Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-03-23
EUROPEAN LETTER.
TFoR THE MONITOR
Rome, italy, March z, 1896.

ly pleasant and profitable. Now
want to tell you what we have seen
during the last week. The CAPITOL,
the Aventine, the Pantheon, PauPs
prison the Kings stables, the Jesuit
church of st. 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 large
lake as a race course and were having
horse and chariotraces there witness
ed by thousands of people. 1t 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 of the wounded
in Africa. A thousand more soldiers
left here last week for Africa,-to re-
cruit the ranks of the wounded. They
departed amid bursts of martial mu
sic 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 atti-
/ nd oh fnO1x rnnoY1t little
wrangle. She kept level head. I'm
til man is ready to enlist in the first
volunteer regiment, it does not be-
come him to blow about war.
On the Aventine we saw a very
handsome new monastery, vista
opening upon st. Peters, and st. Sa-
bina, au old church dating from the
early fifth century Here we were
followed around by an old Franciscan
monK, who took us into the monas-
terry gardens and gave us flowers. This
reminds me that in Rome there are as
many uniformed and official as unof
fetal beggars. The former class keep
little gates and doors locked on pub
lie highways or in buildings, which the
visitor has a perfect right to enter
free of charge. But not SO, rule these
beggars in brass bnttons. They ap-
point themselves custodian of the key,
and you must ring and wait on their
officious service. They bow around
and make a great pretense of assist
ance. Once away from them, you are
confronted by the deformed and
wretchedlooking beggars at every
church door, who often project them
selves in front of you and all but catch
hold of your sleeve. If you refuse
them, maledictions are hurled after
you. This is one of the very disa
greeable features of European travel.
[ shall never forget a beggar, this
time in the garb of a priest, whom we
encountered in the great cathedral of
| Seville. He asked for money in ev-
cry way but in words. I did not mind
this so much as | did his face. 1t was
the most voluptuous, repugnant face
I have ever seen. Alas, that his lips
| have ever taken the vow of the Holy
Church. He might grace the bowery,
but his physical makeup was sugges-
tive 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, intelligent-loo fellows,
with nothing to do but contemplate
their fotunate Cor Unfortunate lot in
life; for they looked like they longed
for an outing and would gladly ex-
change places with the cabhorses on
the highway if only they could get
| sunshine and exercise. Meanwhile,
doubtless, their weary cab brothers
long to step into their shoes. Ali of
which goes to prove that happiness
is relative and that horses, like men,
are slaves to imagination.
At the Capitol we saw the Munich
pal Council rooms, busts Of the King
and the Prince of Naples, a beautiful
statue of Cleopatra by Roman sculp-
tor, and number of other pictures,
all historical.
Near the Capitol we went into an
old building and down narrow, winding
stairs into dungeon which is believed
to be the identical one in which Paul
was confined.
Walking along a street the other
day saw crowd collected in front
Of a house and looking up, I 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 from les robes du matt