The Nevada Democrat., 1856-09-24
City OF PoInpcii.

A correspondent of the New York Journal of
Commerce, who has been visiting the ancient
city of Pompeii, now being excavated by the
Ncapolitan government, gives the subjouned
sketches
Leaving the temples, we entered the "street
Of Abnndance"--callcd so from statute Of
Abundance found there. The front of all these
bouscs on each side Of the street was used for
stores or shops, the name of each occupant be-
ivg still there inscribed on the entrance in rude
characters of red paint. The houses connected
with these shops and indeed almost all the
houses in Pompeii, are small and low, though
adapted in most respects to the climate and to
the habits of a people who spent most OF their
time in the open air and in public. The por-
tions of the house exposed to visitors are the
vestibue or porter's lodge, through which you
pass into the dtriuna, quite spacious room, COW
cred with fiat roof, opened in the centre for
the purpose of admitting the light and for Sc
curing the rain, which decended through it into
q cstern occupying the centre of the room, and
made of marble, frequently wrought into forms
of great beauty. The walls and roof of this
apartment were sometimes splendldly ornament
cd, and the floor always Of marble or rich mo-
sale. Opening into the atrium, on the sides,
were the rooms for the reception of strangers,
and also the dining room Through this dining
room they passed into the more private apart
ments of the family. You first come into court
open to the air in the middle, and surrounded
by covered colonnade, the centre of this court
being filed with flowers and statutes, and not
unfrequently adorned with fountain. Sur
rounding the court were the dining saloon, the
sitting room the library. the picture gallery
and the bed rooms. There was also bath
room in one angle Of this court. and a little
set apart for household goods. The second floor
| bo dave n1 tn
rooms and to apartments for servants In the
rear was a small garden, corresponding in many
respects to a well kept yard of II n. York resi-
dence filled with shrubs and flowers and vines.
"On one side. at a short distance. they point
ed to the villa of Cicero; but as this was mat
ter of uncertainty, we hurried on to the villa of
Diomede which has been often described 1t
stands just where this melancholy street termi-
mates, in the open fields of the country, and we
found ourselves much to our surprise, stepping
up by flight Of six steps directly from the street
of the tombs into what is considered the most
elegant and wonderful of all the ruins of Pom
eli. We passed through the various suites of
rooms resembling in their forms and uses those
already described, but much larger and more
elegant. We stopped with much interest in the
bed room where we found cases of perfumes
and cosmetics which had been shown us in the
museum. We descended finally to the garden
in the rear, overlooking the sea; and "herc,"
said our guide pointing to the gate of the gar
den, "were found two men, the one holding in
his skeleton hand purse containing one hun
Cred gold aud silver coins, while the other man
still gra5pcd the key OF the villaG' They were
the master and servant. But our interest in
this scene was almost forgotten as our guide led
us still further down into the cellar, where we're
found seventeen others members OF the family
who had evidently sought this as their last ref
uge from impending destruction. They were
mostly females, and two OF them were children.
whose beautiful bloade locks were as bright
when discovered as when blew over their faces
the sweet breeze of summer. The fine alluvium
had hardened upon their bodies, producing per-
feet coats not only of their forms but even of
the delicate texture of their linnen and jewels.
part ofa cast of a fresh young girls neck and
bosom, taken from the cellar, is still exhibited
ut the Museum; and-our guide holding up his
torch against the wall-we saw forms OF two
persons distinctly traced standing there for sup
port, while the sufocatng torrents immersed
their persons and sealed them up in darkness
The sight can never forget. 1t was the last
house we visited at Pompeii; and that cellar,
with its sad and vivid pictures of sudden and
overwhelming ruin, was a fitting termination to
the labors of one of the most exciting days OF
my lfe
Exhibitions of ancient life are seen on every
hand. The public bathing rooms are as perfect
as when the Pompeans enjoyed their luxury
The visitor is continually on the most beautiful
Mosaic pavements, aud exquisite fountains, stat
utes and paintings are ever before him, while
various temples of great size, noble design and
elegar finish, excite his admiration