Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-06-20

er lovers In the far distant past. BE
knows that despite difference in
dress aud language and environment
they were moved by feelings similar
| to those that send him a-woolng, and
| he understands. The soldier, too
when he goes to war to-day, is actu
ated by the same motives that domi
mated the minds of those who fought
so fiercely of old. Patriotism, hero
ism, hatred Of an enemy to the father
| land-all these sentiments are I'M
changed. 1t is only the outward and
material expression Of things that
proves unstable as time advances.
1t is because of this ability to fully
comprehend the motives prompting hui
man activities in the long ago that
! people of the present age are so
strongly impressed when contemplate
| ing the ruins of those ancient places.
| There is the Appian way, for in
stance. Who can travel along this an
| cient Roman thoroughfare without a
sense of strong heart interest? One
really cares little about who built it,
SO long as the story of what has taken
place on its surface remains untold,
and yet any reference to the subject
would be incomplete without & brief
mention, at least of the facts regard
ing the road itself.
The Ancient Thoroughfare.
This celebrated road, which with its
branches connected Rome with all
parts of southern Italy, was begun at
the Capena gate in the old Roman
wall by Appius Claudius Caecus, in
312, B. c., and was col lpleted as far
as Capua, a distance Of 125 miles, in
307, B. G. 1t was subsequently con-
tinued to Brundusium, in the south
eastern part of Italy, and was the
main channel Of communication be-
tween the Eternal City and the princi-
pal port whence sailed the vessels for
Greece and the east. 1t is remark
able for the substantial manner of its
construction and the paved surface,
which was made of large and we'll
fitting blocks of black basaltic lava.
Quite naturally since it was the
most picturesque of all the approach
es to Rome, it soon became a favorite
place for those OF leisure to walk or
drive. This resulted in such a great
liking for it that many of the wealthy
Romans, at death, made provision for
their remains to be placed near this
favored spot, and in time numerous
magnificent sepulchres were reared
along the road near the city, the most
noted Of which are those Of Calatinus,
the Scipios, and Caecilia Metella.
After the fall of the Roman empire
the Appian way was allowed to care
for itself for centuries, and it became
unfit for use in many places. Until
about fifty years ago, the greater part
of the road beyond the tomb Of Gaze
ella Metella, or between the Sd and
18th milestones, was hardly distin-
gIlishable from the surrounding coun-
try, excepting by the ruins Of the sep
ulchres; but excavations in 1S50'53,
extending over the Appian way from
It's beginning as far as the ancient site
of Bovillae. reopened TO travel its most
interesting part. This work was car
ried out under the auspices Of the pa
pal government. The part Of the an
cient road that was restored is called
the Via Appia Nova, or in plain En-
glish, the new Appian road. Oddly
enough, too, the modern railway from
Rome to Naples crosses this old road
near the place where the workmen
ceased their operations.
The meeting of st. Peter and the
Master on the Appian way, not far
from the city, IS the most important
incident Of the many which legend
says took place along this road. The
story Is that St Peter, becoming dis