Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-31
A Touching Relic Of Pompeii.

In digging out the ruins VI o'"Po r.
ry turn e the spade brings up some relic OF
the ancient life, some witness OF imPeliai
luxury. For far the greater part, the rellcs
have merely curious interest, they oeiohg
to archaeology, and find appropriate resung
places in historical museums.
But there are some exceptions. here'
for instance, the excavator drops AN IN
invited guest) Upon banquet; there ne un-
expe ctedly obtrudes hlmselfin into tomb
In onesplace he finds miser covering on
his heap; another shows him bones OF dam
cling girls and broken instruments oil music
living on the marble floor. In the midst OF
the painted chambers, baths, halls, columns,
fountains-among the splendid evidence OF
material wealth, he sometimes stumbles on
simple incident, touching human story
such as strikes the imagination and sug-
oests the mournful interest of the great dis
aster-as the sudden sight OF wounded
soldier conjures up the horrors OF the heid
of battle.
Such, to our mind, is the latest discovery
of the excavators in this melancholy heid.
tits group of skeletons in the act OF hght-
ing, accompanied by a dog. There are
three human beings, one of them young
girl with gold rings and jewels still on hel I,
fingers. The fugitlves had bag OF golo
and silver with them-snatched up, Inc
doubt. in haste and darkness. But the merry
flood was on their track--and vain their
wealth, their hight-the age OF one, the
youth of the other. The burning lava roll
ed above them and beyond, and the faith,
full dog turned back to share the fortunes Oh
his mistress, dying at her feet. -,
Seen by the light of an incident, now
vividly that night of horrors looms upon the
sense.l Does not the Imagination picture the
little group in their own house, by the side
oftaeir evening fountain, languidly chatter
ing over the days events and OF The unu'
sual heat. Does it not hear with them the
troubled swell of the waters in the bay =
See, as they do. how the night comes down
in sudden strangeness-how the sky opens
overhead and flames break out, while corie
sand and molten rocks COME pouring down
What movements, what emotion, what sur
prise The scene grows darker every IN
IStdDl--Iue UOliOW iiiOHO'ShS SA ~
lifted into yells and shrieks--the air grows
thick and hot with aames-and at the
mountains foot is heard the roll OF the II,
quid lava. Jewels, household gods, gold
and silver coins are snatched up on the In
slant. No time to say farewell; darkness
in front and fire behind, they rush into the
streets-streets choked with falling houses
and Aying citizens. How find the way thro
passages which have no longer outlets =
Confusion, danger, darkness, uproar. eve
rywhere the shouts of parted friends, the
agony of The men struck down by falling
columns-fear madness and despair un'
chained-here penury clutching gold n
cannot keep-there, gluttony feeding on its
final meal, and phrenzy striking IN the DARK
to forestall death. Through all fancy hears
the young girls scream-the lire is on heI
iewelled hand. No time for thought-no
pause-the flood rolls on, and wisdom,
beauty, age and youth, with all their stories
of their love, their hopes, their rank, wealth
and greatness-all the once affiuent lille are
gone forever.