The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-08
THE PALACE OF DOOM
STRANGE LEGEND OF A MYSTERIOUS
STATUE IN ROME.

IL Pointed the Way to a Scene Of
Silent and Dazzling spIendor-The
Fate of the Man who Solved the
Enigma of the Finger Message.
There stood in Rome many ages ago
a beautiful marble statue the mystery
of which attracted the attention of all
the wise men from far and near. No
body could remember when it had been
erected, and nobody knew what 1t
meant
1t was the figure of a woman, tall,
strong and supple. She stood erect,
with her right arm outstretched, her
mantle falling in graceful folds about
her figure, on her face look, half
smile, half frown, Turing, yet appeal
ing, but always holding the observer
by strange feeling that it reused Of
mystery, glory and horror.
But even all that, written so clearly
in the mystic signs that art uses, might
have been overlooked by the people
had 1t not been for a more material
puzzle presented by the statue. On the
was written in unfading letters, Strike
here" And therein lay the mystery.
Years came and went, and wise men
puzzled their brains. to find the secret
Seers from faroff lands came to Rome,
attracted by the statue, and still 1t
stood, mute, cold, inexpllcable.
One day young man stood before
IN hod nm
solving the mystery, and each day
since he was a little child he had come
for a few moments and stood silently
gazing at the strange countenance.
He had learned to love the face, the
wise lips that looked as II they might
part and tell the secret that ages had
yearned to know, but through these
ages only he had been sincere in his
search Faithful through all disap-
pointments he had gained strength and
wisdom. and now as he stood before the
statue the sum- halfway up the eastern
sky, shone full upon the image.
A strange thrill passed through the
man, and, looking in the direction In
dictated by the pointing finger, he saw,
some yards away, the shadow Of the
outstretched hand on the ground. He
gave low cry, and, after noting the
spot well. he 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. A long time he worked,
never ceasing his digging, when sud
denly his spade struck something hard.
Then his zeal Increased, and, clear
ing a space, he saw beneath him trap
door, with a great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
and started back, dazzled, for 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 he
| passed through the door, down the
steps and found himself in a vast hail.
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 unfolding 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
J its surface, and no pleasant tapping
| charmed the ear as it does when water
| falls from on high, for. though the
fountain was apparently perfect, no
water rose from 1t 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 which came
the sole light by which the place was
relieved from darkness. In the corner
opposite to this stone stood an archer,
his bow bent, his arrow on the string,
| aimed at the carbuncle. On his bow,
shining with reflected light, were the
words
Il am that l am. My shaft Is In
evitable. Yon glittering jewel cannot
escape its stroke"
As he looked on all this In silent won
der the young Roman heard a voice ut
ter one wcrd-"Bewarev
Then he passed into the next room
and found it fitted up as magnificently
as the one he had just left. All man
ner of touches were about this room,
and reclining on them were wonder
fully beautiful women. But their lips
were sealed IN this place of silence.
From there he passed on finding
many more wonders-rooms filed with
treasures of art, stables filed with fine
horses. granaries filled with forage.
Everything that could make a palace
| complete was there.
The young Roman returned to the
hall.
81 have here seen," he said, what
no man will believe. / know that of
this wealth l should take nothing, but
to prove to them that speak truth can
be no harm"
Then he took In his arms a Jeweled
sword and some rare vases, but sud
denly all was dark.
The charm was broken. The arrow
had left the bow and shattered the car
buncle into a thousand pieces. Pitch
darkness overspread the place.
Then the young man remembered the
warning, but too late. And there be
probably adds one more to the silent
watchers In the magic chamber.
Has this story a moral? Let those
answer who have eyes to see.
The Word bribery"
Bribery" is a word with a curious
history. In the old Geneva Bible it is