The Princeton union., 1890-08-21

I was 80 overcome chat could not
challenge his assumed right Of Join
ing our party In word, he had
completely magnetized and paralyz-
ed me. What was strange, from time
to time a lady Of our party turned
and chatted with me, apparently
unconscious Of the black figure and
terrible face intruded between us.
And again, when the guide counted
us aloud he called out five--the num-
Der Of our original party. He, too,
was then as unconscious Of the pres
ence of the stranger as the lady to
whom I have alluded. Was mad?
In this perturbed state of mind / be-
gan the descent OF the catacombs.
The stone staircase was spiral,
coiling down like a petrifed serpent,
along walls slimv and humid. We
had lighted our candles, but the
change from the glare of daylight to
this cavernous gloom prevented our
seeing any thing, and we had to grope
our perilous way. Suddenly an icy.
whisper, waited on a poisonous
breath, entered my ear Ikea pom
lard. .s 5.5
Strange things have happened in
the catacombs, sir. The dead resent.
intrusion on the last resting place
given them after the world has vio-
lated their first sanctuary. Some
times they insist on the living shar-
ing their hard bed with them. Some
men who have come down here have
never seen the pleasant light of day
again. ="
& believe, sir" / replied, in as in !
different a tone as / could assume,
that owing to the precautions of
the authorities no such accidents
have occurred Of late years.
8 am glad you think SO" was the
reply, followed by a sneering, Mep-
histophelianla laugh what the French
call ricanement.
A dead silence fell upon our party.
We were walking steadily onward,
sometimes walking on loose planks,
our weights sending upjets OF water,
but generally on a dry and solid
stone pathway.
The guide held up his faring torch
to the low ceiling.
aObserve," he said, ssthat broad,
black line, with here and there a
pointed arrow. This is the clew to
the catacombs. So long as we fol-
low that we are safe.''
We soon came upon the relics of
the dead. The galleries through
which we passed, about nine feet in
height, were walled on either side
with human bones, piled up as regu-
larly as balesin a wholesale draper S,
and arranged with that artistic
taste which the French display in all
they do.
The walls of bones were surmount-
ed by a CHASTITY cornice Of grinning
skulls. The mortal remains Of mill
ions Of human beings were here.
gathered from the old cemeteries of
Paris when necessity compelled the
dead to give way to the living.
The Cemetery of the Innocents,
that of ST. Medaro, of St. Laurent
and Others have contributed their
quota. Here the bone of prelate
and prince, duke and peer, lay side.
by side with those of peasant and
proletarian, thief and rag picker.
Equality and fraternity! These
words were fully realized in this
gloomy mausoleum.
All the skulls and bones are Of a
dark mahogany color, for years and
years have passed since they were
clothed with flesh.
Atintervals there are marble tablets
with Inscriptions in Latin, French,
Greek, Morse and other. languages,
gathered from the works Of preachers
and poets, speaking of the vanity Of.
human pursuits, the worthlessnesso sof
wealth, the Ger tainty Of death, the.
hope Of Immortality. At one point
of our pilgrimage we came to a chapel
with the altar surrounded by the ST.
lent but eloquent memorials Of hui
manity. Miles Of the dead! How
emphatic the lesson this spectacle
conveyed!
To the right and left innumerable#
galleries branched off, access being
debarred by iron chains drawn across
the entrances.
! had fingered a little behind my
party to transcribe an inscription,
the man in black keeping close to my
side. He seemed to have taken me
under his protection and patronage.
d ! can show you something these
hireling guides know othing about" !"
he said, For alone know the Sc
crets of the Catac combs. r
He lifted one of the chains which
crossed the mouth ola side gallery
from the staples, and moving down
the passage turned and said, Fol
low me"
have said that this mysterious
being had magnetized me, was
certain Of it now, for though I was
fanxiously desirous of following my
/ party I could not resist his COM
mand.
He led me away down the passage.
and thence into other side passages,
| winding and burning. / lifted my
3lf II u 4 81.