Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-01-14
What They Knew 1900 Years Ago.

The letters of the Rev. Mr. Thompson,
written during his recent tour in Europe,
Africa and Asia, published in the News
York Independent. arc highly instruc-
tive and entertaining. We subjoin an
extract relating to tho "Lost Arts"
"The author on the 1st of January,
1868, approached Pompeii. one of the
cities overwhelmed by the ashes and Gin
ders of Vesuvius, on its memorable
eruption about half century subsc-
quent to the commencement of the
Christian Era. In the suburbs stands
the first object which was not long since
brought to light after burial of ages !;
it was the large and elegant mansion of
Arrias Diomedes, which bears numerous
inscriptions as legible now as tho day
after they were made: together with
meny traces OF the great wealth Of the
occupant. Tombs and ornaments re-
main along the road outside the city ;
within are rows of shops and houses on
both sides of the principal steeet, which
is laid open for half mile.
The portable articles found on the
premises, that serve to identify each
house, have all been removed to the Mu
scum at Naples; also the finer frescocs
and mosaic. Enough Of these remain.
however, to show the luxurious and las
civious taste Of qhe inhabitants. Here
is living commentary upon the conclu-
ding verses of the first chapter of Pau's
Epistle to tho Romans. The shocking
memorials Of human dcpravity here
found, and now collected in tho secret
chamber of the Mesub Boronico of Ma
pies, are no longer to be seen upon any
any terms the Pope, when in exile in
Naples, having prohibited their exh,bi-
tion as contrary to good morals. But
every memorial of Pompeii shows it to
have been city of lust-a second Sod
om. The man of letters who should Sc
lect such subjects for the frescoes of his
walls as are found in the house of Sal
lust would DO secuted from our modern
society.
Yet wonderful was the perfection Of
art as here exhibited amazing was the
wealth Of a city adorned with such tenn
pies, theatres and other public edifces
as yet are found in their ol places and
proportions. along these silent streets,
vast, too, was the wealth of private cit
izens who dwelt in thes. houses, whose
floors are rich moshics, whose courts
are surrounded with marble pillars and
beautiful marble vases and fountains
In the garden of one house recently ex-
humed, the statuary has been left pre-
ciscly as found, pretty little groups sur
rounding the fountains whose very pipes
can be traced from the reservoir above.
There ia nothing new under the sun,
and even our patent method Of heating
houses and warming water for baths
This was done at Pompeii, by means Of
Aues af tilling carried around tho Ioems
within the walls. aid having apertures
for the escape of heat from tho furnace
below. Walker. Chilsop. &C., have in
vaded the patent of some luckless dealer
10 furnaces at Pompcii, who was buried
at last in ashes and cinders.
We don't know so much, after all, in
in this nineteenth century. -
Take away the knowledge of the Gospel,
and we know nothing in comparison with
these ancient lords of the arts and ele-
gancies of life.
The streets Of Pompeii are rectangu-
lar, and were better paved, and proba-
bly, better regulated, than the streets of
New York. The houses were much bet
ter built. The cement made 1000
years ago is like a rock to day There
are no Twenty-Grst street contractors
here.
How wonderful is the preservation of
these waIls-in ashes, to be sure. but in
proof against decay! How
perfect the pillars. the moulderings, tho
capitals! How distinct and how deli
cate the paintings on the walls and cell
ing, How admirable the arrangements
of the honses and gardens How heau-
tiful but VIC must not linger at Pom
peii. Its gloom is the more oppressive
for the sunshine upon its eesolatou.
&.~D.S s.O
C,,.,r Tbo ,,arsI,1