Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26

In Seoul, Corea there is small gate in the
city wall known as the Gate of the Dead.
through which all dead bodies must be car
ried out: no one may enter through it.
The owner of inns which had sheltered
royalty. in order to make sure that the in
cident should not be forgotten, frequently
recorded the date of the event with appropri-
ate quotation or inscription over the doors.
memory of the visit by craving the armorial
bearings of his illuStriouS guests above the
door. cannongate of Edinburgh formerly
possessed many houses bearing inscriptions
similar to these.
The great massive gates of Malta are COW
cred with old inscriptions which seem to be
eaten into the stone.
On one is recorded the following text of
thanksgiving. Thou hast covered my head
in the day of battle Some are Phenician
inscriptions. undecipherabe to the ordinary
tourist On Zabbar gate are two lines in mem
ory of a victorious General who saved the
city from invaders
''On the gate. his name:
In the city. world. his fame"
Inscriptions from the Ancients
IN the quaint old town of Perugia. sitting
like crown upon her hilltop are found in
Vulnerable doors bearing ancient inscriptions.
One which meets the eye at every turn is:
Ora ut piuos ct Des vires" [Pray that you
live. and live to Cod
Another one declares that the doors of a
house are beautiful where the house is honest.
Over a church its name is beautifully carved
'Jdnn. CGlf' (the gate or door of Heaven).
Haunted houses were not exempt from IN
scriptions which bear more or less on their un-
usual and weird condition. One which had
harbored ghosts of various dead men for many
decades bears this legend: "Ut Corpus Amino
Sic Domns Corpore. which tells the curious
visitors that As the body is to the SOUL SO
Is the house to the body.
The observant traveller in Italy and Holland
will find curious ancient doors dedicated to
the dead. built by the side of the principal
door of the house These porte de moyfnocio
pointed at the top. just wide enough for a
coffin to pass through. In most cases they are
sealed up as their use has been abandoned
of late.
To Head OF Another Visit
THE superstitious belief that Where death
had once passed out death could the
more easily pass in! came from the Etrus-
cans. who never carried coffin out of an or
binary door. but always through the door of
death. which was most carefully bolted and
barred after the corpse was taken away.
On the doorhead of Plough Inn. Northum-
berland. built in 1717. is the following:
That which your father old
Hath purchased and left for you to possess.
Do you dearly hold.
To show his wOrthineSS.
On the portico of Ardly Hall, Northwick
the following free pass to visitors appears
carved in stone
This gate is free to all men. good and true
Right welcome thou. if worthy to pass through.
Here are other inscriptions taken at random
The honest man shall find welcome here.
My gate wide open and my heart sincere.
Within these walls. for him l spend my store:
But thieves away On you close my door
Over seventeenth century door in Chester is
written:
"Thou'rt welcome. honest friend. Walk in.
make free!
Thief get thee gone! my doors are closed to
thee.
An honest man is always welcome here:
To rogues grant no hospitable cheer.
Dear to my heart. the honest here shall find
The gate wide open and the welcome kind
Hence thieves away! On you my door shall
close:
Within these walls the wicked shall ne'er re-
pose.
1t is read in Kate Carnegie that above the
gateway of Tochty Lodge the following scroll
inscribed:
TRY and Then Trust. Better Guide Assur-
anCe.
Bot Trust Not or Ye Try fur Fear of Repent
ance."
inches for saints and other figures were
part of the doorposts in olden times. There
is house in St. Augustine. Florida with the
fgurehead of ship set forth above the door.
In Zealand single figures and whole scenes
from the Rible are Denoted. one the writer