strength and durability was manufactured. The excavations were pursued mainly with reference to this mineral, and the miner followed the veins. These labors pursued for generations by thousands of serfs, resulted in a network of excavations, fifteen miles in length, and undermining a great part of Rome.

These subterranean galleries were undoubtedly used as hiding places from the first date of their perforation. Many a Roman malefactor has evaded the penalty of the law within their dark recesses, and thither many a Roman politician has fled when public opinion above ground became too hot for him. According to Luetonius it was there that Nero was advised to conceal himself when his guilty soul was alarmed by the sentence of an enraged Senate.

We have said that the workers of the catacombs were serfs. They were the very lowest of the lowbut not too low for the religion of Christ to reach them, to lift them up and tell them of their inborn divinity. It appears that Christianity was very early embraced by these poor ignorant creatures. They could pray and sing in those retreats, far below the ground-unheard by the persecuting Romans overhead. The sympathy of a common belief led to a fellowship between those wretched sand-diggers, and their Christian brethren-often the rich and the well-born-who dwelt in the city above. And when the latter were met by public scorn, their property taken from them and their persons threatened with violence they turned their weary feet to the entrances of the catacombs, and there found sympathiz

ing friends ready to conduct them to an asylum, where they could worship God together, secure from impious molestation.

And when, as the persecution grew more frantic and violent, the Roman myrmidoms of the law hunted the refugees within their underground fastnesses, the sand-diggers, familiar from infancy with the labyrinth of the catacombs, would fly with their friends to some inner retreat, and thus baffle the blind search of their pursuers.

Here was the home of the early christians. Here they lived and loved, and wept and prayed together. Wells and springs gushing from the rocks furnished an abundant supply of pure water. Food it was not so easy to obtain. But there were many apertures leading from the catacombs to the outer air and through those, trusty fellow christians outside, who had continued to evade suspicion, provided them with bread. St. Chrysostom tells of a noble lady, waiting with trembling the return of her maid to the Catacombs, with the daily supply of food. There is a tradition of Hippolytus-the only christian of his family-who is kept alive while in the catacombs by food brought thither by his niece and nephew. According to the story, the nephew and niece were converted by the urgent prayers and entreaties of their uncle, and remained with him in his hiding place. Their parents came in pursuit of them; but they in turn were touched by the truths of Christianity and shared the exile of Hippolytus. Thus it is probable, multitudes of converts were added to the early Church.

Sometimes the fury of persecution would be suspended for a little time, and the fugitives issued forth and revisited their deserted homes. But soon the enemy raged again, and they would fly precipitately to their favorite refuge, taking provisions, clothing, lamps and other necessaries to cheer their dismal imprisonment.

Living there together, it was natural that they should also wish to be buried there-where their bones might lie in one common resting place-uncontaminated by the presence of Pagan bodies, and safe from the desecrating hand of their enemies-to rise together in harmonions brotherhood at the resurrection day. And thus for three hundred years the christian population of Rome found refuge and burial within the catacombs.

IV.

Thanatopsis.

THE cemetery of Pere La Chaise, in Paris, is one of the most beautiful in the world. It lies on the slope of a hill, extending from Belville to Charonne on the north east of Paris. The ground, celebrated as long ago as the 14th century for the picturesque beauty of its situation, was the residence

of Père La Chaise, under Louis XIV., the country house of the Jesuits for 150 years; and is now the principal burying place of the French capital. It derives its name from Père La Chaise, the confessor of Louis XIV., who appointed him superior of the jesuitical establishment then holding possession of Père La Chaise which was known at that day as Mount Louis. The cemetery was consecrated in the beginning of 1804. It consisted of forty-two acres at that time. Its present extent is nearly one hundred acres, which is entirely surrounded by walls.

The ground is diversified by hills and vales, and commands many fine views of the great city of Paris, stretching away in splendid perspective beneath it. The territory is laid out with smooth wide paths, gently curving in obedience to the irregularities of the grounds. The principal trees employed for decoration are fruit trees, cypresses, limes and willows. A subterranean canal which conveyed water to the Maison de Mont Louis still exists, and furnishes a sufficient supply to keep the plants and herbage in perpetual verdure. In the earlier months of summer, the odoriferous shrubs and blossoms of the groves of acacia trees fill the air with a delightful perfume.

The monuments of Père La Chaise are magnificent. Wealth and art have been lavished upon their production without stint. Some of them of large dimensions and elaborate architecture, are in the form of temples, sepulchral chapels, funeral vaults, pyramids and obelisks; others present columns, al

tars, urns, &c., variously ornamented; many are surrounded by columns of wood and iron, within which are planted shrubs and flowers; and near some of them are benches to which kindred and friends resort to give vent to their emotions of affection and grief.

The most picturesque monument in the cemetery-and certainly the most attractive to visitors— is the tomb of Abelard and Heloise-those unhappy lovers, whose sufferings are recorded in undying poetry and prose. The structure consists of a sepulchral chapel of the pointed style of the 12th century, in the midst of which is the tomb built for Abelard, by Peter the venerable, at the priory of St. Marcel. Upon its top lies the statue of Abelard, the head slightly inclined and the hands joined. The statue of Heloise rests by its side. Among the other distinguished dead to whom costly monuments are erected, we find the names of Gen. Lafayette; Cuvier, the great naturalist; Bernardin de St. Pierre, author of Paul and Virginia; the poet Delille, the great actor, Talma; the Marchioness de Beauharnais, sister in law of the Empress Josephine; Marshal Kellermann; General St. Cyr; Marshals Davoust, Serruvier, Ney, Lefevre, Massena, and De Perignon; Abbé Sièard, Director of the Deaf and Dumb School; Chancellor Canbaceres, Benjamin Constant; Moliere, the immortal dramatist; La Fontaine, the writer of delightful fables; the illustrious astronomer La Place; Tallien, who, after having wielded the destinies of France, died in abject poverty, and David the famous painter.