Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-25

A., Intelligence and amiability. A
hassre,;ef Of the head Of Aniinoos Of
Great beauty and in pure white marble
nth exquisite finish was carried of BY
Vsnoison l., but was returned at his
fsll I do not wonder that that rspa-
r;o,,s eonqueror laid hands on so many
bcant;fui things when he had the power,
for wish constantly that some ma
rauding American could come and do
the same. Just as we came out
Of the gate Of the Albani a pack oil
about twenty-five hounds passed. The
whip was dressed in pink and had an
unmistakable English face; and, indeed,
both hounds and attendants had geau-
inc imported look. hear the dogs
were brought over a few years ago to
give English visitors their fayorIte
amusement of fox-hunting, as many OF
the latter animals take refuge IN the Old
,ombs and tufa quarries Of the Gam
magma. though the sport afforded IS
much tanner than in England.
SAN LORENZO.
San Lorenzo, outside the walls and
through the Lorenzo gate, is an interest
ing double church. The later or upper
one has long, broad nave with twenty
two columns fanked by two aisles, and
is paved with mosaic Of the kind called
opus-Alcxandrian, which is made OF
minute pieces Of colored marble, stained
glass, and gold-leaf- arranged IN pat
terms. The flooring Of the east end is
much higher than that of the nave, and
is raised above the under church. the
galleries Of which appear to belong TO
the upper church, and are considered a
curiosity here, as only one other church
in Rome has them. The seats round this
chanceI come little below the capitals
of the very handsome columns of the
old church. which is reached by de-
scending fight Of steps. From below
the full height and beauty of these
columns are seen, and show that the
older building, dating from the sixth
century. would have been formidable
rival to modern ones had it been pre-
served intact. The sarcophagus of the
late Plus TX. is here, and is very plain
enc. This is according to his own Ill
rections. and slowed rs it is in niche
in this subterranean church outside the
walls of the pOntifical city, it seems
almost hidden away.
THE CATACoMBs.
The Catacombs are melancholy and
dreary places to visit, and can only be
of deep interest to antiquarians, his
torians. &c. A door in the wall OF the
Via Appia opens into place resem-
bling door-yard in the outskirts of a
great city. Descent is then made into
the regions of the dead, the sitting,
heavy air Expresses the breathing, and
getting light from the slimmest oil
tapers, which serve to show the dark
ness but not the numerous places where
it is easy to trip up, the visitor trayerscs
an endless succession of narrow passages
walled high up on both sides with tombs.
In many places there are inscriptions,
and here and there remains Of fresco
painting and glass collins covering the
undisturbed remains of skeletons nearly
1900 years ago. Some small chapels,
in which the old affairs still remain,
and where services are annually held,
give little more breathing room. and
occasionally an open shaft reaching to
the upper air sheds little daylight and
shows the great depth Of the passages
and the many rows Of tombs one below
the other. We assembled to the modern
world with the greatest satisfaction.
and left our guide in the lowest spirits
over our want of appreciation of the
sights he had TO show.
LENT.
Lent does not make as much differ.
ence to the gaiety of Rome as ] had ex-
pected. The hubbub of the carnival
has gone, and noted preachers are ia
be heard very often in the churches
but the streets are as lively as ever
and though balls have ceased, recep.
tons and other entertainments 90 on
with undated frequency. There has
been an influx Of strangers this week,
who have wisely come to Rome just
now when the spring is beginning to be