The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-21
Correspondence of the Watchman and Reflector.
EEcrCUGanCUaas and POsMDcii.

Hcrcu!sneum and Pompei are seldom
forgotten by sojourners at Naples, and we'll
worth visiting they are, indeed, especially
the latter. The approach TO HercuIaneum
is through q gate leeding from the long
street which runs around the edge of the
bay, of which ! have spoken heretofore, and
the frs, the visitor krows, he is taken down
stairway into the bowels OF the earth, md
bis course, on landing, conducts him around
and in the various compartments of the an
cent thestre, which seems to have been bu-
ritd by lava. HI is taken ell around it, and
can see the various seats aud steps ss they
were in days of yore. Inscriptions, such as
were customary on such buildings, are found
in his progress, and he is interested in read.
ing the names of public men who lived many
centuries ago. A little distance from this
place, nearer the sea, are found some build
ings that have been excovated, the rooms
and diffeTeLt apartments Of which seem 10
have been on small scalc, but which, in
their different features, answer to our eener-
al ideas of what the style Of such buildings
Yves. They are curiousy puinted, and in
many cases the colors are singulary clear
and bright. IF this is q first view of nnciert
excavations, os it was ours, the interest felt
is very intense. and everything is examined
with curious eye. But they are very email
and uninteresting compared with those OF
Pompcii, which are indeed one Of the won.
ders OF the world.
Pompeii is farther from Naples than Her
culRneum, and in the same general direction
tits not SO near the sea, Though there seems
TO be evidence that it was snceniy situsted
looked out upon the water. For centuries
its position remained unknown, and the soil
lying over ii was cultivsted. Its discovery
was in consequence Of digging well, when
portions Of a building came in view, which
led to the excavations that have resulted in
revealing city that looks, in many respects,
as it did eighteen hundred years ago. About
two thirds OF the whole has been uncovered,
and the work is stiI going on, though not
very rapidly. The city, | should Judge, ori
naly stood on plain, when the shower OF
ashes came that buried it, a mound or hillock k
was formed the whole extent Of the space
covered by the buildings. Gradually soil
accumulated over It, and nothing remained
to indicate the epot where, in profound re.
pose, the buried city was lying. The nshes
and cinders filled every nook and corner oi
the streets and dwelings, end being very
dry. everything covered by them was more
perfectly preserved. 1t is interesting, in
walking along street Of this long buried
city, to see it suddenly terminate in high
bank, and the buildings at The terminus only
partially exhumed, the top of column, it
may be, just raising ts head out of the pre-
cipitous side, while just below it another has
succeeded in getting its principal part out
into the fight and air. The pavement of the
street, too, runs up to and under the bank,
and as you look up to the top, you see soil
several feet thick, with large trees imbedded
IN it, and crops growing on il; and little
farther on, a substantial and somewhat an.
cient looking farm house stands, tenanted
by living men, literally over the homes oi
the departed. 1t is indeed curious and i'm
pressive, TO see the dead past succumbing tc
the living present, while il is gloriously sug-
eestive, to contemplate this resurrection o
the dead, as appearing before your very eyes
Thus life and death, and even the past ant
present. are in close proximity to each
other. And though the past may be forgot
ten, the time Is coming when the true con
nection between them shall be revealed, as
we'll as their combined influence upon, and
Irelations to, the unbounded future.
How is It possible to describe Pompeii
| / had read repeated attempts to describe it
and had seen stereoscopic views Of portions
Of II; but my ideas Of 1t were most made.
suate. | had no conception Of It's size, ant
did not suppose the excavations we're one:
/ fourth what they are. Entering one aide q
the ancient city. yeu find yourselfin one Q
/ the streets, regularly paved with fat stones
which, from appsarcnce, had been In use fel