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About Capital city courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1893 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1890)
CHPITKL OITV COURIER. t idasphemous Pagan, caricatures of tbo cruel flxlon; the Identification of the tradition ot the Likeness with the introduction ot tbo writing of Bt. John find the preponderating Influence, exercised by those writings upon "jY f, in ftfi fcW. Vr VII Motalo from tho eataeombs of fit. Agneee; now In tho Lateran Museum; prob ably the oldest and best authenticated Inst ance Christian moslao work extant. the art of the early church,have none of them been hitherto noticed. The questions on which farther elucidation Is desirable, are: firstly, the extent to which ecclesiastical dec oration was carried In such churches as ex isted above ground during tho first three centuries, and which might havo afforded a preparatory school for the production of the works of art we see in such numbers, and i VIII Mosaic from the ehopol of tho Baptis try of fit. Oonstnnza at Rome; ascribed to tho time of Constantino. possessing such high artistic power, in tho age of Contantine;and secondly, whether it is possible to obtain clear and satisfactory evidence in support of the authenticity of other of tbo early Greek pictures, besides those now preserved in Enoa and at St. IX Mosala taken from tho Iloman cata combs; a work of great antiquity, bearing un tnsciiptlon to tho effect that tho llkeimess is unsatisfactory. Peters and thus odd to tho testimony that theso anclont productions, worn by the flrtt members of the church, and buried with them in tholr gravos, were, in repeated instances executed at n tlmo when they would havo been brought under tho dli oct notice ot many who had actually soon tho Lord, In an extended article on this subject W. H. Ingerfoll says: "One faco appears in all tho ronturles of Christian history, and In the ait -ot every t?&-rJS2JSSj 1 fell Bfr&ro R3l I iaMBiga5aCTftf - v European nation, as the picture ot the world's Ueloved. "On the damp and gloomy walls of the cnta combs of sepulture and worship, in tlio menu inonts of the primitive Christian Church, on tho portals and in the npsos of ancient Dy mntlne tMislllcas, in stately cathodrals of tho middle ages, in the proud galleries of the world's art, and ovn on tho humble walls of the lowliest homos, or In chrlhd books of tho poor, that strangu and wonderful face ar rests the mind with a colcstlal thougtit, and charms tho imagination with the hope that wo may horcnf ter see Him as He Is. "Whether depleted In discourse, rudo 1 ttioi of tho earllekt sketches, or in tho finished touchos of the mnstor's skill; whether fuul and painful with divine and human sorrow; or glorious in heavenly triumph, the same fnco Is always roprceouted, Tho whole of Christ endom Is enriched by theso memorials of a derine visitation. "With endless variations of lineament mid expression, there hat always been preserved - i ' X Mosaic from tho UnslllcaofConstantlnc. a faithful adherence to tho genornl typo of Foino ancient Ideal, In tho midst of classic art, though about the period of its decline, there suddenly appeared tho imngo of n strange but conipMo personality, differing from all pagan Ideals, It was tho Christ I Ho had conio Into the world, and lived and la lored among men who cherl'hed his memory; and they desired to leave to tho ages to come some pictured remains of his human scinli latre. "Tho oldest legend connect! d with the mo X XI Mnale from tliu Church of St. Cosoml und Dumluii; ltommi Forum. ancient porlralt-llko picture of which we have aoy knowledge, relates to one Abgar Uchamo or Abgarus, Kitigof Hlossniu lleso potamla. He was fatally ill, and having heard of the fame, of Jesus as a healer, he sent a messenger from his rock-fortress city In tho desert to Jerusalem, Imploring the mighty One to comu and heal him. Anan, the king's messenger was his secretary and a painter as well, and was Instructed lo bring a picture of tho Wonder-worker If ho could not induce Him to como in porou to Edessa. Arriving at Jerusalem, Anan meets the Saviour, who tells him that he cannot leavo his work to go on such a journey. "Anan then resorts to his art. and ti ls f x XII Mosaic from the chapel of Bt, I'rnsedo. paint a portrait of the faco of Christ, and falls. Hut Jesus In pity gives hint a nnpklu upon which He, in wiping his face, bos Im printed the "holy image'1 ot hU countenance, "Anan returns, ami many stiango advent ures and wonderful csoipis happen to him Wm? X YIII Fragment of fresco from tbo cata combs, now In tho Vatican; attributed to tho second century. XIV Metal Images of tho Crucifixion of Christ, executed during the sixth century: Fiipposcd to bethooWlcst workof Ihlsklnd ex tant; now In tho Illbllothcca of the Vatican. and to tho picture; but the holy imago always protect itself and him, and confounds his enemies, uutd he finally reaches tho presence of tho king and displays the p'eclotiH fnco to XV Mfo-Hlie Medallion Mkouoss from tho catacombs, now In the chapel of the Come lory of Ht. Callsto; unqneetlraably ono of the oldest works found In the catacombs. him. The monarch is Instantly healed ami converted to Christ. He wrIUw a lettor to his Saviour, who sends him an answer. Tills lettor nnd replr are preserve! In tho Apocry phn I Gospels. "This unique picture, with Its long, Syrian face, bright eyes and spirited expression, was known in the primitive Christian Church; probably to Tortulllan, and doubtless to Eu sehlus, born A. D. .W0, who mentions It In his works. "There ni certainly a first picture Wo know of no one earlier than this, and it was this cherished imago which tho Greek painters in Syria, tho Gnostics, and the early Christ Ian artists copied in every variety of work, from tho jewel for a ring to a mosaic or a statue. "Whatever becamo of tho original plcturo with Its miraculous legends, this Oriental typo was early brought to Homo by somo copies from tho East, aud wo find it running paral lel with tho Roman classic U pe, which was painted probably before the true ono was known In Rome." W 5l?e Smuggler's Ueddigg. Copyright by American rress Association. Down among tbo cliffs of Devon those, mighty ones which guard the southern English coast eastward from Sldmouth, and not far from the quaint, rock bound village of Vere Isabel Venn, the come ly, brown haired fisherman's daughter, reigned over tho sturdy hearts of the sea, subjugating alike the brawny fisher lad who swept the channel through tho starlight nights of winter and the man-o'-wnr's-mnn home on leavo, while half tho coast guards lapsed into chronic jealousy, nnd a few wild spirits, the special care of tho coast guards, who traded secretly wilh Cherliourg, were among her most ard it admire rs. It was on Robert Dare, young, hnud some, fearless and tho most accomplished smuggler of the const, that Isabel's choico fell. Devonshire smuggling over fifty years ago was a daring, almost chivalrous, enterprise, and from this and other causes It was tolerated by tho people. Many a magistrate, has traced his cellar's pride to a Vero flsUinir bout, uud u lord bbJiou boa sent from nfnr for tho pnlo French essence ere it had blushed itself brown In bond. Nor were mysterious sources wanting to sup ply tho nieani. When Robert Dure needed funds for a voyago ho used to say that ho was "going up tho laudsldon little," nud that night ho would comu back with tho needful. Tho third week In DccciiiIht, 1838, opened a cold, blustering time. Wreaths of fine snow wound round tint doorstop and liuugovorthasmall,diamml paned windows of Vore. Times were hard: tho coast guards vlgllnn',. Prudence must defer the marriage of Robert and Isabel, which was to have comu off at Christmas. The cronies of tho Ship Inn deplored tho prospect for tho poor nnd shook thulr heads tu sympathy as mild expiation for their comforting "rummers" of grog. "Good evening, doctor," squeaked old Solomon Qulglcy, tho parish clerk, as genlnl Dr. Howlby camu beaming in. For Dr. Howlby came from llovuy manor, where Iady Ico had commissioned him to buy a hundred nnd fifty goose for the Christmas illunor of tho needy. Hut Kxeturand Iloui ton had absorbed the supply, so said the farmers present. Then up spoke Robert Dare: "Geesu are plentiful and cheap In Franco. 1 will get them by payment for my time." Dr. Howlby assented, tho company ap plauded, aud the grizzled coast guard cap tain stared over his long clay pipe at Robert In a look of dazed solicitude. "Good night, my dnrllng Belle," said Robert, kissing her at her father's cottage, "and may good luck attend mo. I mils) go up tho landslde a little tonight." Tho Seagull sailed out of tho core of Vere, and in duu time sailed back again, a harbinger of good cheer for the poor. "A welcomo cargo," said Dr. Howlby. "Tnko caro of them to-night, Rolssrt." "Yes, a good selection," muttered the grizzled captain, peering into thoroeosscs of the boat, "ve-ry good. The ro is abso lutely nothing but tho geese," ho whis pered dejectedly to himself; then loader to Ids neighbor: "I say, Mr. Qulglcy, there is really noth ing but tho geese, you know." "Nothing," piped Solomon, "unless there mny lie any ganders among 'em.M "Hahl" said the captain. And now tho Ship Inn Is a bower of evergreens, for to morrow is Christmas ove. "I hear," observed Mr. Qulgley 1b low, commanding: tone, as hu slowly filled his pipe, "that Robert Dnro and Isabel Venn arc to bo married to-morrow." "Yes," said tho doctor, glancing from tho punch bowl to tho captain; "by license." "I wish I may die," wheezed the land lord, "If I warn't told that Robert had twught Rose cottage, in Sea ford lane." "And hois gone off today for furniture," said the contain j "mysterious, very." "And quite a party is invited to tho breakfast at Venn's nforo they're off for n London honeymoon," gasped the landlord. "There's the wicar and squire and the doctor and the cappeu uud Mr. Qulgley and I, and somo of tho littler folks." It was a pleasant wedding breakfast, In which the joy of the young people blended with the happy spirit of Christmas; tho flag waved from tho tower ot the old gray church, and tho notes of the bells floated down tho valley until they wore lost among the rocks. "It Is not true," said Robert te respond ing to the toast ot brido and bridegroom, "that I have purchased Roso cottage: wo are going Into an established business at Exeter; but perhaps it hi fit that I should explain some of tho feature of my lost trip across the channel. The sage and onions that will fill the geesu of our jioor friends to-morrow will only succeed a far different stuffing. My nclghliors all," and hero Robert smiled brightly on tho grizzled captain, "stowed In each gooso, nnd now safo from tho Philistines, was sevorul guineas' worth of tho most costly laoe." Loud was tho laughter und cheering, which only subsided as the last toast was given: "A merry Christmas to nil friends hero and everywhere, nnd a happy New Year when it conical" At this juncture tho grizzled captain, who had liecn missed for a moment, reap peared with a florid faco and nhceplsli air. He had taken off his uniform jacket with its gilt buttons and availed himself of tho doctor's overcoat. Thus, with a lightened conscience, he joined in tho tout with 1U "Uireo times tbree." The heads of wivui nl reelected families In professional and trndullfo in the west of Eng land are tho sons and dnughters of handsoiuu Roliert Dure and beautiful IsaWl Venn. John Ai.dkiiouovk. Start In with tho Now Year by reading Tiik CnuniKH icgularly. YohJh ill find Tiilmiige's sermons excellent Sunday rending, the soci ety gowip Interesting nud our dramatic news spicy nnd entertaining.lTlie illustrations will bo ovon nicer than before. All for;3.00.