The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-03-20
SKULLS and SKELETONS.


NkULLN AND NkELElVNN.
In the cappuooana Monastery 1t Rome
Among the Bones Of 1000 Monks.
"And then Owed to the caves OF death, and
drew from wither'd bones, and skulls, and
heap'd up dust, conclusions most forbidden"
When was in Rome I did as mighty
few Romans do-went to church about
eight times day. They were, in fact,
The only places where one could keep
cool. Rome is hot enough in August to
pass for suburb Of Tophet, even though
the good Leo lives there; the stone pave
ments become SO heated that the pedes-
trian thinks he is a movable chop in
process of boiling, on the gridiron, while
the brass angels on the top of Saint An
cello and Saint Peters are gradually
melting into oblivion, I am told, for the
want Of an umbrella or Japanes, fan.
It was on such an afternoon that I
took refuge temporarily beneath q
group of trees that stand just opposite
the Barbeini Palace, seating myself
among quantity attired group Of fruit
hucksters with whom I soon opened up
a trade to the extent of a pocketful OF
apricots and figs and few oranges.
Such an extensive commercial trans
action threw the honorable body of
merchants into the most intense ex-
element until was compelled to seek
relief by escaping. In the rear of the
little market place stood queer look
ing church, with such a wondrous arch
itectural design that it was impossible
to even locate the front door. There. ]
would certainly find rest and GOODNESS
and that quiet peace that only a snug
seat in church pew can give. AT
the head of flight of stone steps a
huge oaken door, studded with rust
eaten nails, barred the pilgrims pro-
gress-knobless, BELLIES, c1apper-less.
I had to resort to my trusty cane with
which I vigorously thumped the closed
portal. A chain ratified, bolt was
drawn, key turned slowly, the door
sprung open and stoop-shouldered
specimen of antiquity, of monkish mien
and costume, with shaven head and
barred feet, peered through the aperture.
I babe him good day in my best Italian
Observation-Disclosures style, but the
only response that came was the beck
oning of the long, skinny finger. I will
lingly followed, as much mesmerized by
the finger as actuated by curiosity
Through corridor after corridor, lined
with portraits of hundreds of holy faith.
ers of the past centuries who stared
ominously at me as my Alpine boots
echoed along the stone floor; through
gloomy passages and old doors, through
chapels and rooms we passed, but nc
church interior was revealed. On the
contrary, he led the way down flight
of stairs, where another huge key
opened another door which closed
upon me with a startling echo.
was in cellar, illuminated only bys
few streaks of light that it forced it,
way through the narrow, dust covered
window at the top. A rapid glance
around Mortified me. A nightmare O.
the most elaborate kind seemed to have
taken possession of my mind, all the
sbooks and COLLINS, Of my childhood
faded into nothingness. The ghost
that inhabited the garnet in our ole
farm house ever since the hired mar
was found dead was an angel in com.
parison with the sight / beheld. Right
| in front Of me, so close that I could al
most touch the horrible creature, stoot
a grizzly, grinning, grotesque skeleton
its uneven Uranium ornamented will
little tufts of dried and withered hair
the orbless eyes looking through an(
through; it's lines of moldy teeth stand
ing out in hideous prominence; it's bon,
fingers clutching string of beads ant
a bunch of flowers as withered as itself
Then it dawned upon me that had &C
cidentally strayed into the famous Cap
puccini underground cemetery. It wa
the most extensive gallery of skull-tur
had ever seen. Skulls to the right O
me, skulls to the left of me, skulls aroun'
me grinned and scowled. From grace
full arches and bedecked affairs; from
cobwebbed walls and massive columns
hundreds upon hundreds of pale, yellow
skulls faced me-some with distendet
mouths and awry features, as if theil
last struggle had been paroxysm O
pain; some gazing with unutterable hor
TOR on their feshless companions; som
smiling diabolically as if they gloatet
over the fact that the world would hav
to follow them On the floor were pile,
cord after cord of neatly arranged bones
surmounted by pedestals Of skull
propped up by the more distinguished
monks, clad in brown cowls and moth
eaten cassocks. From the ceiling wer
suspended clocks and chandeliers an
hanging baskets made of connecting
bones; the walls were covere
with curious ornaments more repul
sive than picturesque-center pieces G
leg bones bordered with radiating rib
and spinal joints; arches and pillar
covered with twisted vertebr@; bas-re
iefs of knee caps and ankles represent
ing historical and legendary figures
No less than 5000 good old monks hav
contributed their anatomy to build u
''this bony framework" as Hawthorne
called it, and one cannot blame the in
quisihve if irreverent New Englande
who wondered how they would fin
themselves and pull each together whe
the last trumpet sounds!
| After time the living monk reap
pearN. was glad to see him. wa
lonesome without him. Picking up
dusty old thigh bone that had apparent
~ seen good many years of service
but now seemed to be of no practice
use to any one, I asked for it as an ad
dition to my museum, But the dread
J full look of horror that met my propo
sal induced me to replace it instante1
as somewhat stingy operation O
his part-as If he couldn't spare poun
or two of monk from such q stock.
suppose if Adam had happened in an
inquired for rib to replace the one h
lent Eve, he too, would have been re
fused!
| The Cappuccini Monastery is not tn
only place, however, where "the I'M
feshed skeleton" may be seen. All til
saints of renown are on view somewher
in the old world, and with commend
able iberality the good men have dis
tributed themselves around for til
benefit of humanity. st. Matthew rest
/ 4 . 4 Il