El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-11-09

food till, savage with hunger, they were al
lowed to rush upon their victims and tear
them to pieces. Here. also, are the ruins
Of the termini Of two massive acqueducts,
(which led the water into the arena for the
naval spectacles. Besides the latter there
were combat between gladiators or men
hired to fight each other as in Christian
America today eonibats Of g~ladiators with
wild beats, Of Wild beasts with each other,
and, Of course, the very ommo spectacle
Eof Christian martyrs exposed to the fury Of
wild animals.
The ruins of the Coliseum still stand, one
Iof the most striking buildings in existence.
Like the Appian Way, the Coliseum furnish
Eeg an unmistakable example of the wonder
full power of the old Romans ais the great
est builders in the world. Our largest foot
ball stadiums, at Harvard and, the Uniyer-
sity of Pennsylvania accommodate about
10000 persons. The Coliseum was, in reali
|ty. an enormous out-Of-door theater, which
seated $1,000 people. 1t was built during
the reign Of Augustus, In whose reign, also
the most stupendous event In the world
took place. Christ was born. The exterior
circumference Of the vast amphitheater Is
lone-third of q mile.
The Coliseum with its graceful cuFving
walls is a beautiful ruin in spite Of its mas
sive character. BY moonlight the ruins
on an added charm. When it was abar-
d0ned for public spectacles, great blocks Of
rock were torn out of it and used for build
ing palaces, churches and theaters IN Rome.
After a time, this wanton destruction was
by the popes, though we are told
that one Roman cardinal many years later
managed to remove great masses of quar-
ried blocks by a cunning trick. He begged
the pope to allow him all the stone he could
take from the Coliseum in twelve hours.
His request was granted, and the cardinal
Immediately set four Thousand mem to the
task. Michael Angelo also used much OF
the Coliseum in the construction of st.
cathedral,
We are now invited to see the C%apuchin
Monastery and to stroll through the quaint
est burial ground that exists anywhere,
suppose, in the world. Ladies are not per
to go through the sacred precincts
Of the monks. so they pass through the
chapel instead, and then go down by a back
into the crypt or chamber Of
Here is a spectacle for sensitive
There are six divisions in this
apartment for the dead, and each one is
ornamented with a style Of decoration pc
to itself; and in every instance the
decorations are formed Of human bones.
Our kindly guide, one of the monks, says it
took the bones of four thousand Capuchin
monks to do all this. 1t took not only a
great many bones, but several centuries OF
as well. There are shapely arches,
built entirely Of thighs; startling pyramids
g~rinning skulls; quaint architectural
structures of various kinds, made of shin
1ones and arm-bones. On the walls and
ceilings Of the rooms are elaborate f~rescoes
ike curving vines. These are formed Of
human vertebrae. Every lasting
portion Of the human frame is used, even
knee-caps and finger nails. In the
walls we come suddenly upon the mummies
. monks, dressed as they were in life and
a huge black cross over the bosom
now, if a monk at this Capuchin Mon
dies, the dried bones of another
monk, long buried, are dug up and the parts
all separated-the skull for one ROOM
eg bones for another, arm and finger bones
or a third and SO on
We tip the genial monk and are glad to
SO. for he has listened attentiyely to Ell
tr questions and answered them as best
% could. Some visitors seem glad to es'
ape from this place Of dried bones; 50 to
the depression among the ladies and
. avoid subsequent nightmare, we snend
be afternoon quietly In a beautiful art gal
Try among Rsfaers. Michael Angeles and
lei Sarto's best works.
/ Next week-st Peters cathedral, Gaia
ombs, Roman baths1