THE HOLY STAIRCASE.
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RoME, April -, lS47.


What has struck me the most, and seemed
the most laughabIe and most ridiculous, was
the ceremony Of ascending the Scala Santa, or
Holy Staircase. went there on Good Friday,
which was, az / have understood since, the
best day 10 see it to perfection. | had heard
and read of ii very often, but had no concep-
ton Of the exten, Of absurdity to which II is
carried The Holy Staircase is composed OF
eight and twenty steps, and said 10 be The
identical stairs on which our Saviour trod on
coming down from the judgment seat. Il be-
lenged to the house Of Pontius Plate. This
staircase cannot be mounted but on the knees.
Some go up three or four times in this manner.
/ went up one of the side staircases, and stood
on the top of the Holy Staircase. to have
good view of the faithful. There they came,
shutting slowly along, nearly hundred on
the stairs at once. AT the topof the stairs there
is wooden figure on cruclhx, and large
plate underneath, TO receive the offerings Of
the faithful; and this figure was fixed SO un-
steadily, that whenever they kissed il TOO hard,
it would Zip over and put out one OF the lights
at either side But there was man there
watching eagerly the money plate, and quietly
arranging The figure after il was knocked over.
Some kissed every step as they went along.
There were three handsome young men with
moustaches, crawling up, together with pretty
young girls, many old women and old men,
and large number Of little boys. They would
iostle each other, and make great rush to
obtain the first kiss. The most delicate took
cut their pocket handkerchiefs, and wiped il
before they put their lips to IT. They kissed
every part of it, and none kissed so lightly that
il did not fall over. The little boys and girls
thought it great amusement, and contnved TO
annoy everybody, particularly ladies with foe
dresses. These little imps would go up and
down half dozen times, before others had
been once.


On the summit is chapel, which they all
peep into tor about half an hour. II is said to
be full Of relics Here | saw them kiss the
keyhole, the hinges, and everything about the
door, over and over again, and then kneel
down before il. But | cannot really enumer-
ate all the places they kissed. There is also a
little altar there, where, if they pay certain
sum, souls will be released from purgatory
and YOU will sometimes see the applicant en-
deavoring 10 make good bargain Master
James, too, mounted it, kissed every step, and
reached the summit before any Of them The
next saw Of him, he was quite busy kissing
the figure, while half dozen were waiting
very patiently until he had finished. He says
he will be a Catholic, and that ! need not try
to make him Protestant


It was altogether the most ridiculous sight
ever witnessed. The little boys seemed TO en-
Joy it more than all. You recollect the English
gentleman we met last summer on the Rhine.
He ascended il twice, marvellously well, and
kissed the figure to perfection. To day the
priests 60 round 10 every house, and bless
them. I expect every moment visit from
them. They also have bunbino. which they
carry in great state to the house Of a sick per-
son. If il turns red, the person will recover
if not, death ensues. In great many cases,
the fright Of seeing ii kills the individual, es-
pecially if OF nervous temperament II the
sick person survive the fright, they attribute il
to the bambino, for they firmly believe in it.
Sometimes the doctors have TO insist against its
entrance. A large procession invariably at
tends it