The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-07
THROUGH PlPlL STATES.
Historic Spots in Sunny
Italy.
Places Where Roman Republic Had
It's Birth.
A Visit to the Eternal
City Itself.
Sights Which Can Never Grow
Less Interesting.
Basis. switzerland. March isth.

Basls, swizserland. March 18th.
On leaving AGs.si the route by Foligno
and Spolsto leads through the Oh Papsl
States, some OF which were ANNEXED as
GA, IL 40 the 18th century. At foligno
this route unitss with the through sx-
press trains from the Adriatio starting
from Anoopa, which Is only about three
hours distant. This same through express
also connects With the southern Adristic
road at Terni. q town noted for some
wonderful waterfalls. which vie with
anything that 10 found In Eurore This
town was also the birthplace Of the his
torian Tscitus, and the former home OF
many.o the old Umbrian nobility.
After reaching orte, the junction Of
the Chiuti and Orvieto line the whols
reg 10, 10 full CT "reminiscences Of early
Roman history OF the time OF the Ancient
Republic. There are some Etruscan and
Roman tombs not far away. dating as far
back as the epoch when Camillus cap
tursd the city Of the Falerii In sec b.
O., just after Rome was destroyed by the
attack OF Brennus the 6aul and the
citadel was saved By the caokling Of the
eaered sebs. This 10 far the most intsr.
estina route TO Rome, not excepting the
one along the coast Of the Mediterranean
more generally taken W tourists. The
beautifully rounded peaks Of Soracts rise
at the right, the mou ntain which Horace
mentioned as heapsd high with snow
tvides ut alta stet nive candidum So
raotel, On she summit Of which 10 the
monastery OF San Silvestro founded In
746. A. ID. by the son OF Charles Martsl
aud uncle Of Chariemagne; In more an
cisnt times 1t was she site Of temple Of
Apollo.
This IL q region Of mountains. and all
around ara the peaks Of the Apennines,
the Volsoians aud the Alban Mountains
as well as the Gilman Forests. At one
OF the stations ON the way, now called
Sal ina, may ps seen some ruins Of the
ancient CuIsr, the plscs where the
Romans got their Sabine wives. 1t was
from this word Cures that the name
Quirites, given to the Romans after their
union with the SAbinsee, sprung, Romu-
ius HIN self even teing called Quiritus
Nums Pompilius was born In this littls
hamlet, now so microscopic that IL Is
hard to be disoerned. Though fifteen or
twenty miles from the ktsrnsl City you
soon get q glimpse OF the great dome
of st. Peters which vanishes and reap
p ,ars several times before reaching Rome
There Is renewed interest this year In
this gloriors edince which is fres TO all
the world, a place where the msanest
beggar and the greatest potentate are
alike welcome, only the beggar II he be
a good Catholic has the decided ndvAnt-
age this year; for the great Jubilee Door
is EoW open, the hrst time for nearly q
century. Pope Leo knocked upon 1t.
at midnight, Christmas Eve. with his
golden mallet and 1t swung ajar. Only
thoss sanctified by the Pope can pass
through 1t, and although we saw many
heggars in rags going iuto st. Peters
ever the threshold, we as usual were
obliged to go In by the broad way through
which thousands Of travellers each year
enter this sacred sanctuary.
Aftsr the Jubilee Door was open the
Pope intoned the Jubilante Dec, and the
pontilcal choir took up the chant. Then
the Pope knelt upon the threshold, In his
right hand the cruoifix, and in the left q
lighted candle. while the Te Deum was
chanted; Afterwards he stepped alone
within the portsls OF the vast and then