Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-09-24

scribe the surprise OF all present when the lid
was detached? The vessel was half full of wa
ter The interior presented no signs of oxida-
ton, and the water, when tasted was found to
be perfectly sweet and good. There were also
in the water half dozen eggs the Minister
took out one broke it and, after while ven
tured to taste it. To his surprise he found it
perfectly palatable The other eggs were
placed in a dish which was on the trencher, and
left until we should return. When we did re-
turn we found that they had crumbled into
dust-which is not very astonishing considering
that the hen that laid them had been dead two
thousand years Pompeii has enriched us with
jewels, paintings and sculptured marbles these
things were substantial and impervious to the
assaults of time-but who would have thought
Of eggs and fresh water too? Still, how curious
are these revelations of the inner life of peo
pie long since moulded into ashes? We after
wards found delicious pastry, a turkey prepared
for the spit, and a peculiar kind of sausage
akin to the bologna of the present time; but
they all crumbled to dust when exposed to the
action of the atmosphere.
But still greater wonders were left for us to
behold. From the kitchen we passed into what
was once dining room. The furniture was in
a high state OF preservation considering the
length Of time it had been buried. The tapes
try and coverings OF the otomens to be sure,
were somewhat rotted, but they appeared in
their original folds and festoons, A table was
IN the centre OF the room, on which were ar
rayed handsome plates, knives, forks and all
the paraphernaia Of the dining table. The salt,
pepper, curry, catsup and mustard We're all ap-
parently fresh, and some wine of an excellent
flavor, bottled and corked, stood in cooler un-
der the table. Good liyers, thought I, were
our friends Of the reign Of Titus-but there
had been dinner spoiled
The party were now furnished with lights, as
the guide informed US that the apartment we
were next to examine was entirely subterranean,
dark and damp. It had not yet been explored,
and, therefore, the sights would be new The
door leading to this chamber was forced open
with some difficulty; when at length it yielded
to the force of crow-bar, rush of humid air
almost extinguished our lights. We could dis
tinctly hear the drlppings of water in all parts
OF the room, and when we entered, the brillian-
cy OF the scene was almost too great for our
optics Every article was covered with lucent
drapery of crystal, the prismatic colors of which
made the scene at once gorgeous in the extreme.
1t seemed to have been a ladys boudoir or
bathroom, and every thing was one mass of
solid petrifaction. The toilet table, mirror,
chairs and lounges were entirely encrusted with
basalt. The ancient acquiduct which furnished
the bath was still running, though the drip
pings indicated that there must have been
rupture. I could only account for the basaltic
dress Of this apartment, by presuming that the
vast quantity OF aqueous vapor that escaped
during the eruption, was condensed and de-
scended in torrents of rain which falling on the
ashes, which the volcano cast out, converted
them into mud, and it was in all probability
mud that enveloped Pompeii; Herculaneum
and Stable appear to have been covered with
molten matter. However, [ shall leave this
question to be settled by geologists and chem
lists.
Pursuing our researches, much, however, to
our discomfort from the dampness and drip
pings, we made minute examination of a
massive bath Of marble embedded in an arched
niche. It was completely coated with crysta-
line masses, and we could easily perceive that
it was nearly filled with water Next to the
bathing recess was a closed door covered by
rotten and decayed tapestry. With much la
bor this door was opened, for it was hermeti-
cally sealed by the drippings of ages. What a
sight burst upon our view when the interior
was revealed! As if encased in miniature
iceberg, beautiful creature stood before us i
loose garment partly concealed the most per-
feet form l ever beheld; her hands were clasped
in the attitude of prayer and supplcation-her
dark brown hair hung loosely over shoulders of
parian whiteness and her lovely and expressive
iaCe was lQlueu upWaruS as II Ill tne acG OF
pleading to the gods for mercy. Could it be
that beauty Of two thousand years ago stood
before us in all the majesty of love and inno-
cence? turned to the Minister as if to ask
the question he seemed wrapped in admira
ton, but little awed by the display for he was
taking pinch of snuff and remarking how ex-
tremely damp the apartment was.
But few minutes were allowed us to gaze
on the beautiful mummy, for one by one our
lights began to go out, and rather than be left
in total darkness, we concluded to retire into a
more free and wholesome atmosphere. How,
like Pigmallion, did [ pray that the lovely
statue might become animate-that it might
live and breathe and tell of times past!
| have been able to obtain few relics of
Pompeii, and shall cherish them as the most
precious contributions to my museum.
L. M.