Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-05-07

of Wailing) outside. Through this mar
row aperture prisoners were led, or
pulled up. rather. TO the winding stairs
leading 10 the tribunals in the capitol
above. Through this same narrow APP
crturc the bodies Of prisoners executed
in the lower dungeon, or Tullianum.
were hauled up with "A rope and east on
the ScaiG GcmoHio, lying exposed
there for some time before being thrown
into the Tiber
Yes, it is all fcarfully real. And now
we turn to 90 down to the Tullianum
itself the abode of Peter and Paul dur
ing the interval between their condem-
nation to death and cXccut on. Eleven
steps lead down to it. A brick floor Of
the seventh century has replaced the
ancient rude and filthy level into which
the condemned were lowered through
the corresponding manholos in the cell
ings overhead. In the wall is a tablet
Of gilt bronze representing the baptism
by 81. Peter of the officers, Proccssus and
hartman, together with their compan-
ions, which took place on the very last
night the apostle spent on earth. 1t is
no ideal or fancy sketch. The officers
are hnecling by the side of a gushing
spring on the floor. and the apostle.
with chained hands, stoopS to admins
ter the sacred rite. The soldiers of the
guard are waiting for their turn in the
background.
Look! At your feet is the identical
spring of pure living water. The guide
lifts off the lid Of the tank and you see
the water bubblng up. A pipe drains
it of to the neighboriug Cloaca Max
ina They say that the spring gushed
forth at Peters prayer. Why not2 In
Jerusalem, at the very outset of ms Ia
bors, his shadow as he passed through
the streets, suIliccd TO cure all forms Of
disease. What could Christ refuse to
his prayer, when he stood, at the gate
of paradise, ready to be cruciiied like
his Master, and for that Master name?
Now examine every party of this
dark dungeon this hallowed spot,
rather See. here are some Of the
iron fixtures which held the condemned
forcibly in an upright posture till the
end came for them Shall say that here
+ Cicero had executed the companions
of Catilinc; that here Caesar command
F ed TO bc ANONYMOUSLY slain the heroic
Vcrcingetorcx, that Gael whose only
crime was 70 love the independence Of
/ his native land? Hcrc, too Jugurtha
/ per shed, and many others But must
not mix up these profanc memories
with that of the two great apostles.
From here they were taken to the
upper prison, and through that opening
i'm the rocky wallto the Scale Economic
on their way TO execution. Let Us fol-
low them to the top Of the Capitolinc
platform. TO our right as we turn
southwark rises on %. q r.m... ~
the NIL the g.-I<Ting marble mass Of
the temp-ItN Jupiter. Look across that
Near1r Shining palaces and across the
>Load Tiber to where, on the Vatican,
stands Nero palace, with hi, gardens
and hi, circus. Where now stands the
Ba,ilica of St. Peters. with its colon
made and the palace Of the popts
Follow the crest of the hill from the
Vatican southwark TO that point on the
Jauiculum whore is now St Peters in
Montoro- thithcr Peter is led through
Rome and across the Tiber to die.
No wonder that IN that church Ireland's
eNlcj princes the ONeill and the
O'Donncll-shoud have asked to be
buried.
And now. from the broad platform
Of the capitol, turn your eyes to the
left across the Palatine and the Avcn-
tine to where the O,tia gate and the
road leading to the then great port at
he mouth OF the Tibor issues from il.
There Paul is 10 be bchcadpd Through
the long lines of the palaces of the
Caesar, and the magnificent streets and
suburbs the most eloquent interpreter
OF the new religion is led amid SCOTS
and insults TO die.
Aye. bat from their blood Christianity
sprang up. In few years Nero own
body was to be cast, naked, unbaried
for days, on the spot on which we stand
of the Scale Economic.
Before we descend look at that Won
cradle church and monastery -
Cell. in which rest the ashes
mother Of Constantine. built 4
very spot to our right once ON
10y the temple of Capitoline JuB
Church and monastery have been
seized by the Piodmoutc,c goyerny
and are to bc demolished 10 make -
for "a grand monument in honor OF Vic
tor Emmanuel.
All, well. the ruins Of the Capitol