Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-03-21
IN THE ETERNAL CITY.
OFF for the War Beggars and Beggars
ST. PauI's Dungeon.
From our special correspondent.

I
tremely pleasant and profitable.
| Now | want to mention what we
have seen during the last week. The
Capitol, the Aventine. the Pantheon,
Paul's prison. the Kings Stables. the
Jesuit Church ofSt. Ignazio and Gesu,
one of the most gorgeous churches in
Rome.
On Sunday we went to the Villa
Borghese where they had fitted up
the bed of what was formerly a large
lake as race course and were having
horse and chariot races there witness
ed by thousands of people It seemed
strange to me to pay admission and
attend this Performance of a wild west
order, excepting of course, the char
lot races, on Sunday afternoon.
But it was for the benefit ofthe wound
ed in Africa. A thousand more SOL
diers left here last week for Africa--to
i ASNA uAe lAC AaAAo VI Liz WOuHdCu.
They departed amid bursts of martial
music and great enthusiasm. But the
sensitive ear detected many minor
notes. They came from the broken
hearts of mothers. wives, and sisters
who were embracing the loved ones
they might never again see. Oh. it
was terribly sad. 1t makes me boil
with Indignation when I think on
what trivial pretexts nations that call
themselves civilized, resort to war. /
admire England for the pacific attitude
she took il our recent little wrangle.
She kept level head. Until a man
is ready to enlist in the first volunteer
regiment, it does not become him to
blow about war.
On the Aventine we saw very
handsome new monastery, a vista OPP
ening upon ST. Peters, and ST. Sabina.
an old church dating from the early
fifth century. Here we were followed
around by an old Franciscan monk
who took US into the monastery gar
dens and gave us flowers. This re-
minds me that in Rome there are as
many uniformed and official as unoffi-
cial beggars. The former class keep
little gates and doors locked on public
highways or in buildings which the
visitor has perfect right to enter free
of charge. But not SO, rule these beg
gars in brass buttons. They appoint
themselves custodian of the key, and
you must ring and wait on their off
cious service. They bow around and
make a great pretence of assistance.
Once away from them you are con-
frented by the deformed and wretched
looking beggars at every church door
who often project themselves in front
of you and all but catch hold of your
sleeve. If you refuse them, maledic-
lions are hurled after you. This is
one of the very disagreeable features
of European travel. l shall never for
get beggar, this time in the garb of
priest, whom we encountered in the
great Cathedral Of Seville. He ask
ed for money in every way but in
words. did not mind this so much
as | did his face. 1t was the most
voluptuous repugnant face | have ever
seen. Alas! that his lips have ever
taken the vows of the Holy Church
He might grace the Bowery, but his
physical make up was suggestive of
everything but sanctity.
On Thursday we went to the Kings
stables, where Paul was greatly de-
lighted with the $50 horses. They
were pleasing to look at, fine, fat,
sleek, iutelligent-looking fellows,
with nothing to do but to contem-
plate their fortunate Tor unfortunate
lot in life; for they looked like they
longed for an outing and would glad
ly exchange places with the cab
horses on the highway if only they
could get sunshine and exercise.
Meanwhile, doubtless, their weary
cab brothers long to step into their
shoes All of which goes to prove
that happiness is relative and that
horses, like men. are slaves to imag-
ination.
AT the Capitol we saw the Munich
pal Council rooms, busts of the King
and the Prince of Naples, beautiful
statue of Cleopatra by Roman sculp-
tor, and a number of other pictures, all
historical.
Near the Capitol we went into an
old building and down narrow, winding
stairs intoa dungeon which is believed
to be the identical one in which Paul
was confined.
Walking along the street the other
day saw crowd collected in front of
a house and looking up. thought, at
it. A nearer approach showed the
house to be Catholic school or home
for young girls. They were leaning
over the high balconies in pure white
garments which seemed to differ in no
respect les robes du nut. Strange,
l thought, that a strict institution
should permit its inmates to appear in
their night dresses at the windows as
to attract crowd of people. But /
soon discovered that funeral service
was taking place in house on the
opposite side of the street and that
the girls were entirely proper in ap-
pearing in their seminary uniform.
The Time for Building
Up the system is at this season. The