfort
able chambers of the gorgeous Hotel
Costanzi, one of the most magnificent,
as well as one of the largest public
houses in all Europe. AT the hour des-
ignated carriages were in waiting to
carry us to some other of the interesting
objects of the city or its neighborhood,
for our numerous excursions took us
not only to every part of Rome, but to
many interesting spots in the neighbor-
hood, such as the beautiful Basilica OF
st. Paul's outside the walls, the tombs
upon the Appian Way, and the cata-
combs of st. Calixtus. At six we re-
turned to dinner, and our evenings weIe
passed as individual tastes might die
tate. Some chose to extend their sight
seeing opportunities by early morning
walks before the first breakfast of the
day, but Il majority were content to
await the daily program.
WHERE WE WENT AND WHAT WE SAW
l do not propose to describe at length
any of the objects we visited, for such a
course would soon extend this letter to
the fullest limit of your columns. The
student of Roman history can well i'm
a9ine where our inclinations would lead
US, and where an intelligent guide
would conduct us. We first rode to the
brow of the Pincian Hill, where we OBJ
tanned our first comprehensive view OF
the city. Then descending and travers-
ing the Piazza del Popolo, whence
Rome, including the Corso, and skirtine
the Tiber, we crossed the river by the
Ponte EliO, in front of the Castle of st
Angelo (Hadrian's Tomb), and proceed
ed thence TO st. Peters. A survey O
the interior of this vast edifice was ful
of interest, and our visit chanced to bt
well timed, for religious festival o
} some kind or another was in progress
so we enjoyed the opportunity Of hear
ing a choral service in which the NAL,
choir took part. This is one of the thre,
churches in Rome employing male so
pranos. Everything in st. Peters is ol
such vast scale that the visitor fails a
first TO realize its immensity. Even til,
dimensions of the church fail to conve,
: to the mind full sense of its extent
The edifce has total length, or depth
of COG feet, and the nave is $50 fee