. The Open court. a piece of stone or marble on which was the impress of a largefoot; this, we were told with due solemnity, was the foot-print ofMahomet; it is hardly necessary to say we did not believe themiracle. I was somewhat surprised in Rome to go through very 540 THE OPEN COURT. much the same experience, being shown a Hke piece of stone witha similar impress which we were told was the foot-print of are a few monks of an ancient order living in an oldchurch in Rome, who have a most curious receptacle for their deadcompanions, which consists of a room about one hundred feet l
. The Open court. a piece of stone or marble on which was the impress of a largefoot; this, we were told with due solemnity, was the foot-print ofMahomet; it is hardly necessary to say we did not believe themiracle. I was somewhat surprised in Rome to go through very 540 THE OPEN COURT. much the same experience, being shown a Hke piece of stone witha similar impress which we were told was the foot-print of are a few monks of an ancient order living in an oldchurch in Rome, who have a most curious receptacle for their deadcompanions, which consists of a room about one hundred feet longby fifty feet wide; the burial earth was brought from Jerusalem,which makes it doubly sacred ground. The monks are buried in thisroom, places being partitioned off to accommodate four or five ineach section ; after a special length of time the skeleton is dug up,dressed in its former wearing apparel and placed upright in its. CHRIST S HEAD ATTRIBUTED TO ST. LUKE. alloted place against the wall. Others are placed in a recliningposition, each holds a card in its lifeless hand upon which is writtenhis full name and a brief memoir. After remaining thus for aseason their bones are taken apart and each one marked with thename. The different bones are then used to decorate the walls andceiling making all kinds of odd and original designs with them, butas the walls and ceilings are now completely covered the bones arepiled up Hke so much cord wood, the skulls looking out from thecorners. While the decorations are quite ingenious they do not A LETTER FROM ROME. 541 produce a happy or cheerful effect. There are only four or fivemonks left of this peculiar order, and they are old and will soonjoin their brothers. By the decree of the King their death ends theorder. But that ghostly room no doubt will be shown as one of thecuriosities of Rome as long as the walls last, and forever it will beremembered by all who have
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