Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-02

= ~ AoAAnAAi VI 1hE .hlNGs Of 1fALf-1ls
4 NATIVE SHREWDNEss -EHE eQUEEN IN
HER ROUND OF CHARrrIEs--THE PAN
! THEoN-ToMB OF VIcFoR EMMANp pEL-
LIGHT THE GREAT. BRAUTIFIERI Nor
LESS RELIeIoUsswHEN II is. NOT DIM
| NEWLY, DISCOVERED STATUES OF THE
l. VEsTAI- VIRGINS COLISEUM AND
| ITS ANNUAL ILLUMINATIoN-THEw WEIRD
EFFECT loFTHE SUDDEN REPUTATION
| NAPLES AND, IT'S SANITARY CONDITION
| THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE FoUN-
TAINs-THE PROPOSED SYSTEM OF SEW
| ERAGE-VEsUvIUs, QUIETLY SMOKING AT
HER EASE. 9ster $50 as Il ytlo q.
l4Isaeg - GRAND HOTEL MOBILIZE
i--~ ~ NAPLES, May 1, 1886.
The most popular man in Italy to-day is
the King. No statesman shares with him
the confidence and affection of the people
The other day l noticed stir in and about
| the great doorway of the Hotel de Londres
in Rome, where l was stopping. Heads
were barred on all Sides Everybody in
sight was bowling profoundly. In front of
the hotel stood common open carriage
with two horses, simply caparisoned, and
driver in sombre livery. A tall handsome
officer of high rank, splendidly attired, sat
on the left side of the vehicle. The rest of
the seat was occupied by stout, middle
aged man in citizens clothes. His cheek
bones were high, his lower jaw was massive,
his moustache iron-gray, and, as he kept
up constant motion of doffing and re-
placing his hat, I remarked broad fore
head crowned with hair thick and brlst-
ling. He looked just enough like the por-
traits Of Humbert the First to convince me
that he was the King of Italy. And so it
proved. He had called at the Hotel de
Londres to visit the German Princess
Maria, who had a suite of rooms at the
house. This lady is the widow of the
| ''Red Prince" Frederick Charles. She
happened to be out at the time, and so the
King did not alight but drove away in his
modest turnout, receiving from all persons
in the Piazza di Spagna the most respectful
| salutation. Drivers of carriages on hire,
and even beggars at the street corners,
were greeted by him as courteouslv as the
Roman mobiles who dashed past him in
equipages far more snowy than his own
The day previous to this visit he had made
return call on Prince Fushimy of Japan
at the same hotel. Though politeness costs
nothing it goes far to make King Humbert
as with the Italian people. That policy OF
Italy which has made friends of every
nation in Europe is dictated by the King,
and represents not only his considerate
politepess but his native shrewdness The
courage which he showed at Naples during
the last cholera epidemic was only one of
numerous Instances proving his devotion to
the welfare of his constitutional subjects
His Queen-the ''PearI of Savoy''-is not
less successful, in winning hearts. She is
fine looking blonde, an accomplished whip,
the patroness of unnumbered charities, and
as courteous as her lord. The position of
the royal pair in Italy is as secure as that
of Queen Victoria or the Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales in England, or the Emperor
Franz Josef and his consort in Austria
Visiting the Pantheon recently, I saw,
just as cid three years ago. many people
standing Ill front of the tomb of the late
Victor Emmanuel. They were mostly
Italians, by whom the memory of the man
who made their country one is almost wor-
SHIPPED. Hundreds of wreaths of immor-
telles and other flowers are hung around
and above the tomb. These come from all
the secular universities, academies and pub
lie institutions of Italy, and also from pri-
vate hands. They are renewed from time
to time and look beautifully fresh. Long
streamers Of silk or satin attached to the
floral offerings bear inscriptions eulogistic
of u Re Galontuona. In large book
which lies open visitors voluntarily enter
their names Hundred of thousands have
thus been registered since the mortal re-
mains of Victor Emmanuel were here en-
shrined. There could be no grander maui
soleum than the Pantheon. 1t is the best |
preserved of all the great edifices of ancient
Rome-identified not only with the might
lest power of the Old World, but with the |
rise and progress of Christianity. No
longer a Pagan temple, but Christian |
church, it is the proper resting place
of the unifier of Italy. Although the |
relations between the Quirinal and the
Vatican have been much strained ever |
since tie Pope lost his temporal sovereign |
ty, it is not impossible that, some day. the |
Roman Catholic Church will be proud that
she holds within her cOnsecrated Pantheon |
the ashes of the King who was still her son. |
At the Pantheon, as at st. Peters, l am |
always struck with the magnificent effect |
of the admission of pure sunlight, free from
the intervention of stained glass. The sole
illumination of the Pantheon, you know,
comes from great circular hole in the
dome. 1t admits the rain, which leaves |
round wet place on the strong floor beneath. |
But there is still ample room for the free |
movement of the crowds that come and go,
without dampening their feet. Majestic as
is the dome that rises in its perfect |
curve to height of 140 feet above the floor,
it impresses the beholder even less than the |
sight of the distant blue concave which he
sees through that immense opening. As
for the details of the interior, they appear |
in the flood of daylight in all their richness |
and safr Of 7 Lx,~ foI
lows that a religious light" should be
''dim.'' St. Peters and the Pantheon tri-
umphantly refute that too prevalent notion. |
None of my guide -books-even the most |
recent in date-give any description of some
remarkable and interesting statues and |
pedestals which have been brought to light |
within year. The images are life sized |
sculptures of what might be called "lady |
superiors" of the Vestal Virgins. No one
of whom l inquired could tell me where
they were. But | found them for myself
in an open excavated space not far from the
Zero Romano. Two or three of the statues
are almost perfect. They are marble, ex-
quisitely chiseled, and are doubtless good
resemblances of the distinguished origi-
mails. Though vestal virgins, they have a
matronly look. They were evidently wo-
men of intellectual ability, also of high So
cial rank.
They seem born to command. Their
main attire was the full graceful robe, uni
versally worn in their day. Five or six
thick fillets bound about their foreheads,
covering also part of their hair, reminded
me of a badge almost similar worn by nuns
of various orders in the Roman Catholic |
Church. But, though their dress was all
simplicity and modesty, their bearing was
anything but humble. The whole express
sion of face and form was one of intense self
satisfaction and pride. The pedestals to
which these statues once belonged have
been mostly recovered in fine condition.
They bear warm tributes to the many virtues
of the illustrious ladies whom they COM
memorate. And yet history tells us that
the Vestal virgins had seats of honor near
the Caesars in the Colosseum, and looked On
without pity while Christians were devoured
in the arena by wild beasts, and that no
spectators were more heartless than they |
when the fallen gladiators looked up to
their box for the signal of mercy which |
should save them from the victor's sword |
At least once year that dreadful old ru-