St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-08-12

toll his stronghold and his fortress stood
where the ancient church of Aracoeli now
is. We thought of Tarpeia, and how hel
eyes were eagerly lured by means O
the golden CLEAN of the bracelets of The
Sabines, and how she promised to deliver
her city if she could have necklace and
armets, and how, instead, one Sabine
warrior and then another covered her
with his shield, hurled down upon her,
because of her treachery, and she was
killed by the weight and the blows.
We were fortunate to have one of the
most enthusiastic Roman scholars and
antiquarians to take us over the Forum.
The day before the King of England
walked over this classic spot with Com
mendalore Bout, and we were piloted by
Rev. DR.. Gray of Rome, who discussed not
only brilliantly but sympathetically,
and made every pillar, ruin. tomb, arch,
inscription and arcade thrill with the
history of bygone days. Here we saw
the prisons where devoted disciples were
immured. There we traced the Via Sacra
passing under crumbling arches and
winding among ruined temples. AS
Marion Crawford says, Rome is restor-
ing unto Caesar the things that are Cas-
ar's," and modern excavation, modern
rule, modern research proves this more
and more. There have been wonderful
excavations lately in the Palatine and
Forum districts, ruin beneath ruin dis.
closed, and German criticism, Italian
enthusiasm, Scotch caution and English
accuracy are all testing the treasures
found Both in the Forum and Coliseum
we found lovely flowers and delicate ferns
spripging up, and the tall, rich, regal
purple irises near the Forum entrance
were finer than any Others l have ever
seen. have not time to tell of our visits |
to st. John Lateran, to Maria Mag.
giore. and to places endeared to us bythe |
sutferings and captivity and the epistles
OF st. Paul, and early martyrs and saints,
nor OF our drive to the Borghese gardens
where thought OF the bygone St. Johns
bury days at Underclyffe when handled |
lovely daisies, ivy, and other dried flow.
ers, gathered by dear hands now still and |
listened to graphic, fascinating stories,
from one whose dark, earnest eyes and
absorbing words have made all Roman
lore TO me so dear all my lite.
Because of the kings visit to the pope,
we were not able to visit the vatican
when we planned. His majesty drove to
the embassy in the embassy carriage
with attendants in blue and gold livery.
There he entered black, closed carriage.
drawn by black horses and was attended
by servants in black, and at four drove
to the vatican. He was taken to the
Sofa Regia and then received into the
pope's private apartments where he
remained half an hour, returning to the
Quirinal at $50.
However, the day following we went
to see unrivalled collection of sculpture.
paintings and exquisite art treasures in
porphyry, bronze and marble. The res-
Goes OF Michael Angelo in the Sistine
chapel, the madonnas and loggia of
Raphael, the works of Corregio, Domen-
chic, Titan, Guercino, Panquio and
others, familiar from study and reprints,
at last were, in reality before us. The
LAGOON, Apollo and other of the rarest
marbles were carefully studied and many
other works of art, rescued from the
shadowy past. The beautiful order, the
well built, well kept galleries, the spot
less cleanliness attracted us. 1t NAV be
The fashion to cry down the vatican, but
as long as so high a critic as Michael
Angelo looked for the beauties and not
The faults there displayed, so long shall
we gaze and admire and wonder. As a
modern writer says, FLORENCE may have
greater master pieces, the British Muse
am articles of higher value, but the
charm of arrangement will ever be with
The magnificent galleries ofthe Vatican"
we had some intervals from sight see
ng, when we went to afternoon tea with
Or. Brock, clever, handsome. cultured
English physician, once in the Transvaal
and now in Rome. He and his wife had
been to the reception to the King the eve.
ming before at the Embassy and told us
how well His Majesty was sustaining
The fatlgues and excitements of his trip.
we heard OF the pretty toilets, and of the |
magnificent reception given at the thea
tire two nights before. The Italian King
had looked anxious, and it was not until :
VII had entered and met with
an overwhelmingly joyous and enthusi.
astic Italian reception, with cheers and .
sa1ety, that King Humbert was seen to
smile. We were told that over 400 Nj
hilists had been taken up, for fear OF dan.
ger and menace to the royal guest, who
1ad shown himself freely to the crowds
and shrunk from no publicity.
And now we must bid farewell to
Rome, with its smiling gardens, its beau
-liui homes and palaces and streets, its
rare art treasures and its magnificent
churches. Through the courtesy Of
lady friend residing in Rome and because
OF Rev. DIR. Gray's kindness we have seen
much that will be of lifelong interest
and delight. Roma! Roma! Ever old.
dear, young! All who come should drink
OF the Fountain of Trevi that they may
return and again salute thee!
M. W. GRAY.