Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1915 — Page 3

Labyrinthine of Catacombs ROME

THE world has heard many strange accounts of the exploits of German army spies in all parts of Europe, but surely the strangest of all is that they have concealed themselves in the Catacombs of Rome in order to spy on the operations of the Italian army, says a writer in the New York American. Where the earliest Christians constructed these wonderful secret hiding places in the rock to escape the, bloodthirsty tyranny of the Roman emperors, these efficient moderns have concealed themselves for the purposes of war. Where the earliest Christians sought refuge to conduct their sacred services in safety, the modern militarists have made a stronghold for the most subtle and deadly objects "of the gospel of war. The Catacombs furnish an almost impregnable hiding place, for there are about sixty of them in all, with uncounted entrances, and the winding passages within them are perhaps two hundred miles in length. Their exact length has never been measured, but as they wind about one under the other until there are often five or six of them in depth, it will, be easily understood that they may have at least that length. They are Just outside the ancient city walls and are excavated In a kind of rock called Tufa, which, though soft, holds its form when excavated. Endless Maze of Galleries. The Catacombs now consist of an endless maze of galleries. This was not the original condition, but the result of the gradual evolution through centuries, during which one generation after another added to their complications. During the first and second centuries some of the Roman Chrißtians built small catacombs for the burial of themselves, their family and friends. These usually consisted of a square chamber, in which a single gallery ran around the sides, about eight feet high by three feet wide, in whose sides were cut recesses called “loculi,” one above the other, to receive the bodies. Persons of distinction were buried in special chambers, or cubicula, which opened out of these galleries, and for these burials carved sarcophagi were often used, placed in arched niches or “arcosolia." These recesses it appears, have been used as hiding places for the food, fuel and papers of the German spies. Usually some early Christian martyr was buried in such chambers and his tomb served as an altar at which /religious services were afterward celebrated.' As the number of Roman Christians increased in early -tlmeß and consequently the number of -burials, the originally small catacoifihs. vfere honeycombed with galleries and, veitensions. When one story of them was no longer sufficient, stairways were made, and another system of galleries excavated beneath. This was followed, if necessary, by a third, fourth, fifth or even sixth story of galleries. The catacomb of St Calixtus occupied a leading position, and here the bishops of Rome of the third century were buried in a special crypt. It is said that this catacomb concealed the principal headquarters of the German spy organization. During this ancient period passages were gradually cut to connect the neighboring catacombs, thus joining the whole of them together into an endless labyrinth, through which nobody but an experienced person, such as one of the monks dr church officials, put in charge of these places, ■was likely to find his way. Indeed, there are gruesome stories of curious Americans in modem times who have tried to explore these catacombs alone and have lost themselves and starved to death. A trained “tracker," however, with proper lights and gome method of marking his track, would have no great difficulty in finding his way out again after a trip to the deeper recesses. History of the Catacombs. r The catacombs reached their highest development in the middle of the

IN THE CATACOMBS

third century, when Roman persecution of the Christians was carried to extreme violence. Persecuting officials and mobs, refusing to recognize the sanctity of the Christian places of burial, entered the Catacombs and began to deface the chapels, tombs and sacred decorations. Christians then destroyed the entrances with their oratories, their open stairways and their halls for the “agapemone,” or Christian lovefeasts, filled up the galleries and made other.and secret entrances from neighboring sand pits, called “arenarias.” Thus they completed the inconceivably intricate and confusing character of the passages, which has so strangely furnished a basis of operations for military spies in our day. During the terrible persecution of the Christians under Emperor Diocletian, hundreds of martyrs were buried in secret here, and the enlargements necessary were carried on with the same secrecy. Even after persecution had ceased under the Emperor Constantine, burials were commonly made here because the place had been rendered sacred by the bones of the martyrs. At laßt these reasons ceased to appeal to the people, and the Catacombs were no longer used for burials or religious services. For several centuries in the early middle ages they were the objects of pilgrimages by pious Christians from all over Europe. Then came the disastrous Invasion of Italy by Gothß and other Teutonic barbarians, and by Vandals, Lombards and Saracens. Once more the catacombs served a vital purpose to Rome. The treasures of the city were in many cases carried here to save them from the barbarians. The entrances were once more closed up, and in many cases parts of the galleries were filled, in order that the barbarians might not lay hands on their sagred relics and treasures and deface their sacred decorations. From the invasion of the Saracens In the tenth century down to the fifteenth century the Catacombs were more or less forgotten by civilization, but there is no doubt that they served as a refuge for many Brigands, rebels and other turbulent characters, who preyed upon travelers or fought against the authorities during the stormy medieval history of Rome. During the great Italian Renaissance they were reopened, and since then they have been more and more explored, with wonderfully interesting results, but even today their full extent is not known, and the art treasures which they contained have not all been studied. Perhaps at this moment some German spy, with his little electric pocket lamp, his mind divided between espionage and archeology, is gazing with interest upon the earliest pictures of the holy apostles which have not yet been seen by the eyes of the modem ecclesiastic or archeologist.

The strength of a nemlock stick a foot square that had been in water for almost forty years was recently tested in the 600,000-pound testing machine at Rensselaer .Polytechnic institute at Troy, N. Y. The timber, which was 16 feet 9 Inches long, Usd formed part of one of the piers of the Congress street bridge at Troy. When the pier broke down after the flood in the spring of 1913, the timber was turned over to one of the material-testing laboratories of the Institute. It was kept In the open air for three months, and then placed in a dry room for a little more than nine months. When placed in the testing machine, the column failed under a load of 384,000 pounds; that is, the long-submerged wood showed an ultimate strength of 3,670 pounds to the square inch. In the opinion of Prof. T. R. Lawson, who eon ducted the test, the remarkable strength of this piece of hemlock seems to show that being Immersed in water for a long time does not decrease the column strength of timber that is subsequently permitted to drv out.- ■

Interesting Test of Timber.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP-

HUGH JENNINGS’ START

Was Backstop for Pennsylvania Team When Discovered. Placed on First Base by Manager Chapman of Louisville and Began by Banging the Ball Merrily to All Comers. Back in the summer of 1891 a young chap with carmine-colored hair and a face silked all over with polka dots was catching for a baseball team representing Leighton, Pa., where he had signed that spring. Leighton was, at that time, a beautiful place of 3,000 inhabitants, but this young man was somewhat lost In that community, for of the 3,000 residents all were Dutch except two, an Irish saloonkeeper and his sister, and Hughie Jennings, hav-ing-considerable Irish blood coursing through his system, was a welcome addition to this very small Irish colony. In the month of June a certain baseball fan —In fact, he was a director of one of the clubs in a small Pennsylvania state league—sent a tip to Jack Chapman of the Louisville club of the American association concerning this young catcher, stating that, if he would sign him, in less than a month he would prove the equal of the best player Chapman had on his line-up. The wise Chapman must have had faith in this unknown fan, for he promptly sent slbo to young Jennings with orders to report at once. Hughie thought it must be a Joke, but on examining the coin he found ■it real money and he made up his mind to go. Hughie Jennings’ days as a catcher ended the moment he donned a Louisville uniform. Chapman didn’t just know what to do with this tow-headed busher after he got him, but he had invested one hundred cold dollars In the deal and felt that he must have the youngster earn it if possible, and

Manager Hugh Jennings.

Hughie was dead willing to work it out. Opportunity came tripping his way, for First Baseman Taylor was injured about that time, and Chapman planked the raw recruit on the initial sack. It was on June 6, 1891, that the now famous manager of the Detroit Tigers played his first game in the majors, and the contest was against the Baltimore team. The first big league hurler who faced Hughie, or Whom Hughie faced, wasn’t very Dig. A little bit of a left-hander of the name of Madden was the pitcher and Louisville made only four hits, ihe Leighton recruit getting one of them. In his next game Jennings made three safe hits in four times up off the pitching of the noted McMahon and he continued to bang the ball right merrily during the balance of that season.

Picks Tigers to Win.

“If the Tigers don’t win the pennant this season,” said Bill Donovan in a fanning bee, “they all ought to be arrested and put in jail. I’ve looked at all the clubs, and Detroit is the class of the league. Any pitcher that has behind him the. sort of hitting that my old mates are giving ought to be fighting to get in there instead of wondering when his turn comes. Chicago looks pretty good, but was lucky against us. Boston hasn’t got Detroit's offense. There are no other teams to consider, as far aa the flag is concerned."

Oddities of the Game.

Just showing the oddities of the game: On the same day that Mickey Kellher, playing first for Worcester in the New England league, went through nine innings without a chance being offered him, Shorten, playing the outfield for Providence in the International, had 12 putouts and an assist.

Scott Makes World’s Record.

For extremes, take Everett •Scott, Boston Red Sox shortstop, who recently handled 143 chances in 24 games without an error, and the Winnipeg club of Northern association, which accumulated 88 errors in .17 consecutive games. It is believed Scott established a new world’s record.

Paddock Leading Slugger.

Del Paddock, a former member of the White Sox is now hitting over .400 in. the American association. He is leading the big minor league and is a member of the SL Paul team.

MARANVILLE FIELDS BETTER THAN EVER

Nothing gets away from Rabbit Maranvilleof the Braves. As the season progresses It Is plain that he is fleldipg his position better than ever. His sensational stops take the heart out of the hard hitters of opposing teams. Smashes that ordinarily would mean extra bases are handled like pop flies by Maranville, who seems to be all over the field. One minute he jumps in and gets a bunt with the greatest ease, and the next he Is backing up In the outfield, nailing what seems to be a sure hit. His fielding is as graceful as It Is effective.

SHOWING OF CUBS AND WHITE SOX STIRS FANS

The recent showing of the two Chicago major league baseball clubs has led to speculation as to whether history is to repeat itself and the Cubs apd White Sox meet again in world’s series play. While the pennant clinching days in the American and National leagues are still afar off there is no denying that the two Chicago clubs have exhibited a sterling brand of ball this season. Western fans recall the > series of 1906 when the play of that year was confined strictly to Chicago with the White Sox, . under the leadership of Fielder Jones, defeating Frank Chance’s Cubs four games to two. Nine years have elapsed since the first and only world’s series between two clubs representing the same city, and today but two of the 30 players participating in those games are still with the original clubs.

JACK LAPP A STAR CATCHER

Considered by Connie Mack as One of Very Best Backstops in the American League Circuit. Jack Lapp, catcher with the Athletics, may be a bit shy on hair but according to Connie Mack what he lacks on the outside of his head in the way of hirsute adornment is made up by the way gray matter is crowded into the Inside. Mack recently came out with a statement that Lapp is one of the very best catchers in the business. Per-

JacK Lapp.

haps he thought to salve Jack’s feelings, for he could not be blamed if he nursed a notion that he Bad been slighted, with all the credit for the Athletics’ good work going to a youngster like Schang. 1 __ _

NOTES of the DIAMOND

Fred Clarke has the Pirates going at a dizzy pace. • • • It is noticed that the iron men of baseball go to the scrap heap early. • * • Tris Speaker is going back—going back further than ever and catching drives. * • * John McGraw is following the lead of Connie Mack in picking up college players. • • • Philadelphia surgeons apparently got the better of the swap of Magee for Whitted and Dugey. * * * Ham Hyatt has been helping the Cardinals crawl up in the race with his long drives to right field. • * • Frederick C. Lieb of the New York Press thinks the White Sox and Cubs will play in the next world’s series. • • * Clarence Rowland has ordered all his Sox players to wear rubber heels so they won’t slip out of first place. * • * Manager Rowland doesn’t consider Detroit a pennant factor. Boston is the team the Sox have to beat, he thinks. * • • One by one Ray Schalk is winning over the critics to his side in the controversy over who Is the world’s greatest catcher. • • • As a third-sacker, Blackbume Is developing and Manager Rowland will probably keep him in the game for the rest of the season. « • •

From now on It is going to a battle in the American league among St. Louis, Cleveland and Philadelphia for the cellar poaitidn. * e • Manager McKechnie, who succeeded Bill Phillips as leader of the Newark team, is proving a success and has the club on its toes. • • • Bob Bescher is playing a better game than at any time this year. It is much better than he played last year with the Giants. • • * A discussion between Otto Knabe and Joe Tinker upon the respective merits of Umpires Johnstone and Fyfe would be interesting. • • * The American association clubs are cutting down expenses right and left. Players drawing big money are the first to be shown the door. • • • Branch Rickey, manager of the Browns, has a fondness for college recruits and eventually may lead • whole club composed of ex-collegians. • • • The Cincinnati club is anxious to sesure Pitcher Dan Tipple from Indianapolis of the association and is said to nave offered big money and players m addition. • • • Grover Loudermilk, St Louis pitcher, recently told the umpires he ha® so much stuff they couldn’t see the ball to Judge balls and strikes properly. The amps were surprised to hear if

BABY’S DANGER PERIOD

ESPECIAL CARE REQUIRED PROM MAY TO OCTOBER. Thoughtful Mother May Do Much to Protect Infant From Summer lllneea Simple Rules That Must Be Observed. (Prepared by the Children’* Bureau, U. 8. Department of Labor.) From May to October the baby must be guarded with special care, if he is to escape the dangers which lurk about him in the hot days of summer. It is estimated that of the many thousands of babies who die every summer, principally in July and August, half might have been saved, since summer diarrhea may often be prevented with suitable care. It is caused, in a large number of cases, by mistakes in the method of feeding, or by using impure milk, or other unsuitable dangerous foods, or by overheating the baby with too. much clothing. The careful and thoughtful mother may do much, therefore, to protect her baby from this illness, by avoiding, as far as possible, its various causes. Throughout this series of articles, mothers have been urged to observe / certain simple rules for the health of the baby in summer. These rules require: 1. That the baby shall be fed on proper food in proper Quantities at proper intervals. 2. That he have no food between meals, but shall have plenty of pure, cool drinking water. 3. That he shall be kept as cool as possible by fresh air, plenty of baths, and very little clothing. • 4, That he shall be protected from 'flies and mosquitoes. If these rules are faithfully carried out many cases of summer diarrhea will be prevented. If, however, the disease appears, the city mother should at once consult her doctor, or,

A Healthy Summer Baby.

if she has no physician, take her baby to the nearest infant welfare station, where competent physicians will advise her with regard care of the baby and trained nurses will assist her in carrying out his directions. It is of great importance to take the disease in its first stages, as a mild form of the disease readily becomes a serious one. In the country, where it is very difficult to get the advice of a doctor, the mother has a harder problem. Because she is out of the range of infant welfare stations, hospital*, and often of physicians as well, it is most important to prevent every attack of illness possible by careful attention to the baby’s food and general care, as already advised in these articles. If the baby is still at the breast, one or two nursings should be omitted, and only pure, cool water given in its place. Meanwhile the mother’s breasts should be pumped at each usual nursing time to prevent their drying up. Bottle-fed babies are much more likely to be the victims of summer diarrhea. When this happens, the bottle should be omitted for eight, twelve or twenty-four hours, according to the severity of the attack. Do not, however, keep food from the baby longer than twenty-four hours, except on the advice of a physician. When the bottle is resumed, the food should be much weaker than before; at least, half of the milk previously given should be substituted by water. The milk should be skimmed, and sugar should be omitted. The return to the former feeding should be made gradually, adding a little more milk each day, and beginning to add sugar. The more severe the attack has been, the more slowly should changes be made. If the baby is on “mixed” feeding, that is, partly breast and partly bot-tle-fed, the bottle feedings should b® omitted if diarrhea appears, tod the breast given once in four or five hours, with nothing but drinking water between meals. The Children's Bureau publishes a pamphlet called ‘lnfant Care," which, is sent free of charge to anyone send-* lng a request to the Chief of the Children’s Bureau, B. S, Department of Labor, Washington. This pamphlet contains some simple directions for the care of the babies in summer which may help the mother to prevent summer diarrheas tod other ailments, of infancy. *