The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-21

which arc attached 10 tho wa1sof the celia,
or intcrior tenplc. while ten form tho por-
tico Tho nroportions are perfect, aud the
er,,.r,cnfs az the cornico and the frieze are
ov,,isi.e Cardinal AlborOnl said that TINS
relic Of antiquity deserved gold oase' ana
Napoleon proposed TO carry IL on stone Oy
stone and set il up at Versailles as II suen
dissertation would not have ruined X
Near by stands tho arena, Roman anpni-
Theatre. resembling the Colosseum and quite
az uerfect. though only one-fourth tho size
II mnst have held 1900 people, however,
when filled and there are thirty-two rows OF
so,ts divided into four sections, the lowest
bsirg for the dignitaries ami their families,
The next for the patricians. Still higher SAT
tba common PEOPLE, aud highest u all tho
sieves The stones Of which 1t Is built are
enormous lail one upon another without
any cement The dungeons for captives anu
the nlaces Where wild beasts were confined
are still there.
We saw recently striking painting OF
Christian family being led forth from just
snch II cell up tne s,oue steps from the darA'
ness below into the light and roar OF the
arena above. whose crowded seats are Just
visible. all tlirsting for tho victims blood
Tho mother falls back fainting, but the cdii-
dran are led on. We stood where the very
rronn miqht have stood. and fancy easily
bron,i,. baci, the scene or course, martyr
5on,e I...a fnis occurred but seldom. while the
b,-,f,r radiator combats formed the staple
Amusement ~ the arena, the Joy aud re'rea-
ton Of the Roman populace that niiea tneae
streets 900 years ago
TO nav mind the most impressive ruin in
Nismes IS the SO called Tour Nasne, which
stands a little apart from the city upon a
SLIGHT hill. Antquarians have been much
divided I'M opinion as to its nature, whether a
tomb watch tower or fertilization. It
was most probably a tomb. A most melan-
cno.y aud imposing pile, utterly alone and
desoiat.. it looks out over the surrounding
country landmark from afar. It Is about
f90 feet hieh. octag0nal in form above aud
six sided nc the larger base. The sarcopnaSus
that must have stood within ana tho bones
Inferred thus magnIfceutly disappeared ages
ago.
The people Of Nismes utilize the arena for
sports. actually holding bull fights there
I once IA year. IN MAY, bull fights 20 which tho
renowned "torad0rosn Of Spain condescend
to come. and among tue relics OF antiquity
they have one that their little guide book
J. des,ruatcs as their pet A pei, ruin. How
cbarmiucl This one is called Diana's temple,
q pretty. ivy covered cluster Of broken
arches and cells In reality it was Roman
bath. "a Nymphia. but the Nimois do not
thank the savants for telling them 50; they
insist tuat il was temple, and show the
place where Dana's statue stood, and whers
the priest concealed himself TO make the
goddess speak We listened grayely, and be.
heyei aud paid the pretty girl who showed
tue place Believing is 50 much more
amiablo than doubling We even gave
credit to the little book above referred u
when il said that Nismes was built like
Rome on seven hills, though tie only hill
that wo can nud is that OK tho Tour Magne,
and when looked down from tho top Of the
tower the city lay before Us as nat as a
checkerboard. Cor. San Francisco Chron'
icle