The Russellville Democrat., 1888-01-26
ROMAN CATAcoMRS.
ekeletons of Early Christians That Ar
 Even Now weiI Preserved.

skeletons of Early Christians That Are
 Even Now Well Preserved.
 The Roman catacombs are long and narrow passages or cross-galleries, ex- cayated in the bowels of the earth. in the hills outside and around the city. for the burial of the dead They are dark and gloomy, with only an occa- sional ray of light from above. The galleries have two or more stories, all filled with tombs; and form an in- tricate network or subterranean labyrinth. Small compartments (Lo- c,tLi) for the reception of the dead were cut out llke shelves in the per- pendicular walls, and rectangular chambers fcubicuya) for families or distinguished martyrs. They were closed with slab of marble or tile. The more wealthy were laid in sar- cophagi. The ceiling is flat some times slightly arched. Space was economzed so as to leave room usual ly only for single person. the aver age width of the passages being two and one-half feet. This economy may be traced to the poverty of the early Christians, and also to their strong sense of community in life and in death. The little oratories with altars and Episcopal choirs cut in the tufa are probably of later construction, and could accommodate only few per- sons at time. They were suited for funeral services and private devotions, but not for public worship.
 The furniture of the Catacombs is instructive and interesting, but most of it has been removed to churches and museums, and must be studied outside. Articles of ornament, rings, seals. bracelets, necklaces, mirrors, tooth-picks, ear picks, buckles brooches, rare coins, innumerable lamps of clay (terra-cotta) or of bronze (even of silver and amber) all sorts of tools, and in the case of chil- dren variety of playthings were in- closed with the dead. Many of these articles were carved with the mono gram of Christ or with other Christian symbols. (The lamps in Jewish cem- eteIies generally bear picture of the golden candlestick.)
 A great number of flasks and cups, with or without ornamentation, are graves and fastened 10 the grave-lids- These were formerly supposed to have been receptacles for tears, or, from the red, dried sediment in them, for the blood of martyrs. But later arcbeologists consider them drink ing vessels used m the agapm and oblations. A super stitious habit prevailed in the fourth century, although condemned by a council of Carthage (397) to give to the dead the oueharistic wine, or to put cup with the consecrated wine into the grave.
 The instruments of torture which the fertile imagination of credulous people had discovered and which were made 10 prove that almost every Christian buried in the Catacombs was a martyr, are simply implements of handicraft. The instinct of nature prompts the bereaved to deposit in the graves of their kindred and friends those things which were constantly nsed by them. The idea prevailed also, to large extent. that the future life was continuation of the occupa- tions and amusements of the present but free from sin and imperfection.
 On opening the graves the skeleton frequently appears even now very we'll preserved. sometimes in dazzling whiteness as covered with glisten- ing glory, but falls into dust at the touch. Prot Phtlip Sehaf tn Century.