The Argosy — page 63: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

50 “Ecco koma!” was removed to the Vatican by Pius VII., with the bust of Ennius, the friend of Scipio Africanus. The bust was found in the catacomb, and Ennius was no doubt buried there, having expressed a wish that his remains should be placed near his friend Scipio Africanus. The life of Scipio Africanus is one of the most noble and disinterested records in the history of Rome, and his celebrated tomb was erected to his memory by his wife.” Further away on the right are the wonderful catacombs of Rome. It is said there are so many miles of them that if they were placed in one continuous and drawn out line they would reach from one end of Italy to the other, These catacombs, the ancient Christian cemeteries of Rome, were commenced in apostolic times, and used as burial places until Rome was taken by Alaric in the year 410. The Christians also held religious assemblies in the catacombs. They are chiefly interesting by reason of their antiquity and the atmosphere of sanctity which surrounds them. Here the early Christians worshipped and often took refuge, surrounded by their beloved dead. The passages and galleries are innumerable, and a guide is absolutely necessary. Lights are, of course, needed also. At one moment, when visiting them, we became separated from our guide, and the feeling that we might not find him again was some- what thrilling. Rossi did not know his way about them any more than we did. He had nothing to do with underground Rome. The catacombs might easily become a living tomb. When, after some minutes, we found the guide distractedly wandering up and down in search of us, his torch suddenly went out, and we were left in darkness. This was adventure number two, hardly less exciting than adventure number one. Fortunately, we were not very far from the entrance, and we felt that before adventure number three took place, we had better return to the outer world. The third time never being like the others, might prove fatal We had no wish to remain in the catacombs for ever. Beyond this is one of the most interesting and romantic of the monuments on the Appian Way, the tomb of Cecilia Metella. It is indeed the last of its beauties. The ancient families of Kome were in the habit of building monuments to their dead by the sides of the public roads, and so perpetuating their memory. With them, death was supposed to close all, and was therefore as sad as it seemed—a final event. ‘Their ideas of reunion were vague and shadowy. What remains of the tomb of Cecilia Metella is a circular tower, . * The monument erected to the memory of Mrs. Henry Wood, and lately placed over the vault near the catacombs in Highgate Cemetery, is an exact copy of the tomb of Scipio Africanus. It is needless to add that the tomb was chosen for the beauty and simplicity of its design, and without reference to the Roman warrior. Yet the two lives may furnish a parallel in so far as that both were heroic, self-sacrificing, steadfast in duty, full of high and earnest aims and noble aspirations. | CORNICE OOKS»COM