Daily globe., 1882-08-13
NO. III.
Especial Cor. st. Paul Sunday Globe. ]
AN IMPOSING RUIN

AN IMPOSING RUIN.
TURIN, Italy, July 20, 18s2.-All who
have entered Italy by the Mount Gents
tunnel, either by day or by moonlight
night, must have noticed an imposing
ruin which stands high up in the air and
seems to hang over the railway as it winds
along the valley below. The mind IN
stinctively connects these ruins with the
romance and legends of old. A study of
their history as handed down by old
writers, or as related by such modern
ones as Massimo de Azeglio, shows them
to be of more than ordinary interest An
excursion can easily be made there and
back in one day, and the most convenient
route is to Saint Ambrogio, small village
some two hours ride from here on the
Modena & Turin railroad. A steep bride
path. up a rugged mountain from this
village takes one to the top in less than
two hours. The top is curiosity in
itself-being an immense stone, small
hill in itself-which caps the mountain,
and upon this stone is the monastery of
the 'sSacra di Saint Michele" now partly
in ruin, yet some parts of it are still in
habited by young priests and church is
held there regularly. The monastery
was built between $40 and 99S by Hugon
de Montboisier, who placed the monks of
st. Benoit there. The edifice is one of
the most original and picturesque that l
have ever seen. The general effect is
partly religious and partly military.
From the large entrance there is
a flight Of 12l stairs, some twenty feet
wide. 1t goes from the bottom to the
top of the building, and its architecture
is marvel of boldness-one of those
works Of art that impress one with the
mighty power of human genius. On the
the right side the stairway is held up by
stone column some three yards in diam
eter that goes from top to bottom, on
the left side. Placed at different heights
are cells for the monks, also wonderful
sarcophagii, holding all that is left of
many princes of Savoy. In many places
the stairs give place to portions of rock,
left in their natural state, and coming
out of the mountain side.
= HUMAN SKELETONS
in all possible positions are placed in
inches along the wall, giving as
lugubrious an effect as could be desired.
The vaulted roof is very high, and an iron
railing along the wall is not only con-
venient but necessary, if one tries to look
up at the historical stones and pictures
AT the top is fine carved door, which
dc CT do 70 10 hol ~,
other to a church. A coarse picture is
kept with great care, because it is sup
posed to represent the foundation of the
monastery. Three men and a woman on
horseback, with an armed soldier, are
seen riding along a valley, with eyes
lifted up to where
ANGELS ARE WORKING
on the abbey. Ones imagination is called
upon to fill up the meaning The idea,
however, probably comes from the fol-
lowing
LEGEND:
The abbey, we are told, was commenced
by Hugon de Montboisier on the noun
tain just opposite, but each night angels
came and carrid the material to the noun
tain on the other side, and in this way
the Sacra de Saint Michele was built
where 1t is. One can understand that
this change could take place and not be
noticed the first night, but it is wonder
to find out how the workmen went on,
and upon what they built if each days
work was carried to the other other side.
A PERsECUTED BEAUTY.
We are also told of beauty who was
confined in the monastery and perse-
cuted by a tyrant because she would not
accept his attentions. She was given the
usual alternative of accepting, or throw
ing herself out of the win
dow and down a precipice thousand
and several odd feet below, and which
she threatens to do. The tyrant believes
her threats to be mere words that will
never come to actions, but the beautiful
Aida Keeps her word and down she goes
over the precipice. Angels go with her.
She does not hurt herself In the least,
and reaches the bottom in safety, while
the tyrant looks on with face as long as
ones arm.
FATAL LEAP.
Aida becomes vain, and declares that
she can make similar jumps at will, but
instead, the first time she tries, she falls
down upon the village of St. Ambrogio
and in the language of history "the
largest part that was left of her was her
ear" The precipice is still known as the
jump of the beautiful Aida, and all visi-
tors hang out of the window and shudder
as they recall this legend of old. (.
BRIGANDs.
Another story and l am done. Before
the fall Charlemagne, the country was
infested with brigands. The monks were
at loss to know how to protect them
selves. Among their number was free
brlgand, formerly terrible.so now
a most humble penitent. The abbot
called him and ordered him to go to the
brigands and robbers and persuade them
to respect the monastery. He was not
only ordered to go without arms,
but if he was beaten, robbed and
il1-treated, to accept all these. things
t'for the love of God" The monk prom
ised obedience, and said: "This will
do. If they take my tunic, robe and
shirt, butif they should want TO take
my drawers The abbot struck with
the force of the argument reflected. and