Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-10

pope. from the year 79 to 91, built an
oratory in 80 over the resting place OF
the apostle, which stood until the year
324. Then the Emperor Constantine
erected chapel upon the spot, d.
vesting himself of his purple robe and
imperial diadem and laboring with
his own hands to assist In digging the
trenches for the foundations. He
carried away twelve basketfuis of
earth in honor of the twelve apostles.
Anastasius describes how the body of
Peter was exhumed at this time,
transferred to a casket of bronze and
inclosed in shrine of sculptored sill
yer and he says a golden cross was
placed upon the casket by Constan-
tine. inscribed with the name of his
mother, Helena and his own. In the
spring of 1894 workmen engaged in
leveling the cellar of the cathedral.
found vault which was unknown to
the architects or the priests Inves-
tigation disclosed a silver sarcopha-
gus which was opened in the presence
of Pope Clement VIII. and several car
dinals, who identified the cross in
scribed with the names of Constantine
tand Helena The event is described
in deposition attested by all the
witnesses, which still remains among
the archives of the vatican. The
vault was walled up by order of Glenn
ent VIII. and has never since been
opened. although the brick work can
be readily seen through the grated
doors below the great altar
| Around tho b,riol pIo,a of the amos
tie ninety-seven great golden lamps
are constantly burning. and on Christ
mas day. Easter Sunday and the an
nual feast of IS. Peter and Paul.
the number is increased to 1900.
Above the altar that covers the tomb
is canopy brilliant with mosaics and
gold, supported by four columns of
gilded bronze, as lofty as the Farnese
palace.
Thus, the ashes of the humble fish
erman of Galilee rest beneath the pro
lection of the noblest dome in the uni
verse, designed by the greatest of all
artists, encircled by golden pillars and
richly decorated with sculpture. mos
aics and gliding. At the altar none
but the pontiff himself may kneel, but
kings. emperors. statesmen. warriors
THE greatest men of nineteen cen
turies have bowed their heads to the
floor in veration and have brought
their children here to be baptized.
The mighty Charlemagne. restorer of
the Roman Empire, came to this sac
red spot in the year 500 to receive his
crown from the hands of Leo Ill.
humbly kneeling and confessing him
self miserable sinner, Alfred the
Great OF England made pilgrimage
to Simon Peters tomb in S96; the
Emperor Barbarossa of Germany and
a long procession of other monarchs
and potentates have kneeled to pray
at the marble balustrade.
Meanwhile the ghost of Nero haunt
ed the scene OF his death near the old
Piazza del Populo. There stands
another obelisk OF red granite 100
feet high, covered with hieroglyphics,
the oldest thing in Rome. 1t was
quarried by a king who resigned in
Egypt before Joseph was sold by his
brethren, and bears testimony in hon
or of Rameses, who oppressed the
children of Israel. 1t was brought to
Rome by Cleopatras lover. and. &C
cording to legend in worn and an
cient letters, was erected where it
stands ito the imperial Caesar, son of
the divine Caesar Augustus, pontiff,
twelve times emperor, eleven times
consul fourteen times tribune and
conqueror of Egypt, who consecrates
this gift to the sun" Upon the other
side another Inscription tells us thar
"Sixtus V. Sovereign pontiff, dedicated
this pillar to the cross triumphant
When the execration of the people
and the danger of assassination ex-
cited the cowardice of Nero he looked
for assistance and protection, says
Tacitus, but he looked in vain. He
put away his lutte and wandered wall
ing through the desolate halls Of his
palace, but it was deserted; all his
courtiers had forsaken him. Con
science began to exercise its pangs
and the avenging furies accused the
murder OF mother. wife, brother and
multitudes of innocent subjects. .Seiz-
, ing poison he fled to the gardens, raw
| ing incoherently. An opening was
made in the wall by Phaon, his ser
| want and the master of the golden
house, who had squandered millions
to crafty his fantastic humors, beg
ged for food. but turned in disgust
t from the black bread which was al
that could be offered him. With
: brutal selfishness he cried TO his at
! tendants:
l why will not some one kill him
self and show me how to die!"
Words were drowned by the
= clattering or hoofs. and an officer
= charged by the senate with an ordel
= for his arrest arrived. Nero seizet
g a dagger and dealt himself feeble
a blow. Moved by his incoherent en-
5 treaties, his secretary forced the weap
I on into his heart. AS the centuriaI
4 entered the squalid and filthy cham
). Der Nero exclaimed; you came too
: late" and ferocious soul passed int
# the presence of its Judge. Havinl