The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-06-16
Observations
Scribe Recalls
Rome Memories
of Before War
BY Helen Essary

The Last Time ! Saw Rome, the
moon was fat and yellow over the
Colosseum. The moon vas also dis
interested and cast a pale glance
at our trio OF tourists out sightsee-
ing among the ancient ruins OF the
Imperial City. Poor old dead, the
Moon! Luna herself had seen so
many sights from ancient days on
. 10 that same Colosseum. Caesars
and lions and Christian martyrs
and yelling multitudes with thumbs
turned down, triumphant heroes,
cringing slaves, marble grandeur
And now what did this arc OF her
orbit reflect? Some crumbling
arches toppled down, weeds grown
as high as bushes, three chilly Am
erican tourists in tan steamer coatse
and a tribe Of alley cats. wild and
wailing and half-starved with never
a helpless Christian captive TO
gnaW on.
II occurred TO me that the cats
might take TO gnawing on tourists.
Especially American tourists II
was the custom OF Italy and all 9th.
or foreign countries TO gnaw on
American tourists then. II still IS
the custom OF all countries 10 gnaw
on American tourists. Only now we
call the habit "lend.lease.
Anyhow, my tourist friends OF 10
years ago and !. too. were afraid
OF the Colosseum. We thought they
might be the ghosts Of the poor
creatures slaughtered TO make
those old-time Roman holidays. So
We hurried out OF the Colosseum TO
the bright city. Got US a cab as
soon as we could hail one and
bounced home behind a wobbly
horse 10 the Hotel de Russie where
We were staying
The last time saw Rome We
went. OF course. 10 the opera. Our
hotel people got us a box. They
said nothing was left but a box for
this gala evening for the Great
Duce would be a special guest.
Was II not the Name Day oks tho
mighty Mussolini? All yes, IL was.
indeed So The American ladies
were most fortunate 10 be able to be
there for such a celebration. This
was why il would be necessary to
charge so high a tariff-more than
had at first been estimated. An
sratias. signoras.
The opera was Faust" Natural
ly, the hero OF the celebration was
II Duce. He was magnificent in
glory then. Theatrical in manner.
He smelled a red rose during 50
scenes and four intermissions
Somewhat in the nature OF Ferdin-
and. the genteel bull. who loved to
sniff flowers.
The two other American ladies'
and ! introduced ourselves to the
Great Man during one intermission.
such behavior was brash, OF course.
But | noticed that when we acted
and talked American" the super
signor smiled in his best pre-Hitler
way
Naturally We did the art galleries
and We must have done a thousand
churches the Last Time Saw
Rome.
! love churches, particularly when
there aren't any people in them.
don't care for medium-sized
, churches. only cathedrals and chap
els. Most OF the churches OF Rome
were my kind OF church, so l had a
very happy time.
A helpful American Cardinal had
got US an invitation to meet the
Holy Father, Pope Plus. We were
thrilled over this honor and car
fully obeyed the Vatican audience
rules for women-covered arms
and neck, longish skirts and a black
veil draped over the head.
Monks in long robes, held at the
waist with cords clanking with
heavy crosses. switched by on slip.
pered feet. We clasped the rosaries
We had bought to be blessed. IN
damp. nervous fingers and waited
our turn for the presentation.
His Holiness was gentle and
friendly. He seemed small in his
orocaded garments. We knelt 10
KISS the ring that is the symbol OF
the earthly head OF the Roman
Catholic Church. Said a vague lit.
tie prayer because this man before
US typifled the befuddled human
beings struggle TO reach goodness.
And felt grateful and almost pure
In heart in this benign presence.
can't imagine the Holy City
noise with tanks and bombers and
bloody with hate and fear. Peace
and romance lived here-the Last
Time ! Saw Rome.