Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-08

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ROME, February IL, 1855.
The carnival has begun, and each day
tlse people seem to get more into the
spirit Of it. So far the chief amuse-
xents have been masked balls at the
3heatrcs, fair. and Examinations for
The popalace At the Piazza Navona, pro-
menading masked or unnaasked in the
Corso. and the throwing Of coriandoh.
Thcfc little hollow balls Of plaster,
about the size OF pea, which burst
when they Gall and scatter clouds OF
dust over the persons who are hit. have
taken the place Of the colorcd comtts
81 years ago, and are only permitted to
be thrown on the first day or two
Of tho carnival. Many temporary bal
comics and stands have been erected IN
che Corso and decorated prettily. The
royal one Is in scarlet and white. an
ether is in sea-wecd and coral, and an
ether displays the American flag. and
the whole length Of the street is as
bright as variety Of colors can make
il. Yesterday party Of ladies and
gentlemen occupied the royal balcony.
and showercd some bushels Of corian-
doll and scores OF bouquets on the peo-
pie below. and in retarn received some
back but as they were high up they
were not very easily reached. No car
riagcs were allowed, and the Corso was
thronged with walkers, though il was a
work OF peril to pass the coriandoli.
Among others less noticeable, tall, we'll
dressed man tried to cross the street.
perhaps thinking he would escape re-
mark and attention; but masker,
dressed as a young lady, sprang up
with agility and threw apair ofspindle-
like arms round his neck. As soon as
the daring adventurer had discntangled
himself four young men IN tbs royal
balcony we're ready for him and show
cred down scoops Of coriandoli IN sue
eession. giving him parting shot as he
disappeared in the distance.
THE MORE REFINED FEATURES.
This laughtcr-provoking but notvery
elegant amusement has now ceased,
ard this afternoon the more refined ones
begin. Rugantino, the traditional Ro-
man harlequin, went in state to meet
those who were coming from other
cities with ornamental cars to join in
the carnival and compete for the prizes.
lie was escorted by mounted guard in
old Roman costume. and by several
friends in gilt carriages Of the last CEN
tury, and seen under the Examinations
and Bengal lights the cavalcade was
success as theatrical exhibition.
have been several times to the Sis
tine chapel to see the famous frescoes
Of Michael Angelo. The entrance to
the Vatican palace is protected by the
Swiss Guards, who are stationed within
the great bronze door and at the foot
Of the grand staircase. This high fight
Of broad, shallow steps, as well as 9TH
ers. has to be mounted, and neither the
beauty Of the carold ceiling and walls
nor any genuine tourist enthusiasm can
lessen the fatigue Of the ascent. Atmy
first visit ! had the chapel to myself
except for the company of the custo-
dian and one of the huge cats in which
Rome abounds; at the following ones
there was constant stream of visitors
Of all nations. A space the whole length
of the ceiling is divided into compart-
ments in which Old Testament history
from the creation EDWARDS is por-
trayed; in vaulting at the sides and
ends are the prophets and sibyls, and
in the surrounding lunettes and arches
are scenes from the lives Of the ances-
tors Of our Saviour. ] should hardly
call it beautiful from a mere sight-seer's
point Of view. The difficulty in getting
q good position to examine each part,
and the still greater difficulty of seeing
the effect Of the whole, lessen its super
fetal value, but from an artistic stand
point nothing surpasses it that ] have
seen.
GRANDEUR.
Grandeur and majesty in the repre-
sentation Of the Almighty, grace and
dignity in the female figure, and earnest
ness and inspiration in the prophets
and sibyls are the most striking points
at the first inspection; then come
scenes of the tenderness of home-life,
the execution Of justice, a multitude
gone astray and suffering a terrible
penalty, and the triumph which only
patriotic daring can achieves
THE LAST JUDGMENT.
On the east wall Michael Angelo
painted his Last Judgment" now de-
faced by time and ignorance, and the
ghost Of what it was when fresh from
his hands. Ii has blue ground, and
on this groups of angels hover above.
Christ, surrounded by saints and apos-
ties, is in the middle the dead are
rising. and below, in terrible ghastli-
ness, is the bottomless pit. These pic
lures are said bycritics to be wonders of
symmetrical arrangement in design, Of
compactness of thought and skill in de-
picting the human figure in the many
twists and turns Of which it is capable;
hut it takes great deal Of study to find
out where these qualities lie. What inn
presses the mind Of the tourist when the
chapel is under examination, and his
neck aches with gazing up at the ceiling
and his head is SO heavy that he almost
wishes it would drop off, and only
kind Of religious awe induces him to
perseyere, is that he feels himself in the
presence Of vast company who are
affected by the strongest. and grandest,
and deepest emotions that ever actuated
men on earth, or the sublimest Of
beings in Heaven, and not as the mere
ideal creations Of genius, but as a
living, impelling reality.
On Saturday ] was lucky enough TO
have ticket for the Sistine chapel,
when requiem was sung for the soul
Of Plus IN, the late Pope. We en-
$cred NV the hrorze daor whera the