Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-05-10

STRANGE LEGEND OF A MYSTERIOUS
STATUE m ROME.

II Pointed the Way to Scene OF
silent and Dazzling SpIendOr-The
Fate of the Wan Who solved the
Enigma Of the Finger Message.
There stood in Rome many ages ago
q beautiful marble statue the mystery
Of which attracted the attention Of all
The wi<, men from far ana near. No
body could remember when ii had been
erected. ana nobody knew what 1t
meant
1t was the figure OF IA woman, tall.
strou. and supple. She stood erect,
with her right arm outstretched, her
mantle falling in graceful folds about
her figure. on h,r face a look, half
smile. half froWH. uring, yet appeal
ing. hut always holding the observer
b., strange feeling that it reused OF
mystery glory ana horror
But even all that. written so clearly
ia tie mystic signs hat art uses, might
have hrcu overlooked by the people
had il not been for il more material
prlzzIe presented by the statue. On the
third finger of the outstretched hand
was written in mfading letters, Strike
here" And therein lay the mystery.
Years came and went, and wise men
puzzled their brains TO find the secret.
SecrS from faroff lands came to Rome,
attracted 10y lhe statue, and still it
stood. mute. cold, ineXplicable.
One day young man stood before
It. He had grown up with the Idea OF
solving the mystery, and each day
since he WAS little child he had come
for Il few moments and stood silently
gazing at the strange countenance.
He had learned to love the face, the
wise lips that looked as If they might
part and Tell The secret that ages had
yearncd t. know, but through these
ages only he had been sincere In his
search Faithful through all disap-
polntmentS hc had gained strength and
wisdom. and now as he stood before the
statue the sun. halfway up the eastern
sky. shone full upon the Image.
A strange thrill passed through the
man. and. looking in the direction In
dlcated 10y the pointing finger, he saw.
some yards away. the shadow of the
outstretched hand on the ground. He
gave a low cry. and after noting the
spot well. ht departed
That night at midnight he went to
the place and began TO dig in the
ground where the shadow Of the hand
had fallen. \ long time he worked,
never ceasing his digging, when sud
denly his spade struck something hard
Then his zeal increased. and, clear
ing Il space. he saw beneath him trap
door. with great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
and started back. dazzled. for a food
Of light burst upon him from out Of
the depths.
Quickly recovering. the young man
looked again and beheld a wide mar
BILE staircase descending from the trap
door Throwing down his spade be
passed through the door. down the
steps and found himself in a vast hall.
| The floor of this room was of marble,
| pure white. while the walls and ceiling
were Of the same material In many
colors The huge pillars upholding the
vast dome shone like alabaster. Rare
| paintings hung upon the walls, and
rich rugs lay strewn upon the floor.
! In the center OF the room fountain
| stood. The water IN its basin was as
| pure as crystal, but not ripple stirred
! its surface. and no pleasant tapping
! charmed tie ear as II does when water
| falls from on high, for, though the
fountain was apparently perfect, no
water rose from II to fall again.
on seats running around this silent
! fountain were many men In rich bro
cades and costly fur robes. Lifelike
| they looked, but TO the touch they were
as marble 1t was as If in the midst Of
| life death had come and petrified these
beings In mockery.
Around on tables and benches were
scattered piles of gold and precious
gems Delicate enameled vases and
swords inlaid with gems added their
wealth TO the place.
But rarest of all the gems was a
! great carbuncle. which stood In cor
ner of the room and from winch came
| the sole liah; hy Wi, Ii ti.v r!stce vas