Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-13
No. a
Letter from Abroad.

GRAND HOTEL De ROME, ROME Here
we are in far-away Italy, and We are seeing
so much. We were in Venice nearly week.
| Venice you know is built upon III islands
and nearly all of the streets arc simply canals
of water. There is not horse in the town;
all Of the traffic is doue 10y Gondolas. When
you come from the station you and your
baggage arc taken to the hotel in gondola;
If you arc building house the materials are
carried in a gondola; if you go for pleasure
drive gondola, is your carriage and II gon-
dolcir is your coachman and very pretty
picture indeed is the black painted boat ut
is q law, all must be black) and your w!ite-
dressed gondoler with red OF blue sash, col
lar and hat-band. 1t would be hard to find
more enjoyable thing than ride by moon.
light along the Grand Canale listening to the
strains of the sweetest music always to be
heard in Venice on the water. We were
there when the moon was FULL we planned
our trip for it. There is one large square in
Venice, the centre Cf all the business, at one
end is the church of st. Mark. For many
years it has been the custom TO let loose
pair of pigeons on Palm Sunday. No one
was allowed to kill them so you can imagine
how they multiplied. Up until the close Of
the republic, about 1847, they were fed by
the government, but since then by charity
and private subscription. One Of the things
to do in Venice is to feed the pigeons. Men
and boys stand about with little bags Of corn
to sell. They are 50 tame they will eat from
ones hand, and even fly on ones head.
We did not like Florence although we saw
some wonderful works Of art there, but
Rome! OH Rome is beautiful, such exquisite
fountains, so many, and each wonderful orig
inal works of art.
We have visited ruins nearly 1000 years
years old. and stood yesterday in the Pan
thcon which was built twenty yseven years
after Christ, and it is well preserved. 1t IS
now used as church and place Of burial
for Kings and Queens of Italy, We also
went into the prison where Peter and Paul
were imprisoned and their jailors becoming
converted released them. This morning we
were in the church of st. Peter. 1t cost
$15O000,000. In the church of St. Peter
there is a bronze statue OF st. Peter and the
bclleycrs have worn one foot away nearly
to the second joint of the Toe, and the other
is worn off below the first joint by kissing.
Little children were lifted up by ttelr par
ents to kiss the foot of this lifelcss statute.
Moses and the Golden Calf was nothing
compared to this In small church are a
flight of steps SAID to have been the steps
leading from the house of plate to the street
and down which Christ went with the crown
of thorns upon his head. When wereached
there, eight persons were going up those
steps on their knees, saying prayer on each
step. Every fourth step Is little brass
plate which as each person reached they
would wipe with their handkerchief kiss it,
rub their forehcals against aud kiss it again,
wipe it again and pass on TO the next.
There are twenty eight steps. For break
fast nothing is served but bread and butter,
jam or honey, tea and coffee. For lunch
and dinner wine or water must be taken, or
tea and coffee specially prepared. This is
the custom all over Europe.
H. Seton.