Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1926-02-04


Imoying a Thorn From His Foot.
II is very, very life like. In the pic
lure gallery there Is a cute picture
by Rubens, "Romulus and Remus.'
THE two little children are so sweet
There is fine picture of Van Dyk.
| like Van Dyk so much. The pic,
ture Of Michael Angelo by one OF
his pupils is fine.
The Eatacombs
We had 20 eat dinner early so we
Icould go to the catacombs on the
two O'Clock bus. The ride out on
the bus over the Appian Way is
very interesting, We stopped at the
Quo Vadis church. Here we saw
footprints in marble, said to have
been made by Christ. But they did
not slant as an ordinary foot would
am afraid these footprints were
made by hand.
| The catacombs are very interest
ing, by far one of the most i'm
portant things in Rome, or out of it
rather. Your entrance fee is what
you pay for little wax candle. Be-
| ing the only English speaking peo-
pie, we were alone with a guide. He
was a very nice, fairly intelligent
monk. The place is certainly
'spooky,' but to see the long pro-
cessions of tourists with their can
dies is very interesting, very beau
| ltiful. We saw many old tombs. Saw
the chapel where the first mass was
said and where they still have mass
every day-away under the ground
where the early Christians wor-
shipped in secret. Because there
were only two of US, we went down
a story deeper than other tourists
are taken. Saw bones peeking out
OF the soil-makes your blood run
cold. How anyone can ever find the
way around is more than ! can see.
The monk told US there were moth
ing like as many pilgrims as there
were last holy year 25 years ago.
He was there at that time. There
are 40 monks there. They have
fine garden, raise their food, and
make chocolate to sell.
We went to see the Castle Of st.
Angelo. 1t is such fascinating
thing. | never saw a building like
it, | don't believe there is another.
1t is perfectly round Was an old
fortress. Full of interesting his
tory. Emperors used to be buried
there. The walk around the top
gives a fine view Of Rome. The sky
line is very beautiful, no matter in
what direction you are looking.
Some fine buildings come to your
notice. All Rome is a wonderful
place! st. Peters is one of these
fine buildings near st. Angelo. /
wanted another glance through it,
but was not allowed to enter as my
sleeves were too short. Strange. |
had on the very same dress as the
last time | went, and no one said
thing. The crowd outside was in
teresting-lots of peasants, many
taking off their shoes.
The Vatican
We went to the Vatican early in
the morning, as soon as it opened
1t is perfectly marvellous. The best
in the world for antique sculpture.
The Apollo Belvedere, the LAGOON
Group, the Head of Zeus, all are so
wonderful
The Sistine Chapel is very nice,
but expected something much more
elaborate. The paintings are beau
tiful. Only why are the incest ones
on the ceiling? They are so hard
to see. The whole effect is very
nice. The Vatican grounds are nice
Who would not like to live there?
The Vatican should never be gone
through in one day. We are COM
pletely worn out. / guess that Italy |
is not to be taken in in short time;
you must have lot of energy. But |
it is worth all the energy that you |
turn at Christmas time. The Mar
BILE Faun by Hawthorne is the book |
to read in Rome; makes all the
places seem more real. l would not
care to read a book with foreign
setting unless l had some idea of
the place.
Had nice little excursion this
afternoon by myself-my first one in
Rome. / do enjoy going out alone.
You don't have to worry about tir-
ing anyone out looking at the things
you want to see, or getting lost from
your companion in crowd. Made
some purchases and went to the
Cappucini church again to get a
ast long lingering look at Guido
Reni's ST. Michael.
Another wonderful day. Saw
hings that impressed me very much.
rhe Forum and the Palatine They
ire wonderful. Those old columns
n the Forum are immense. What
wonderful place it must have been.
n the Palatine we saw the house of
Iivia, the best preserved of any of
he houses. You can still see some
# the old frescos and iron pipes that
must have been some kind of a heat
ns system. Beautiful mosaics on
he floor. How nice to have a court.
t is a shame that building is so ex-
ensiVe you can't have them now.
he Arch of Titus with the seven
ranched candle stick is very inter-
sting. The figures also are good.
like the old arches ever so much.
aw the Arch of Septimius Severus
nd what is supposed to be the tomb
Romulus. We met an American
rtist making an etching, and she
xplained to us just how it is done.