The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-23

thun1ered the chariots Of the Roman gen
erals as their legions poured forth to con
quer the world. Returning, along this
route marched the vic;ors in triumph,
leading their captives in chains aud bear
ing the rich spolls Of their yanquished foes.
All around are ruihed temples and palaces,
tho relics Of the ancient glores Of this
Hnighty city. Standing by the side Of the
excavation ard looking out over the sbat-
tered fragments Of the past, it seems the
opened grave Of buried nation.
The Palatne Till which adioins the
Forum Oh the south, was from the earliest
history Of the city, the home Of the aristoc.
racy. Here the Grncchi, Marius, Cicero
Marc Antony and many others had their
residences aud here were the palaces OF
Augustus, Tberius, Caligula, Nero, Yes.
pasian aud Septimius Severus. In the
later years of the empire, the entire hill
became covered with the palaces Of the
Cesars, and the ruins, which have been
uncovered within the past i,rty years. give
unmistakablp evidence Of the magnifcence
of the otiginal structure. A short distance
southeast of the forum, the arch OF Titus
spans the Via Sscra, bearing on lts inside
walls. the famous "bas releis" representing
Titus in triumphal procession with the
Jewish captives bearing the rich spoils OF
the temple at Jerusalem, among which
may still be seen the golden candlesticks,
4 little farther on the rise the majestic
ruins Of the Coliseum. This wonderful
structure, built by Vesp6sian and Titus
early in the Christian era was the largest
building Of its kind ever erected ard would
accommodate te nearly one hundred thousand
spectators. The seats rose 10 recedlng tiers,
so as to afford all good view of the vast
arena, in which men rs well as beasts were
"butchered to make Roman holiday" !"
TRe hight Of the massive oblong pile was
nearly 200 feet; and although it was for
years used & a quarry, several of the COM
paraively modern palaces of Rome being
built of material obtained here, it is still
by far the most imposing rain Of the city.
It's soldity gave rise to the familiar say
ing:
awhile stands the Coliseum Romo shall
W hen falls the Coliseum Rome shall fall:
And when Rome 1alls-the world"
The Capltolne Hill, at the northern end
of the Forum and at the southern end Of
the Corso, is reached from the north by a
long flight steps ascending from the small
piazza of Ara Coli. The slope next the
Forum is occupied by the Palace Of the
Senator. On the right, where the Temple
of Jupiter formerly stood, IS the Palace of
the Conservators, containing a valuable col
lection Of pictures and antiques, bronzos,
among the latter what is supposed tn 6e
the Captolne Wolf mentioned by Cicero
Just beyond this palace is the famous
Tarrean Rock. Opposite the Palace Of the
Cnnservators and facing it, is the Capitolne
Museum containing an extensive collection
of culptures including the Dying Gladiator,
the Faun of Praxteles, which was the sub
lect Of Hawthorne's "Marble Faun," the
Venus of the Capitol and many other cele-
bra,ed works. The open space between The
Musuem and the Palace contains the family
equestrian statue OF Marcus Aurelus, while
on either side of the grand staircase are the
statues of Castor and PolluX.
Among the churches of Rome, st. Peters
on the west side of the Tiber, a short dis
lance from the castle OF st. Angelo, aud on
the site Of the circus Of Nero where many
Christians were martyred and where ST,
Peter is said to haYe been buried after his
crucifxion. The present building was
commenced in in 1906 by Pope Julius II
century later. The expense Of the work
was so great Ohe cost al the main building
alone being estimated at fifty millions Of
dolars) that the Pnpes resorted to the sale
Of ndulgences to raise funds; thus precipi
tating at least the opposition which led 10
Reformation. The approach to St Peters is
through large open space with vast
semi circular quadruple colonnade on either
side containing hundreds Of massive pillars.
In the centre, surrounded by fountains, is
the "beisk brought from Heliopolis to
Rome by the Emperor CulIgula. 1t ia the
only oOeisk in Rome which has never been
overthrnwn. The building itself is more
than coo leet in length and about 400 feet
in with at the transept. The great gldcd
arch of the nave is supported by double
pillars on each side and rises so leet above
the pavement The dome, l40 leet in d-
ameter aud $50 feet high on the inside. is
supported by four massive piers in which
are inches containing statues l6 feet high
Beneath the dome Is the reputed tomb o
ST. Peter, covered 10y brouze canopy gj
feet in hight, supported by four twisted
bronze columns tn g whole weighing 5S tuns.
All around are numerous chapels and
tombs with many sepuchral monuments
and memorable tablets. From the summit
of the dome fue view of the city can be
obtained and those who wish eau ascend to
the bal at the foot of the cross, which rises
45O feet above the pavemenL below. In
spite of its immense size there is an appar-
ent lack Of magnitude IN St. Peters which
can only be accounted for by the fact that
its surroundings and its entire plan are on
so grand scale that ones standards oi
measurement are of unusual proportions
And some writer says, "The angels in the
Baptlstery are enormous giants; the doves
colossal birds Of prev" Some idea of the
yastness of St, Peters may be obtained
from the TACT that its ground plan is t"ice
as large as that OF ST. Paul's in London,
while its cubic contents are three times as
great as the latter edGee.
Adjoining St, Peters on the north is the
Vatican Palace, which Tor centuries has
been the residence Of the PoDes. II is an
immense pile Of buildings containing TWEEN
ty courts aud over | 900 rooms, halls and