The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-12

repaired and it has flowed unceasing-
ly to the present day.
Taking the Appian The
Queen of Roads" land such it might
be called, for it was a great govern
ment highway 29O miles in length
and kept in perfect condition,) we
pass the little church of QUO yadis'
on our way to the Catacombs of St.
Calixtus. Here, during the times of
early persecution the Christians OPP
ened great Railways and chapels un-
derground and not only held relig-
Ions services but also buried their
dead in the secret place. 1t is said
ON authority, that IA popes and TO
600 Christians were bureid here.
Returning to the city we visit the
prison of st. Paul the church of st.
Peter in chains, the sacred stairway
and la'7c at last to st. Peters, the
greatest Christian church in the
world
Everything here is on gigantic
scale-the open space in front, the
circling colonnade, the mighty dome,
the historic monolith, which stands
in the center of the great conception
and masterful execution of design.
The building is 600 feet long and 1928
feet wide. while the dome is 44O feet
high. But, wonderful and imposing
as is the exterior, its chief glory is
within. You might liken the interior
to city. The streets are marble,
the sky is gold, there are A affairs
OF worship, 80 statues and 748 columns.
There are over 80 confessionals, in
II different languages, so that a
visitor from almost any part of the
world may here confess his sin in
his own tongue
Everywhere you turn there are
the tombs of the popes, 1872 of whom
sleep within these sacred walls. IN
lderneath the great central dome there
is a bronze canopy supported by four
spiral bronze columns and standing
about 100 feet high; surmounted by
a cross of gold. Under this canopy
is the tomb of st. Peter The dome
was painted by the hand of that
masterful genius Michael Angelo.
st. Peters cost over $5o000,0O0
and 1t takes an annual expenditure
of nearly $4,000 to keep it in good
repair.
The vatican, which stands adjoin.
ing, is the official residence of the
pope and the largest palace in the
world. 1t contains 100 rooms and
% court yards 1t is well fortified
and could Withstand quite siege
1 It's galleries and museum contain
some of the rarest art treasures OF
the world
The Sistine chapel is Justly cele
brated for its great painting, "The
last judgement" by Michael Angelo
Leaving Rome, we went to Florence
This was the native city of the poet
Dante. Near her Milton wrote his
immortal Paradise Lost and within
the corporate limits of the town
Savonarola not only taught and charm
ed the populus by his ministry, but
gave up his life in the public square
for he was publicly burned at the
stake.
Michael Angelo and Guido Rem
also wrought and labored here and
here about. Inded Florence was the
storm center" for the revival Of
learning and the awakening of the
arts from their sleep of centuries.
The city lies in beautiful pocket
valley on both sides of the Arso river
Bridges, quaint and curious as vel
as strong and modern, span the
waters of the winding river, while al
about the city stand the mountain.
keeping watch over all. The whole
setting Of the picture is calculated
to inspire the poetic fancy and sti
the soul to lofty endeavor. One o
our party asked a gentleman of tn,
town If they had any factories in tn,
city, and you should have seen tn,
/ pride with which he drew himself III
and replied: No sir, no factories
here; Florence is devoted to art.
And so the galleries are filled witt
/ the productions of the masters, ant