New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-08
ola SETTIMANA SANTA"
HOW THE PRESENT WEEK is OBSERVED
IN ROME
SOLEMN NIGHT SCENE IN ST. PETERS-THE
MARVELLOUS VOICE OF THE ROMAN
ANGEL" AT ST. JOHN LATERAN's-
CLIMBING THE SACRED STAIR
wAY-THE QUEEN KNEELs
RESIDE A BEGGAR.


sands of persons from Protestant countries go there
| to witness the impressive ceremonies that attend
the close of the Lenten and the great fesu-
! val of Easter. The hotels are crowded with Tor
elgners the different types of humanity are readily
recognizable as they mngle with the dark haired
and dark skinned Italians in public places, ana IN
the Corso and other streets one hears confusing
mixture Of languages. The English tongue strik-
ingly predomnates, and one sees interminabie prl-
| gades Of American and British tourists. who nave
so arranged their Continental journey that they can
spend that week in Rome when there Is most to be
seen whom the weather Is almost invariably the best
of the whole year. and when all Italy is putting on
! its brilliant hues of spring. when the holy week
comes in Rome all nature seems TO burst fortn from
the chains of the dull winter; the sunshine dances
merrlly over the gloomy old palaces gstens on the
gilt and the stancdglas windows OF inc
legions of churches Eliminates the remotes corners
in the narrow streets Of Trastevere banshes the
damp musty smell from all the galleries ana
crypts. and smiles back at the city from the muddy
surface of the Tber 1t hastens toward the sea.
The Pincian and the Ganiculum put on once more
their glowing robes OF green: the Coliseum Is aiame
through all its vaults and crumbing terraces with
its thousands Of wild flowers: the Castelh Romani'
/ away off across the CampaSna. show themselves
again through the clear air of the sprngtirne' and
the odor of volets Is everywhere in the atmosphere
Of the city constant reminder that there mas come
once more ia Settmana Santa.
| The shops comparatively deserted. one misses
thu throngs Of idle promenalcrs in the street Inc
! villas are longer crowded with carriages Inc
social gayetes have come to full stop. II Is inc
period when the Romans themselves set aSue the
| routine Of their everyday existence and visit the
great temples and other places of interest whete'
ordinarily only the strangers in the city are TO DC
seen They decorate their parish churcnes ana
chapels inspect and aid the public institutions Oh
charity. make ys.,atious TO their faVorlte shrIn''
inside and outside the city walls attend the solemn
ceremonies I'm the huge cathedrals and at some hour
or other Of one Of the three days or all climb the
/ S,,la Santa on their knees. The great mobiles are
! seen driving in their gorgeous equpages from one
| church 10 another. Crowds Of wel-dressed people
on foot making the same round, ana the poorer
people and the peasants from the surrounding coun-
,rv ioin In the procession that moves from church
! 70 church.
The distinctly religious ceremonies begin on HOY
| Thursday. Each principal street in the Eternal
| city has several sacred cdfces. and the round OF
IN. allotted number OF churches-s"ven-ls or course
moro easily made there than elsewhere. There ar"
/ f.w Romans however who fail 70 include IN th'ir
lis, on. Of the three great bas.licas-St. Peters.
| sta Maria Magglore and san Giovanni Laterano.
: All AT different ends OF town. In each OF these
enormous temples there is held IN the late after
moons OF Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good
/ Friday tho solemn service % the Tonebrae or the
/ singing Of tn Lamentations Of jeremiah. The
chors II these churches. composed entirely OF maze
! voices are famous throughout the world large
/ orchestra accompanies the singers
Tn. services arc precisely the same in the three
/ , ,h, ts mn. = any. superlority IN
80, ~, ,r,,li,ior bou,ver
} aug W. - .h, tro,, .rbursdav Is
-, po,,~,s pe,lizing This
many foreigners are also attracted thither on that
day instead ~ to either ~ the other churches The
| throug be- consequently enormous. The huge temple
| tI ~, holitrc ro,rlv iooD uoople is crowded
! mi, D., ror.los Tho wide steps APPROACH
49,, 49, .,,,,,,.I ,,r,b r.onie and ina
| -. .,,,, ~, ,,,,, ts ,,,se.J In its ncares, par,
| 81, .i.,. ,,.,,b thousands IF waiting We
/ 49,, , .,.,, So, a. , h,,kgrounI Inside the
.. , -, ,r.,.s,r, and the deep
,. , ..,,c l.....,, from, the choir I'm a side
t,.., ga, .,.. t1. heads OF The human sea. Tn,
/ ,,. Milo 40, ,b, ,ri,rcle IN front Of the chapel
,.. no.. .,,,,......,..i .u. IA, ON. M Nh, close ~
/ . .-.,.f,, ..,...l. When throughout the
/ ....i ,.f .s,,,-,s pa. startling sound tha,
/ .t..,,. 3d., ,..~,. ~ "a. clements and the chaos
/ . 3D. ,,,.,.,,. - tho cru,inxta,, IN,
| 'i ''' WIN ' '' -, -. -, e..
last candle is "Nu"EIsn' anu ''', SCI -
! ,shrI Daylight Us almost gone. The priests. at
,,,,.t,,.. and choir r. ou, OF tho chapel and tn"
! church servants come from the sa'ri'V on either
Side bearing tall lighted tapers. They carry these
/ | .h ,. NV. ,brorrb IN. dense crowds
INV" "' .e.A ~, 49,, ,t,,,J
! lighting on the Wa huge torches that are placed
.t.'. n,,,,.. r,.n,. and sb,lows hero and there
'"' "','"7 ,t 3D. ,f,. r,of and
W.T." "'''p '"''' ''''"'".. III "''S 49,
dom" az d'"p in tsr.ness The white races "i 'he
waiting thousands add intense solerunlty to tn"
..... A.. .,...,.i ,-,,r ,b, ..,.ris,,.
'"'' may 49,, :, a.
/ - tn" 1.tlt under ~" great halpi''hW' III '''
miner g.. MR.. If IN. church. Through this marches
-, ~, ,.,.s... chanting tb. aunronri,t,
I'" ''N''' w I''' 'N =,
psalms. and lighted 1n their way 10y t'' 'N''i'S
.,rrl ly .i,rpli.e,l ,colvtcs The procession halts
,,... , H. -. ~, :, p,,.r..
NHI'r 'h' "'I''''i'''"' anu NV N'''''' 20 49, -
mounting tn low steps proceed To the altar. whch
. ..,i,,,,.l -, al h.. ,lnths and orulments The
, ,,..,i ,,,I.,r,,,c 81
altar u th'h "aSh'l an" ""o"''u' ''"u ''"" %
/ priests surrounding the spot continuing. meanwhile.
b :, a.. -. r,,,,.t v.bor This 500.
''F chanting o' '"' P''i"' i''U' -" W
vice Is concluded the procession leaves the chutVh
,s Il entered Tn, enormous congregation remains,
,t, ,,.,,,.i .,ho,r,l r,i,ir,,
however III inc "''"S "h"''" O' o
for the last ceremony OF the day In silence tha1
thrilnrly accentuaes the gloom Of the huge temple.