The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-12

LETTER FROM CHANCELLOR LirsCohS ~ fnh
soPBoxoRE CLASS OF THE UsIvER.TY OF
GEORGIA. -.
Pompeii lies about thirteen miles from Naples.
Its situation must have been surprisingly hoe,
the luxurant plains stretching on on Two OF lts
sides. the river Saruus lowing through its midst,
and the sea- loveest of seas, near by with us
caressing waters. Vesuvius was but I'VE mnes
distant. The city, indeed, was built upon ped
of lava which the mountain in some remote age
had poured forth. Yet the volcano had been
quiet SO long that no one feared It; and as the
position OF the city offered unusual advantages TO
trade ss well as presented the highest attractions
TO culture and taste, 1t early became the resort OF
wealth and luxury. Although q Roman city,
Pompeii belonged to that portion OF Italy called
Magma Grecia, and its peculiarities were largely
shared by The spirit Of Greek civilization. IL was
visited by an earthquake, A. D. s.. and was over.
whelmed by an eruption OF Vesuvius in the year
70. For nearly 100 years IL lay buried under
ashes. Since l755 the work of excavation has
been going on, though not regularly, u-
IL contained about Is, 900 inhabitants. Its walls,
which were 20 feet thick and the same height,
were, suppose, rather more than two miles ia
circuit. These walls had five gates; the princl-
pal one called the ." Gate Of Herculane an
and stood at the point where the Appisn Way
touched the city.
NV 6rst walk was along the " Street Of the
Tombs - This is outside Of the wall and leads to
the Gate Of Herculaneum." felt very strangely
when entered the House OF Dlomedes, II you
ver, YOU can understand why my feelings were so
singular. To take stroll through an almost per-
fect Roman house to see all its arrangements; 10
tread upon its marble floors, look into its peu'
chambers and stand In its reception hall 10 go
down into it's cellars aud around its gardens an
among its baths, Is one OF those Intensely viva
things that the distant past rarely permits you 70
enjoy. / entered through q narrow passage ives
tibulum) into the hall (atrium) and thence into
the bedrooms connected by doors with this hail.
The chambers were quite small, not larger than
the little dormitories in old colleges aud they had
no windows. saw the other apartments. IL was
sort of double house, one set of rooms for sum
mer and one for winter. Like most OF the private
edifces it was one story. The wine cellar below
was quite large. back wall surrounded three
sides Of the area, within which were the gar
dens.
Down in the gloomy cellar. was shown
where skeletons were found huddled together
The ashes swept In on the inmates Of the hous'
who probably hurried to that place for protec
ton, but the mighty rain, black and tempestuous
chased them there and closed compa,ty srouat
them. The impression Of the skeletons Is pointei
out But II is not as clear as that Of the comic mas
In the thester Of Herculaneum. ! never saw any
thing more perfect than this Tue melted Law
caught IL and hardened around 1t, and there ar
the mimic features compiled.
Then crossed the street and saw the faui
burial ground. Then other places OF intermen'
The Romans loved to put their tomes on the side
of the public roads. Hundreds Of these sepu
chres may be seen In Italy.
i went into these hillside vaults. Inc arr