The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-24
What Thsy Knew $500 Y.sr. Aen.

my INV A0VD xeoR1 ago.
Ihe sesss Of .he Rev. NJ. Thompsoa,
written during lis seosn, tour in Europe,
Africa and Asia, pubilshsd in ,,hs N. CYiIs.
deytndeni, arc highly instructive and saies.
tanning. We subioin an ex,rac. relating %
the Lost Arts: nilid m
The author, on the lst OF January. 1854.
approached Pompeii, one Of the cities. over.
.whelmed by the ashes and cinders Of We.
|suvius, on its frat memorable eruption
about half century subseQuent 10 the com.
mencement OF the Christian Era. Ia tbe
suburbs stands the first object which wss
not long since brought 10 iicht afier The
burial OF ages Il was the large and ele.
giant mansion Of Airins Dion,sdu, which
bears numerous inscriptions a. legible now
as the day after they were made together
with many traces OF the great wealth Of the
occupant. Tombs and ornaments remain
along the road outside the city; within.
rows Of shops and houses on both aides ibe
principal street, which is laid open for half
q mile. .''.ul. IN I..' .i.I
The portable articles found on the prom.
ises, that served to identify each house,
have all been removed 70 the museum At
Naples; as also the finer frescoes and mo-
saics. Enough Of these remain, however,
10 show The luxurious and the lascivious
taste Of the inhabitants. Here is a living
comen.a:y upon the concluding verses of,he
frs; chapter OF Paul's episile to the Ro.
mans. The shocking memorials Of human
depravity here found, and now collected 10
the secret chamber Of the Museo Borbonico
at Naples, are no longer 10 be seen UPON
any terms,-ihe Pope when Ia exile q, Ea.
ples having prohibited their exhibition, o.
contrary 10 good morals. Blu, every me.
moral Of Pompeii shows il 10 have beena
city Of lust-a second Sodom. The man Of
letters who should select such subjects for
the frescoes Of his walls rs are found in the
house Of Sdilust, would be secuted from
our modern society.
Yet wonderful was The perfection Of art
as here exhibited amazing was the wealth
Of city adorned with such temples, thea
tres, and other public edifces as yet arc
found in their old places and proportions,
along these silent streets vast, TOO, was the
wealth OF private citizens who dwelt in
these houses, whose floors are composed Of
rich mosaics, whose walls are adorned with
elaborate ffescoes, whose courts are sur
rounded with marble pillars, aud beautiful
marble vases and fountains. In the garden
Of one house recently exhumed, The sia,uary
has been left precisely as found, pretty little
groups surrounding The fountain, whose very
pipes can be distinctly traced from tho res
ervoir above.
There is nothing new under the sun -
not even our patent methods Of heating
houses, and Of warming wafer for baihs.-
This was done at Pompeii, by means Of
hues Of tilng carried around the rooms,
within the walls and having nperures for
the escape OF heat from the furnace below.
Walker, Chilson, &C., have invaded the pa
tent OF some luckless dealer in furnaces nj
Pompeii, who was buried nj last in ashes
and cinders. We don't know so much, al
Ter all, in America, in this 18th century
Take away the knowledge Of the Gospel,
and we know nothing, in comparison with
these ancient lords, Of The arts and the ele-
gancies Of life. .,.
The streets Of Pompeii are rectangular and
were better paved, and probably better reg.
ula,ed than The streets OF New York. The
houses were much better built. The ce-
ment made two thousand years ago is like
a rock to-day. There were no Tweniy.first
street contractors here. How wonderful Is
the preservation Of these walls-in ashes 10
be sure, but in themselves proof against do
cay. How perfect the pillars. The mould.
ings, the capitals How distinct and how
delicate the painting on the walls and cell
ings! How admirable the arrangement Of
the houses and the gardens How beau,i.
fnl-but we must not linger at Pompeii.-
Its gloom is the more oppressive for the
sunlight that shines upon It's desolaiIon.