The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-16

Titus, etc. The Coliseum reminded me
of Convention hall, in Kansas City,
but it was too big and became ruin,
and that will finally be the fate Of
Convention hall.
About the only relic in Rome still
in use is the Pantheon: temple
erected by the ancients to all the gods.
It will be remembered that the an
clients became very liberal in their re-
ligious opinions, and finally didn't have
any serious ones. The Pantheon is
now used as a Roman Catholic church.
Its dome is open to the air at the top;
to let the gods fly in and out at will,
was the original intention. and when I
visited the place, rain was pattering
down on the floor. was never so cold
In my life as I was while visiting the
wonders of Rome.
I have heard so much of Raphael
that I am glad to know that art en-
thusiasts now declare that at least
two men painted better than he did;
but I was so cold when I heard the
statement made that cannot recall
the names of the men. But the state
ment surprised me as much as would
a statement that there is a better
little girl in Atchison than Anna
Drury.
If you are miserable because you are
not great, think of the former great
ness Of Rome and cheer up. For
eleven hundred years Rome was mis-
tress Of the known world. Today the
language OF the Romans has almost
been forgotten, and the Roman capital
has no commercial Importance, and is
known among men merely as q curio.
The Romans, noted as philosophers
and soldiers, who invaded and Su bdued
every nation known at the Roman
period, are now museum curiosities.
Fortunately they have been spared the
humiliation of Ram eses II; in Egypt I
saw the body of this great ruler, on
payment of twenty cents If you are
not great you will at least escape the
humiliation of having your body ex-
hibited two or three thousand years
after death
There are some queer things in his
tory. For example, we are told that
Alexander the Great wept because
/ there we're no more worlds to conquer.
Rome could have amused him.
Had Jim Corbett wept before his
fight with Fitzsimmons. because there
was no fighter in his class, he would
not have been more ridiculous than was
Alexander the Great.
At one church in Rome are shown
the bones in an artistic manner; a
clever monk now living has arranged
the bones in an artistic manner: skulls
are center pieces. and leg bones. finger
/ bones. etc, in the accompanying de-
signsl IF you are fond Of art, think of
+ that form Of it for awhile.
In Tibet the monks bury them
/ selves in caves for a year during
! twelve months, they are in perfect
I darkness. and live on bread and water
/ It is supposed that the loneliness and
/ darkness enables them to think great
/ thoughts for the benefit of the people.
/ Many of the monks who go through
! the ordeal. become violently insane.
I -
than Naples and the people are potter.
shall always think of the people of Ma
! pies as a very rude lot and as visited
the Italians directly after seeing the
/ handsome Arabs. I didn't think the Ital-
fans very good looking.
You find the musical atmosphere" ev-
I erywhere in italy. Street singers are
very numerous. usually accompanied by
a violin and guitar. I did not see a harE
I in italy. At our hotel three male singers
/ appeared in q little gallery above the din
ing room and gave a concert during din
ner. They looked like grand opera sing
ers and we're really quite clever They