The Bossier banner., 1886-07-29
A RARE SIGHT.
The Church of the Capuchins at Rome snd
Its Strange Cemetery.


Its Strange Cemetery.
Some things are done in Rome in
way that would seem strange enough
to the good people of other countries.
Let me give you an instance. At the
end of the Wis Capuccini stands the
little old church of the Capuchin monks,
church of plain exterior, but rich
within with marbles and paintings.
Here is the celebrated St. Michael by
Guido, figure known in every Chris
tian land by the aid of engraving and
photography. But it is not of St.
Michael that wish to tell you; it is of
the good brethren of the Capuchin
order, that now are with the saints, we
trust. Under this church is their
burial place, and their place of resur-
rection, too-a temporary resurrection
before the final one. 70 see that this
is properly done is the duty of the liy-
ing members, not merely their burying
but their rising again, to be clad in
their monkish garb and placed in the
niche to which they are entitled ac-
cording to date and regularly estab-
lished order.
When in the church 60 to the left
hand corner near the great altar and
by high railing that shuts you from
the dimly-lighted side chapefs, you will
see bell-rope, pull it. Not always the
safe thing to do, but here entirely SO.
Soon will appear behind the railing a
snuff-colored old gentleman-little
black cap like bowl, fitting tightly to
the back of his head, feet in sandals, all
the rest of him enshrouded in dingy
brown-ask to see the cemetery of the
brethren and he will bid you meet him
at side basement door outside of the
church.; here. after waiting few
minutes, you will hear the key rafting
| in lock venerable with the dust of
ages; the door opens, the monk steps
| aside and you pass in and down little
narrow stairway into long corridor.
| from which opens series OF rooms.
These rooms are small burial plats.
The floor is soft brown earth and
smooth as floor; with rows of cypress
twigs planted at the head of the many
graves. All the furniture and adorn-
ments of these rooms are made of
human bones-bones of departed
Capuchins. The candelabrum hanging
in each room is from head, finger
and arm bones. Amy one who has
visited an arsenal will remember how
sabers, bayonets, pistols and the various
| implements of destruction are woven
into decorative wall designs, rosettes,
| stars and the like. Let him but imag-
inc human bones so used and he may
call up picture of the ghastly mural
decorations of this strange place. where
scarce space on either wall or ceiling
is not embossed with some tasteful de-
sign constructed from the three hup-
dred and odd bones that go to the max
ing of our anatomy. Anyone who
doubts the picturesque and decorative
qualities latent in human skeleton
should visit the cemetery of the Capu-
chins.
| Every alcove or niche, and there are
many, is occupied by the skeleton OF q
long-since departed Capuchin, dressed
in the garb of the order, their cowls
falling forward over the grim skull
The effect is heightened by scraps O.
hair and beard still clinging to the
skull and jaws. The order of promo.
tion, or rotation, is as follows: Shoulc
one of the brethren die, the groun6
being full, then the one who has beer
the longest time in the ground is taker
up and dressed, and the brother who i.
the oldest occupant of niche has Il
give way for the new conner, who takes
his place in the niche, the old ont
being dismantled and his bones dis
tributed among the thousands that g
to the wall building and decoration O
the place. He has had his day, ant
has thus suddenly been merged in thu
general whole.
Many of the skeleton statues hold be
tween their bony fingers a card OF
which is written name and date. Some
if they state the truth, have been 81
held for more than century.
These rooms, while not altogethe
cheerful, yet are so grotesque and 50
, decorative in their furniture and up
holstery that the impression made is b.
! no means so awesome as one woul'
suppose; and, strange TO say, there j
; no charnel-house odor about them
This is explained by the fact that tn
ground.in which the monks lie burie
is holy earth brought from Jel lusalem
and that it absorbs all the impuritie
that might otherwise prove offensive
If this be reallyso there are other part
of Rome that should be sprinkled wit
little of it.
AS you pass from these dimly-hghte
chambers of death to the light of day
small coin, dropped in the hand c
the good brother at the door will nc
, be taken amiss, nor are you likely eve
I to regret either the time or none
. given for so rare an experience Rom
Cor. Detroit Free Press.
"A pastor of one of the Souther
Illinois churches is authority for th
following: His superintendent ofte
; visits a colored Sunday school in th
city to advise and assist them in the
: work. A recent Sabbath afternoon b
? spoke to them of the Congo missio
! and endeavored to rouse their interes
in its behalf His success was phenon
} email. A short time afterward one {
/ his auditors met him, when the follow
: ing ensued: "Mr. -, Use been tlnkil
5 bout dat Conger mishun, and Use g
: in dar. I wrote John A. Logan to e
me a pass dar.' Ibid you get itp
{ questioned the superintendent. 81
\ said no D pervishun had been made, b.