Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-09
The Charms Of Rome.
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY ONE MEETS IN THE
ETERNAL CITY.

The Charms 81 RO0aes
EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY ONE MEETS IN THE
KfERNAL CITY.
From one of Max Eliort's LestsrA
Rome Is the one spot on all this earth where q
non-peliever In Christianity would and bis views
baked by what seem unsurmountable evidence of
the truth that has been handed down from genera
ton to generation. In the city and outside Of its
walls there are structures, and monuments and
ruins that are pointed out as having existed or
been founded since such date BE-, or some other
date AID. A humorfst, and Of course an American,
tude INDUCED in by his kind for noting the ridicu-
lous in The most sublime object or fact, said that
Rome remin ded him OF the South OF to-day Every
thing In the grand OH city OF the popes dated from
before or after the coming OF Christ, while IN the
war OF the rebellion. 1t is true nevertheless that
what seemed In another world half legend
airy and mysterious in this old world assumes a
events connected with localities.
A born and bred Roman never entirely forsakes
fase h no ns M9at part , 81 me w0ro
It's decayed grandeur and dolce far niente once
knew little Roman maiden whose father had
family. He had married his model, who died In
giving birth to his daughter A portrait painted
Of the mother a year two before her death was
me the girls history. The painter. never very
strong OF robust, seemed 10 grieve so necessarily
for his pretty Italian wife that 1t thought by
his brother artists he would not long outlive her
HIS only pleasure was In their child, and he seemed
10 CriS along barely nOldlng on 10 the thread or
iife until she was verging into wOmanhOod; then,
as II having fulfilled his duty he passively slipped
away one spring morning, and the girl, a dainty,
delicate creature, with her mothers southern eyes
and ner fathers fair hair, was left alone in the
world. That Is, comparatively alone, tor there
was an aunt, sister Of the mother in the rcSpec-
table but lower walks OF life, living In Rome, while
In far-on England there was q fine old family who
had never forgiven the handsome son and
pride OF the household for marrying his
beautiful Italian model Death, however.
softens the hardest hearts, and soon after
the painters death a letter came from the artsto-
cratic and prominent old English family, with an
invitation from them TO the girl to come at once to
England, and they would provide for her, as her
station in life required she should live. For weeks
the girl struggled against the wishes OF her Italian
aunt 10 proceed to Engl land. Naturally the woman,
at heart a really good soul, saw The advantages 10
ages that would accrue 10 her niece II She re-
mained In Italy. AT last some friends of the girls
English relation, In passing through Rome, came
for her and carried her with them to that colder
and more gloomy Northern climate. The last
night before going away the girl persuaded her
aunt TO go to the fountain in Rome, where, II Is
said, II one throws penny into It's waters they
Will surely some day return. The aunt Scoffed at
the idea, but humored her niece'S within and went
creeping over the city. That was four years ago,
and but few months since the girl had her Wish
fulfilled and returned TO her beloved Rome. 1t was
only for a few brief weeks, however, as the frail
and delicate constitution inherited from her father
and the constant longing for her Italian home
while In England developed dread disease, which
TOOK her away from her sorrows In the very flush
grave In an English church-yard Is the line:
"AQed IQn