The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-09

m we were conducted to our room in
the Grand Hotel Continental. The tall
candlestick with candle and the bed
spread with Rome" in large type made
me realize that 1 was in the Imperial
city.
After refreshing sleep we started early
on Sunday, 18th, to visit st. Peter 5
church. The day itself was typical TIA
liam day-clear and comfortable IN doors.
st. Peters occupies the two famous sites
of Nero's circus and the traditional spot
where the Apostle was buried. Here thou
sands of Christians suffered death by the
hand of this cruel tyrant
The church is a monument to Mlchael
Angelo who planned 1t. The elllptlcal
Piazza is formed by two semi-clrcle colon
AIDES with 142 columns and AZ pllastefs
421b feet high and surmounted by Z36
statues of bishops and saints. This col
onade is 914 feet long and 754 feet wide.
In this are two fountains always playing,
and an Egyptian obelisk brought by
Coliyula BY inscriptions Moses may nave
looked upon it, being older than he IL
is said that when rearing this the en-
the ropes. 1t was penalty of death to
sneak vet a sailor at a critical moment
cried out water on the ropes" so the
immense weight was raised and the sailor
was accorded the honor of supplying the
church with palms on Palm Sunday. In
the wings of the porticoes are two eques-
trian statues of Constantine and Charie-
maeue. A view within the vast structure
IL
than it is It's wonderful symmetry and
perfect proportions are marvellous. Ihe
interior is GIG feet long; across the trans
sept 449 feet: from pavement to top OF
cross is 453 feet. Letters on the dome D
feet long seem about one foot, dove on
column apparently life size Is really :
feet long Conceive of this vast struc-
ture with the finest marble floors with
walls and ceilings of mosaic, with every
niche filled by an apostle on bishop or pope
or saint, every chapel covered with PIC"
lures by the greatest artists, before every
altar golden cross and crucltlX, with con-
fessionals in short intervals at which pre-
side priests speaking all languages, vast
multitudes coming and going all the while,
here and there a priest or monk III black
robes and a soldier in glittering blue UNI
form, at the affairs SOMEBODY always bow
ing in prayer, by the bronze statue OF
st. Peter So we are ever passing and
pausing a moment to kiss the toe of this
saint (now slick and bright by use) first
n strong man, then fair damsel, now a
mother with child in her arms, who does
this act herself and has her infant to do
the same, last little girl climbs upon the
column gives a kiss and seems happy
Some wiping the toe with handkerchle1s,
others not; in this concourse every grade
Of society of many countrles-all the While
the melodious tones of some organ falhng
like benediction upon the great throng
and YOU have scene that this scribe saw
in ST. Peters.
A visit to St. Johns later on reveals
a repetition of mosaic paintings and gor
geous gildings This is called 1.-The moth
ers of churches"-the oldest in Rome. We
were in this church when word was re-
ceiyed that the Pope was dead. The same
huge bronze doors that once resounded
to the eloquence of Cicero and felt the
touch of the Caesars in the Senate Hail
now opens this sanity piller.
The Pope's remains viii rest here. The
crypt was being built. A short walk
49,
Vatican. This chapel has walls and cell
ings covered with frescoed pictures by M.
Angelo. The last judgment is on the cell
ing and is perhaps the most famous pic
ture in the world The pictures were first
nude, but have been draped since. This
fact displeased the Pope, whereupon the
artist replied that the Picture was all
right and the world was wrong. Get the
world right and then both would be
right" NJ Angelo was enraged against
the Popes chamberlain who reported him.
In his picture the artist put this of
fetal in hell The chamberlain indigant
went to the Pope to get him out. This
chief replied: IF you had been put into
pergatory l could have got you out, but
now 1 can do nothing" In hell he is
seen to this day.
The great halls filled with the master
pieces of art-both of painter and sculp-
tor, is one of the best collections in the
world The whole history of the race,
ancient and modern, is in stone and on
canvass Raffaefs Madonna and trans
figuration are here-considered the great
est work from this gifted artist. His
TRANSPORTATION is the best likeness of our
Lord that has ever been put on canvass.
The Colosseum was built during the
reigns of Vespasiron, Titus and Domition.
It's size gave its name. Its circumference
is 1,S4S-over one-third of a mile. 1t is
elliptical in shape-645 feet long and 527
feet broad. Externally there were three
archades, one above the other. The tota
height was 165 feet. 1t would seat $1,000
spectators and the seats were numbered
The Emperor, the Senate and the Magis
trates occupied the lower tiers, then the
plebeans and then the sailors, slaves
Much of this vast structure still remains
to show its purpose. Below the seats
were cells for wild beasts, and in the side!
beneath the audience were the gladlotors
1t is said the wild beasts could be thrown
on the arena instantly by an elevator, al
though by magic they sprang out OF TIT
ground. The grooves in the rock can b.
seen to confirm the teaching OF the his
torians The gadiato before the contes
always saluted the Emperor. If a gla