The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-06-28


to know, he has since been our oracl
,. and friend. He is even more thai
this-our devoted slave. When he j
! dismissed no orders are given fo
future service, but he always ap
pears at the right time. We may b.
taking luncheon in the little caf'
fronting St. Peters, or lost in a laby
rinth Of streets, when he seems tt
rise up out of the ground for our de-
liverance. He appears to have stud
led our habits, or my friend think.
he follows us at convenient dis.
tance. Leaving theories as to this
eandor compels the statement that
our guide is somewhat dilapidated as
to person. He tells us that he has
travelled to fardistant New York, re-
siding several months on the Bow
cry, where the wine Of the country
did not have so kindly an effect as
his native Chianti. He is so good
natured, so deeply versed in ancient
history, that, although our "por-
tier' says he overcharges' us, we re-
main faithful to him. Besides, is not
his lingo worth an extra lireq
We start for a somewhat extended
jaunt upon this particular afternoon,
as The air is clear and the heat is
dissipated by a breeze. Passing the
Coliseum, before which we always
stop, and under the magnificent Arch
of Constantine, we speed along the
Via di S. Gregorio, at the margin of
the Palatinc Hill, till the Via Di S.
Sebastiano is reached. This soon
brings lis to the Baths Of Caracella,
one Of the most imposing ruins in
Rome. A half hour is well spent here
in strolling through The immense
spaces, with the inlaid floor intact
in places, and imagining the plea
sure that 1,600 Romans might have
had on a similar August day so many
centuries ago. Next through the Porta
S. Sebastiano, and on the famous APP
pain Way, as hard and clean as if
built yesterday, to the Catacombs of
st. Callistus. We penetrate the
earth, and peer with lighted tapers
into the tombs Of martyr and saint.
The fat, good-natured monk who is
our guide, spurred on by prospect of
an extra fee in this dull time, takes us
to an unusual depth and along CALLER
les not often visited. Here some tombs
are still closed in, with the original
inscriptions on the cement that covers
the tufa. He is much amused at the
Meester Yankees," as he calls us,
who have so unexpectedly dropped
down upon him, and responds in kind
when we joke with him upon the
lugubrious nature of his occupation.
The Footprints Of Christ.
1t is relief to come out into the
soft air and sunlight, and drive along
the Campagna to the Church of S.
Sebastiano. We pause a while in the
gloomy edifice and inspect the relies
that are presented to our view, in
cluding stone footprints Of Christ.
There are small catacombs under the
church, and, mindful of the catechis-
ing that awaitc usby our Jehu we
stumble through the valuts, .'eady to
give account Of ourselves when we
return to the carriage. And now, up
on consultation with our guide, we
find we can skirt across the Campag-
ma by the Via Della Settle Chicse and
reach st. Paul's without the walls.
We quite enjoy the much-maligned
Campagna, with it's wide stretches Of
grassy, untitled space, where wide
horned cattle apparently roam at
will. Then there are glimpscs of the
distant hills, crowned with white vii
lagos, the houses clustering close to-
gether as if for protection, or to
form fitting background for the
graceful Campanile.
We reach ST. Paul's too soon. but
arc recompenscd for the loss of out
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