The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-26

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tho ancient Salmona palace, which
crowns tho Nlolliha rocks to tho north,
west. And where tho little Island Of
Gzcier, Ike q bit OF tho cliiGs tumblcd
into tho sea, at tho north showed Its
sallrony surface between the blue OF the
bay and tho sapphire OF the sea, they
flooded tho great statue OF tho saint
with such transccndent, shine mud
seeming that tho quickoncd Z; fancy, for
M instant Mt least, swept across the
centuries and baskod in thoTery pres.
cnce OF that far and mighty soul.
LOVED TRADITIONS. g.
A winding road skirts the beautiful
bay. An ancient wall half hidden with
shrubs and flowers form a boundary
with second pleasant roadway behind.
Tho fishermen with their, nets, somo
donkcys grazing ut the edge OF tho hill
slopes, scagulls in countless numbers,
aud half.nakcd Ind urging a!onG herd
OF goats with rocks and pebbles, were
the only living things in view. Soon a
kindly-faccd priest joined me-, Wewap.
dered down thcroad together. ! He lad
como with the key Of the littlochapel
which Is set on that point OF. the shore
on which tradition holds Pauls bark
was wrecked. 5..
1t is q tiny chapel with an interior OF
utmost simplicity; but thrceiot its pic
lures, whose subjects arc the shipwrcck,
tho miracle Of the, viper, and the heal.
ing OF Publius's father, are remarkable,
while tho yearly votiyo offerings, tho
good father told me, wero very great.
The priests adios ind blessings fol-
lowed mo from the place, and as |
turned my steps toward ancient Citta
Vecchia, tho last object in St. Paul s
bay my eyes rested upon was tho ledge
OF struggling rocks "whcre tho two,seas
met" 1t was trimmed with Il simmer
OF glistening ripplcs as tiny, shining and
slumberous as though but echoing the
dreamful songs of sirens inviting to a
haven OF endless sleep. t.h! -
High upon ahill seven miles to tho
southwest OF Veletta stands Citta Vec.
CHA, the walled capital Of the Island be-
fore Grand Master John do Falettc
built thesplendil citywhich now crbwns
Mount Scnberras. AT the beginning OF
tho Christian era it contained the house
OF the "chicf man OF tho island" who SO
"courteously entreated" the shipwreck-
cd Paul. Its, Cathedral OF st. Paul had
its traditional origin ;duringLthc three
months residence Of tho Apostle, as
Publius is said to have given a7portion
OF his own palace asa site for. the first
church and to have OBLIGATED in it MS
Nlalta's first bishop.
That was long time ago; but tho an
tiquatcd characterof tho city%draws one
kindly to these old and loved >tradi-
TONS. Seen from q distance, its mighty
walls, cumbrous structures, flat roofs,
vast palaces and immense domcs, rising
like some far and fanciful mountain OF
dream-built,cubes, pillars, arches and
Gaping domesT1nloc 1.-THE. most i'm
press!ve structural perspective in
Europe. When Nalcttn was built the
former grandeur OF Cittu Vecchia de-
parted. BY and by the great mansions
were Transformed into seminaries,
monasteries and converts, and thus
they remain Its tremendous walls
shut in few others than monks, religious
students, nuns and novitiatea. The
great statue OF Juno, queen OF all tho
gods who presided over marriage, which
is embedded in the main gateway, seem.
strangely ouEof place as thcJescutcheon
OF city OF religious REFUSES ~
The buildings are massive, ashen-
colored by time, and strangely silent,
The streets are narrow, shadowful and
still. The great dungeons beneath the
huge sanitorium, once the palace OF the
Giurat!, or the three magistrates, OF the
city, are no more palpablc,witll silence
than are these higl-walled narrow
streets. No sound is heard save the
changing OF bells rs tho call to, endless
dcvo!ions. Then the thorougEfares arc
suddenly filled with bowed and dark
robed figures for a moment. and again
as suddenly become liicless, dark and
still. ~,
= TIIEcATAco,tDs.. ~, :. *,
The catacoribs beneath Cittu: Vecchia
and tho prehistoric r0Gk-hown tombs Of
Mnaidra are almost a. welcome relief
FROM the solelnnity and solemn shades
OF this old place. Tho passages and
chambers OF the misunderstanding
mural decoration, but they are OF the
same character as those atSyracuse and
arc much larger than any, single OK
amplcs to be found ut Rome, IsThey are
hcWn out OF the soft stratulnTot the
upper limestone on which Citta yecchiu
stands. Gourcach them. through per.
pendicular shaft, and fow steps bring
you into perfect maze of'tunncls lead
ing i'll every direction, with crypts on
each side and at every possible level.
These tunnels aud their branch tun.
nols seem interminablc. [ counted up.
wards OF 500 separate scpulchres, and
there arc no doubt many thousands
Ono passage OF. gallery OF very large
proportions was found which opened
4 into capacious squares chambers,
where the cryptsawcre cushioned rs
though for the more distinguished dead
Their proportions were more ample,
and they wore better formed in every
respect. LII many. 4 rest for the head
and neck was raised and followed in
excellent contour; and by the side Of
others were cxcaratel inches for urns
and the lamp for votive and other sep.
ulchral offices. ,e3S H"sail
.a4 ~ ANCIENT RELICS.
However ancient was tho race that OK
cavated or required such vast area iol
burial, it is certain that these crypts
were equally as extensive in tho days o.
tho Romans, 1000 years ago. They arc
completely barren OF lall remains, as
they were for q long time used as'dbodc;
iof. the living, tho primitive Christians
having fled TO them Tor refuge; and
! they have been on various occasions
the abodes OF the early Maltese when
flying from the swords OF tho Goth, Van
Dial, Moor and Turk. No one has ever