Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-06-17
A Touching Relic OF Pompeii.

In digging out the ruins of POmpeii,
every turn Of the spade brings up somo
relic of the life, some witness Of imperial
luxury. For far the greater part, tho
relies have a merely curious interest
they belong to archaeology, and find ap-
propriate resting places in hisio'!c"t
museums.
But there are some exceptions. Hero,
for instance. the oNcayatog drops, an TN
invited guest upon banquet there lie
Unexpectedly obrudyS himself into .
tomb. In one place he finds q miser
covering cu his heap; another SLOWS
him the bones Of dancing girls, aid
broken instruments OF music lying ca
the marble floor H. the midst Of tie
painted chambers. baths, halls, columns,
touu,a;us,among tha splendid evidences
Of ml,ui.l wealth, he sometimes STUN.
hl,s On simple incident, 4 touching
human story such Is strikes the imagi-
nation, ana suggests moUEiUl interest
Of the great disaster, IS the sudden
Sight ot wounded soldier coniuryS W
the horrors OF ba',.c. such, t. oUc
mind. is the latest discovery Of the ca
cavator in rhi, melancholy ho!d. II il
group of skeletons in the act ot fight,
accompanied 10y a dog. There acc
thr,, human I,,u2-.ouc %, them ayounE
girl. with gold rings and Jewels suii On
her fingers. The iGgitiyy> had bag of
gold and silver with them. sna,chcd up,
no doubt in haste and darkness. Eut
Tie fiery food was ON their track, and
vain ;hcir wealth, their fight, the ago
of one. tLcyouth Of the olN,r. Tho
burning lava rolled above them and hc-
yond, and the faithful dog turned back
10 share the fate of his mistress, dying
at her feet Seen 10y the light OF such
an incident, how yividly that night Of
horror looms upon the senses. Docs
rot the imagination ictwc the lli'!o
group in their own house. 10y tie sidc
Of their fountain, laugUidly chattcrm%
over the DAYS events and oi the unusual
heat Docs il not hear with them tho
roublpd swell a The waters IN the bay
see a> thcN do. how the night comes
down in sudden s;rangou,sS, how the
>ky opens overhead. and flames break
out. W lille scoria, sand, and molten rocks
come pouring down " hat move
la,nt-. what emotion, what surprise
The scene grows darker every instant !;
the hollow mouotouy ot the bay Il lift
od into y,ll, and shri,ks the air grows
thicl, and hot with flames, and ut tho
mountains foot is heard the roll of Ii
ouid lava. Jewels, household gods, and
gold and silver coins are snatchrd up
ON the instant No time 10 say iarr-
wei: darkness in front aud fire behind,
the rush into the streets, Chokod with
falling houses and tlying citizens. How
find the way through passages, which
have no longer outlet Confusion,
danger. darkness uproar everywhere;
the shouts Of parted friends the agony
Of men. struck down by falling columns:
fear, madness, and despair unchanged
here pcumy, chtchiug gold il cannot
keep; there gIutlony, feeding on Iis f.
nal meal, and phrcnzy striking III the
dark to iorcstaIl death. Thro all, fancy
hears tie young girls screams ; the fro
is on her jcwclod band. No time for
thought, no pausc-thc food roIls or,
and wisdom, beauty, agc, and youth,
with all the stories OF tL,ir love, their
hopc,. their rank, wealth and greatness
all the once aillucnt life, are gone
forever