The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-07

AShNSs zAAAcob SihGAlicO NilO pdSS6Q to the third chamber. which was an apart ment stocked with rare viands and wines of fabulous worth, and he continued his investigation to the fourth and last hall which was a mammoth stable. full of handsomely caparisoned steeds. The hoItes, saddled and brdled, stared at the newcomer, but not a neigh broke the si- lence of the apartment. The walls of the entire suite were enerusted with diamonds and other precious stones and the four rooms were illunined by an immense car buncle suspended from the ceiling of the central chamber But strangest of all there stood in the last salon an immense mannikin. or figure. armed cap-a-pie with his bow string tensioned and a drawn ar row aimed at the carbuncle.
 As the monk started to withdraw he mo- ticed jeweled handled dagger lying upon a table in the apartment occupied by the courtiers and he essayed to pick 1t up, de- siring to show the weapon as a proof of his strange visit, but no sooner had his fingers touched the haft when the manni- kin discharged it's arrow at the carbuncle which was shattered into hundred frag- ments and its light was extinguished The affrighted monk groped his way to the door only to find that the stairway had vanished and he was entombed alive. In his continued gropings he stumbled upon a horn, which he sounded to no avail and for centuries afterward the notes of that subteTanean horn could be distinctly heard on every Easter morn. How the world learned of his marvellous escapade the legend does not relate.
 Most visitors to the Capitoline museum in Rome bestow a casual glance upon a statue in the court sometimes called the Fibre and sometimes Mars, while many do not notice it at all, and yet 1t is one of the most interesting marbles to be seen in the collection.
 This statue in the 18th century stood in an extreme end of the city and was named Marforio by the people who used 1t as a public billboard. There were wits in those days and Marforio was literally plastered with their written jibes and jeers. It came about in this manner. Not far from the site of the present Cancellaria, of which have spoken, lived a tailor named PasQuin and noted for his caustic wit After his death an old statue was dug up opposite his shop and upon it was be- slowed the name of the deceased tailor I never go to Rome without paying a visit to this Pasquin, in whose countenance l always see a resemblance to Seti, the Egyptian Pharaoh. Upon this statue were posted the anonymous lampoons which
 
 pasted similar effusions on Marforio. By this system of thrust and parry the most serious matters were disclosed and the most distinguished persons were attacked and defended.
 Indeed some of these pleasantries of the ancients have been preserved. one of which Is specially felifltious. The Pan theon is not only the most ancient relig- inTc adt f. l..& 4 tiful, and so impressed with its classic beauty were the barparians that in the perpetration of their vandalism in the sacking of the city the Pantheon was un- touched. When the Barberinis, one of the most influential families of Italy, made a. member of their house Pope, the pontifi- cate removed the bronze from the roof of the Pantheon and from it fashioned the baldachina of St. Peters and soon there after Pasquin displayed upon his chest this jibe: What the barbarians refrained from doing the Barberinis did not hesi- tate to do.' clever play upon the simi- larity of the words as well as a keen thrust at his holiness. When I had the honor of representing my country in the diplomatic service at Brazil knew quite well and greatly admired the Papal Inter nunzio to that country. His eminence has since been created a cardinal and not long dso 1 IelleQ upon our former intimacy to secure from this cardinal an interview for some ladies with the holy father Our conversation drifted upon the remarkable growth of socialism in Germany and dis cussing it's probable effect upon the stabil- ity of the empire his eminence related to me this remarkable story.
 In 1S49 the grandfather of the present Emperor of Germany, who was after wards known as Wilhelm I, was visiting in Baden for his health. The famous watering place was at that time all asog with rumors concerning the gifts of a fortune teller residing in the town. an old woman who answered any and all ques- tons by means of handling and shifting little wooden cubes adorned with numbers, and so prominent had she become that his majesty was induced to try her powers. Going to the house of the witch he asked her three questions, the truth of the an swers to two of which have already been verified
 honors and asked the woman, When will the German empire be formed?'
 The crone drew out four cNbes contain ing the numbers of the current year 1s49; these numbers she duplicated and ar ranged in this manner-1S49
 
 :
 ''Now add them" she said and the wis., itor did so figuring out 1871.
 Tn what year will I die?" asked Will helm; whereupon the woman took the fig ures 1871 and arranging them in dupli- cate In the same manner-1S1
 
 1.
 again bade him add, which produced 1888, the actual year in which the Emperor passed away.
 The third question was, When will the German empire fall?"
 The fortune teller repeated her process, producing this--1SSS
 Add them,' she cried, and the royal guest obtained 1913
 So we are watching 1913 with a great deal of interest,"" said the cardinal to me, smiling as he spoke.