The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-23

IN the fun glare OF the midday sun. We
scarcely thought at all OF the uncomforta-
bic nature OF the trip a~foot. and We did
not wish to ride.
THE cATAcoMB REACHED.
The classical character OK the surround
ings, the time-honored, the sacred. and
historic destination In view, caused US
TO plOd along leisurely and contentedly,
engrOsscd III our thoughts.
AT O'CLOCK j.. NJ, another stage OF our
excursion was rccaned. We sat down
looking like dusty, travei-stained pilgrims,
at a stout, secure gate, built in a stone
wall. An inscription over the top told
that IL vas the entrance TO the field. or
vineyard, or farm, as IT may Be. in which
was the opening to TIE great "Catacombe
di 81 CalllstO'-"S<. CaliKtus." Alter
resting few minutes in the shade or
tho old wall, we arose. and taking hold
OF q large. rusty, antique iron knocker
that was fastened about the centre OF
the strong and massive gate, began to
clap II in manner sufficiently b0isteFous
ana loud 10 wake up the porter no mat
ter how sound asleep ne might be. We
ala not wake him. or succeed in bringing
hin TO the gate. although we did continue
the Knocking long and loud, until 1t al
most seemed to US that the eyes in the
fierce grifnn-head on the ancient knocker
thicatcLingly glared upon us fO- breaking
tho dcath-likc stiffness Of the place. Not
meeting with any success in the knocking
br IL occurred 20 us to climb 10 the top Ct
the wall and make an observation. This We
succeeded in doing, but our trouble was
not rewarded there was not n living be-
ing in sight. or any visible catacOmbs;
but only a quiet vineyard, that looked
refreshingly green in the warm, lazy
sunlight. We sat on the wall a while,
awaiting developments. There were
none, so we descended 10 o.
had left. took short walk down the
road, and were returning to the gate,
when we saw a man rapidly approaching
from a field opposite. lie reached our
destination soon after we did He had
q large key ia his hand; he was the
custodian Of the catacomb. Opening the
gate and asking for our permit AT the
same time. we presented IT, ana entered
re holy precincts, beneath whose sur
face was the Oldest and most extensive OF
all those famous cemeteries. whose inter-
esting history Is now the common prop
erty Of the Christian world.
PENETRATED TIE GLOOM.
A walk OF a hundred yards from the
entrance brought US 10 the mouth Of
the catacomb, which was in a slight de-
preston OF the even sruface OF the
ground. Our cicerone. STOPPING raised.
with our aid, a heavy door that was
some four feet square, and together we
descended fifteen or sixteen feet to the
starting-point OF the singular and ap-
parently intorminaDIe underground city
Of the almost countess dead Our guide
produced several long waxen tapers light
Cd them and with quite a batch Of in
structions, handed Them 10 us, with
degree Of ceremony that would have been
the veriest mOckery IN the bright sunlight
in the green vineyard above us. win
our lighted tapers, we began 10 penetrate
the gloom and disturb the silence about
us. No noise of the outer world entered
this quiet, mysterious. retreat The very
stiffness was oppressive. The first light
(aruhciaD shed on the subject before US
and around us was from our nambeaus,
then our most lOquacious companion be-
gan his explanations, partly in English,
mostly In Italian. We besOught him 10
stick to the first; told him we were not
very brilliant, in the soft" Italian, while
we had been speaking the hard" Eng
lish for four decades. our clever col
league willingly attempted to comply with
our request. but we soon discovered
that his stock OF Anglo-Saxon did not
greatly exceed our supply Of his own
tongue and dialect, but We managed 20
get along fairly well. compromising upon
a mixed language. at least. temporarily.
The catacOmbs we were exploring were
excavated Ike all the others, by the
early Christians, who, during those dark
days of sore prosecutions, assembled IN
them to celebrate the mysteries OF re-
lglon, and dedicate themselves 10 prayer.
Here, also, they buried their dead. We
traversed innumerabo long and winding
ffFaf tYfaTceffal each other
running in every direction for miles and
miles. Sometimes they We're narrow
and tall, and again. broad and low, OF
every shape and size: dark and cool,
gloomy and silent. all sad and mysterious,
far away from the noise and hustle Of
the outer world. The sides OF these cor
ridOrs, the walls OF these labyrinthian
mazes, were all dug or scooped out, only
leaving their partitions between the hoi-
lowed spaces. resembling an immense
work. In these spaces were
deposited the bodies of the martyrs. and
near many of the remains were discover
ed the various and numerous instruments
Of their martyrdom, and also vases In
which their contemporaries and survivors
had collected their presious blood
We also noticed n number of inscrip-
lions. both In Latin and Greek. A few
Of these we recall, showing their general
tenor and character: Post cinies glo-
ria" "Spcs mea Christus." "Spera-
VI"
BACK To THE FIRST CENTURY.
Catholic writer's, whom we suppose 10
be the most accurate and authentic au-
thority on this subject assert that
dozen or more popes and abou 10000
Christians. were buried in this catacomb.
We were shown a number OF marble and
stone slabs. with the names OF the yari-
Gus martyrs who had been canonized en-
graved and cut on them. These slabs,
wsth their inscriptions, told Of the many
virtues. sunerings, ages, and dates OF
the deaths of those noble heroic men,
who died for their devotion. and faithful
adherence TO their conscience and their
faith. As We walked and CROPPED our
way along In the darkness and dampness.
with the yellow glare Of our torches
bat family lispeilng those deep shades
OF hroodiug stiffness, that no sunlight
ever illumined our mind could but owen
I'm solemn awe and reverential adm'ra-
ton upon the sad and devoted history OF
the 10000 who once had their homes ana
then their graves within the MYSTERIOUS
and quiet retreat, that gave
back no echo from the footballs Of our
steps.
The earliest record that We have of the
,atcombs and their original use dates as
far back as the first century OF. the pres
snt era. The sandy quality of the soil
caused the excavations 10 be made for
building purposes, and Afterwards these
excavations were used as secret habita-
tons by Christians, and then Tor burial
places. even down TO the thirteenth CEN
Jury. when the Pagans gave up burn
ne their dead, they began TO use these
galleries as well as the
Christians. and at ono tine they were
also used by the Jews. So, you VIII