Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-20
For Sunday Reading
H. Sorts. of Obi,,isns
Tomb Of Pontius Psh

1.-THE first time I drove down tho flne
avenue OF lime trees which led to what
was to be my happy home for a long
time" writes II. Z. Delamare in the
Ave Maria "A friend pointed out to
me a strange looking monument (which
stood but a. few hundred yards from
our front gate.
That, he said. lis the tomb of Pom
thus PLATE
AT first I took this to DE merely a
jest A short time afterward, however,
l learned that what l had thought q
legend, is an authenticated historical
fact.
'Pontius PLATE was not a Jew, but a
Roman governor OF the province Of
Judea. and Gaul was, at that period.
equally a Roman province. The ein-
perors very often sent their governors
from one post to anot Their, just as vice
roys and other officials are changed
about nowadays.
lat that time some OF the Roman
cities i'll Gaul were magnificent in their
beauty and opulence. One OF the finest
stood en- the site OF the present manu-
featuring town OF yienne, between
Lyons and Avignon, just at the sharp
bend Of the blue Rhone. the most rapid.
capricious and violent of European
rivers
The stream takes such sharp turns
that many portions. Of 1t appear like
long, narrow lakes. This. IS specially 20
at Vienne The great semi-circle around
what seems the head OF the waters was
formerly occupied ~ tiie stately Rom
an city. OF all their temples, rl1eaeers
and homes nothing remains but tho
tomb Of the Roman governor and a
very well preserved little temple said
TO have been dedicated to Apollo.
THE monument over the grave of
Pontius Plate is anything but beauti-
full.
On the contrary, 1t is stern, almost
forbi ddtng looking. The stone o1swhfch
ii is built was originally Hsarite but Is
now worn. stained and darkened by
twenty centuries OF exposure 90 the
elements
The lower part Of tho tomb is
square and forms four arches 6lanked
at the corners with groups OF small
columns supporting ansablature. This
part serves as a pedestal for a tall,
ugly. cone shaped structure which the
people of vie1tne xntsnaIne the pyramid
Tho so lacking in beauty, the anonu-
menr is striking in appearance and
unlike any have seen elsewhere.
1T appears that PLATE gave offence
to the Roman emperor VINO recalled
him from Judea and later sent him as
governor, not Of Gaul. but simply of the
city now called Vtenue. This was a
rrerribLe blow to the proud Roman.
whose ambition had made him willing
to sacrifice even his integrity as a
judge rather than suffer 1t to be said
that he was not Caesars friend
'"Tor-nented by remorse. haunted by
despairing fear, broken ny his disgrace,
desperate in hts misery, he wandered
away ono day from mis- palace and at
PENDANTS and threw himself into the
sursang waters OF the 'Rhone. But even
the river refused TO be polluted by the
deictde, and at = lew yards. from where
he had taken his fatal leap the waters
cast his dead body upon the rocky
shore.
1T was soon discovered and buried
with considerable ponap near the spot
where it was found. This was at some
little distance from the Roman city, and
over it still rises the monument, which
bears no name, but which is known to
mark his grave"