The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-04

inc Wolf mentioned by Cicero. Just
beyond this palace is the famous Tarpean
Rock. Opposite the Palace Of the Con.
servators, and facing it, is the Capitoline
Museum, containing an extensive collec.
tion of sculptures, including the Dying
Gladiator, the Faun of Praxiteles, which
was the subject Of Hawthorne's MARBLE
Faun," the Venus of the Capitol and
many other celebrated works. The open
space between the Museum and the Pal
ace contains the famous equestrian statue
of Marcus Aurelius, while on either side
of the grand staircase are the statues Of
Castor and PolIux.
Among the churches of Rome, st.
Peters Of course holds the first place. 1t
stands on the West side of the Tiber, a
short distance from the castle of St.
Angelo, and on the site of the circus of
Nero where many Christians were mar
tyred and where st. Peter is said to have
been buried after his crucifixion. The
present building was commenced in 1906
by Pope Julius II but WAS not dedicated
until more than a centr y later. The ex-
pense of the work was so great 1.-THE cost
of the main building alone being esti-
mated at fifty millions of dollars) that
the Popes resofted to the sale of indul.
gences to raise funds; thus precipitating
at least the opposition which led to the
Reformation. The approach to St.
Peters is through a large open space
with vast semi.circular quadruple
colonnade on either side containing hun.
dreds of massive pillars. In the centre,
surrounded by fountains, is the obelisk
brought from Heliopolis to Rome by the
Emperor Caligula. 1t is the only obelisk
in Rome which has never been over
thrown. The building itself is more than
600 feet in length and about 400 feet in
width at the transept. The great gilded
arch of the nave is supported by double
pillars on each side and rises $50 feet
above the pavement. The dome, 40
feet in diameter and $50 feet high on the
inside, is supported by four massive piers
in which are inches containing statues 16
feet high. Beneath the dome is the
reputed tomb of St. Peter, covered by
bronze canopy 95 feet in height, sup.
ported by four twisted bronze columns,
the whole weighing 81 tons. All around
are numerous chapels and tombs with
many sepulchral monuments and memo
rial tablets. From the summit of the
dome fine view of the city can be OBJ
tanned and those who wish can ascend to
the ball at the foot of the cross, which
rises $50 feet above the pavement below.
In spite of its immense size there is an
apparent 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 of measurement are of unusual
proportions. As some writer says, "The
angels in the Baptistery are enormous
giants; the doves colossal birds of prey"
Some idea of the vastness of st. Peters
may be obtained from the fact that its
ground plan is twice as large as that OF
St. Paul's in London, while its cubic
contents are three times as great as the
latter edifce.
Adjoining St. Peters on the North is
the Vatican Palace, which for centuries
has been the residence of the Popes. 1t
is an immense pile of buildings, contain
ing twenty courts and over H. 900 rooms,
halls aud chapels. Within its walls are
the Sistine Chapel, containing the world
renowned frescoes of Michael Angelo
the Stanze and Loggie of Raphael the
Picture Gallery and the Gallery of Sculp'
lures, comprising one of the most e1ten-
siye and valuable art collections in the
world.
The only building of ancient Rome not
in ruins is the Pantheon, a circular struc
ture located between the Corso and the
Tiber. 1t was built by Agrippa, 27
years before Christ, and was consecrated
as Christian church early in the seventh
century. It is lighted only from circu
lar opening in the dome, which is the
largest in the world, being l43 feet in
diameter. Within the chapels are the
tombs of many famous artists, as we'll as
that of Victor Emanuel, the late king Of
Italy.
Next in interest to ST. Peters and TAX
ing precedence of it in ecclesiastical rank
is the Church of St. John Lateran,
located in the Southeastern part of the
city, near the walls. This is the church
of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and here
his coronation takes place. For thou.
sand years previous to the occupation ofthe
Vatican the palace adjoining this church
was the residence of the Popes. Near by
in small building is the Scala Santa,
flight of % marble steps, said to be those
ascended by Christ when entering the
Judgment Hall, in Jerusalem. They are
elclosed and no one is permitted to pass
up but on their knees. At the time of
our visit several devotees were telling
weariy up the ascent. It was midway
up these stairs that Luther, recalling the
words, "the just shall live by faith,"
suddenly arose to his feet and descended.
South of the city, about mile beyond
the walls is the church of St. Paul, built
on the traditionary burial place of the
great apostle to the gentles. The exte
rior is exceedingly plain, but nothing can
surpass the magnifcence and richness OF
the interior. On each side of the nave is
double row of columns of great beauty
and the entire interior is decorated with
fine marbles and mosaics. The canopy
over the high altar IS supported oy
columns of Oriental alabaster with pedes
tails of malachite, and the same costly
oruamentation abounds throughout the
building.
The cataconbs of Rome are among the
most interesting features of that wonder.
full city. They are not as is usually sup
posed directly under the city, but are
scattered without the walls on all sides.
These vast subteranean charnel houses
were originally quarries but in later years
were used as burial places. The passages
are usually from seven to eight feet in
height and four or five feet wide, the
chambers of the dead being in tiers at
the sides. Many of them are now vacant.
but others still contain their ghastly de.
posits, while here and there grinning
skull or some other fragment is all that
remains of the skeleton. The catacombs
of St. Calixtus on the Appian Way
we're visited by US and are of especial