The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-04
REALITY IN HISTORY.
Further Remarkable D;seoTeRSes IL

romPei.
From Appleton Journal.
During the eruption Of Ecsuvius, which
destroyed the ancient city Of POnlpeii, those
who delayed too long in making their escape
fell victims, for the most part, to the per
nicious effects of sulphuric and carlonic acid
gases, and were rapidly covered by the
showers of fine dust following the eruption,
which, gradually hardening, formed per
feet noulds OF the unhappy beings who
miserably persisted, from which admit
rable casts are taken, showing their forms,
feature, expression and attitude, when
overtakcn by death. At the beginning of the
excavations little attention was Paid to these
natural moulds, only few having been par
TALLY cast and preserved, the most remarka-
bic Of which were those Of . husband, wife
and child; the husband at the momenA Of
death pressing tightly to his breast nineteen
pieces of gold and ninety -one pieces Of silver,
which were found fixed to his ribs; the wife
had let fall a coarse linen cover, in which
were found fourteen bracelets, gold rings,
ear rings, and jewels of less Importance
1t was only, however, in 1863, that NJ
Florelli had the happy idea of filling those
natural molds with peculiar solution Of
plaster, by which process the victims are re-
produced in their integrity.
The first group reproduced was composed
of man, a woman and two young girls,
who had remained within-dOOrs until too
late; when they attempted 10 escape by the
windows or terrace, they were suddenly as
phyxiated, and covered by the dust, which
faithfully preserved the contour Of their
forms. ... ff
In 1868 body thus reproduced was that
Of a man who had fallen face downward,
whose countenance was the very image Of
despair and sufiering-his clenched teeth
and crisped hands eloquently expressing the
agony he had endured.
Next in the interest is the form of a wO-
man who had fallen on her back, whose right
hand leans upon the earth, her left raised, as
if trying to ward off danger, To aid her
flight, she had raised her vestments. Her
form is tall and elegant, her admirably arch
cd foot, encased in strong sandals, being a
favorite subject Of study to artists. On one
of her fingers u a silver ring, while near her
were found gold earrings, a silver mirror,
and an amber statue representing Cupid. Her
hair in the front forms three rows of ringlcts,
and falls, plated over her hack, in the man.
ner of the Voltaire peS1mgues.
4 remarkable group Of three persons has
been admirably cast, which is in the highest
degree interesting. 4 man of tall stature
and powerful build, with strongly marked
features, prominent cheek homes, heavy beard
and mustache. is the principal figure; he
held in his hands the earrings of the two
young girls who followed him, and the key
of his house, and looks the beau ideal of an
old Roman legionary. Over his head he
has thrown the corner % his mantle for pro-
lection against the nOxiOus gases of the fall
ing dustd an cinders, the expression of his
two daughters being suggestive of sufiocation.
| There is something touching in the spec
tacle Of the two sisters who followed their
father, in the precise attitude as they fell,
supporting each other, breathing the same
poison, and dying entwined i'm each other $
arms. Both of the figures are Of beautiful
forms and proportions.
There is something inexpressibly sad in
the aspect of this group, moulded nature in
the agony between life and death, as they
vainly attempted to escape from the doomed
city.
With the means now at the disposal of NJ
Flcrelli, he will be able to form museum
representing the race, beauty, costume and
unhappy fate of the inhabitants of Pompeii,
which will henceforth be of inestimable value
| IN students Of art and history