Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-03-21
he believed, in Congress to-day than at
any former time.
Foreign Correspondence of THE HERALD
[No.5.l
Letters from Italy.
NAPLES. Feb. Let. 1S'

| Genoa, Pisa and Lima. Politically it
has passed through many changes and
revolutions. The former kingdom of Ma
pies or the two Sicilies embraced the an
cient tribes of Walsh, Samnites, Oscans,
Campanians, Apulians, Lucanians, Gala
brians, Benthians, Siculians and others
of less Importance.
The history'of the city extends back
to a very remote period. It's origin and
name are Greek. About the year 1856
B. c. Holians from Chalcis in Eulna
founded the colony of Kyme, from
which the colony of Parthenope ema-
mated The colony was reinforced by
emigrants from Greece, who founded
Neapolis (new city,, the portion erected
by the original colonists, being called
Pal@OpOlis Gold city,, distinction that
was maintained till the conquest by the
Romans in 1926 B. G.
After the fall Of the Roman Empire
Naples became subject to different
powers, and in 1918, at the peace of
Utrecht. the Kingdom of two Sici-
lies embracing the provinces of
Naples and Sicily was ceded to the
house of Hapsburgh, but it finally re-
verted to the BOurbons of Spain. Fer
dinand II. of this house was the last
king of the Sicilies. He died Outing the
political struggles of 1859 (Which com
menCed in 184S), and his son Francis II.
succeeded to the throne but was unable
to maintain the position. On Sept. 9TH,
1860, Garibaldi entered Naples with
band of volunteers and proclaimed Vic
tor Emanuel of Sardinia, and of the
house of Savoy, King of Italy.
The inhabitants of Naples are of
heterogeneous character and great yari-
ETY. of costume, language and customs
abound. The peculiar characteristic is
still, as it ever has been, love of the
pleasure of the moment. The Neapoli-
tans are the most joyous, the most care
less and the most indOlent people that |
have ever seen. Nothing is capable of
depressing the bu0yancy of their spirits
for a great length Of time.
The songs of the Neapolitan pcasantry
are famous everywhere. Last evening
during dinner | had the pleasure of lis
tcning to a genuine NeapOlitan minstrel,
who, accompanied by his guitar, sang a
programme of over half an hours dura-
ton, under the window of our hotel
dining room. The pieces were all an
n0unccd before they were sung. | re-
member the name of only one, Beau
tiful Belle Of SOrcntO.' The melodies
rcscmblcd somewhat the best popular
ones in America, and the effect, as the
singer was entirely out of view, was
most charming, and seems really more
like an episode in some fairy tale than a
reality Speaking of our hotel, re-
minds me that it bears a great name,
" Hotel Washington, " and its proprietor
is a stern Gold Republican patriot. Sic
Henry COnci.
Before 1848 he was a wealthy and in
tluential citizen of Naples, but lost
everything in the struggles for Italian
Independence. Being longer unable TO
endure the oppression of King Ferd-
mend, who was the tool of the church.
he became one Of the leaders of the re
voluuonary party. He was one Of the
seycd who took an oath to die or kill the
King. Sig. NilanO, one of the number
had been a professor, a priest and a
monk, in order to obtain an OppOrtuni-
ty to fulfill the VOW that each had made,
but without success. On a public Occas-
sion when the King was expected to APP
pear, Sig. COnCi stationed himself at the
door of the kings palace, and as the
king appeared, stepped forward to shoot
him, but was arrested and baniShcd from
the kingdom where he remained till a
change in the government took place
King Ferdinand died from the effects Of
poison insinuatcd into his cigars and
coffee. | can recommend this Italian
Republican and coWorkpr with Garibal-
Iii, as a faithful landlord. He speaks in
the most glowing terms Of his admira-
ton Of American institutions and longs
for the time when Italy shall he favored
with similar opea.
In the Interest which ATTACHES to times
that are worthy of the attention ot stu
dents of ancient Roman history, thos,.
of the cnyirOns Of Naples are second on
ly to those of Rome. Those Of the IN
fortunate cities Of Pompeii aud Ucgc!l- .
laneum, are the most intering as hearing
evidence of n knowledge of arts and .
sciences that We're long lost. These ci- .
ties Were situated on the bay at the foot
Of Ecsuvlus, Herculancum about four
miles from Naples and Pompeii twelve.
was built by the Greeks
On account Of its situation and salubri-
Gus climate it finally becamo favorite
site for Roman villas. In the year 70,
after several centuries Of quiet, Ecsu-
yius gave forth an immense quantity Of
lava, ashes and water. The lava ran di-
rectly down the side Of the mountain
leXt'to HcrcQlancum and buried the i'll
fated city with the burning mass. The
wind carried the ashes in the direction
IF Pompeii which was entirely covered
up,
The discovery Of The location of Her
'ulaneum was made in 1918, when dig
y1ng for water AT the depth of 90 feet
he ancient theatre was found. and at
great labor and expense mostly eXhumed,
The visitor descends hundred or more
steps with lighted taper in his hand
and finds himself on the stage of the old
heatrc Much of the hard lava has not
)cen eXCayated and the place has more
he appearance of a subterranean laby-
'inth than theatre The building is in
he form of a semi-circle and it is esti-
mated thatit would accommodate 35, 600
spectators. Only a few houses of Her
,ulaneum have been eXCayated on ac-
count of the hardness of the lava which
covers it, but enough has been discover
ID to prove that it was a larger and
more wealthy city than Pompeii Many
'aluable statues, husta, paintings, insCrip-
ions, &c, have been found, and in one
DOM an extensive papyri library of 5000
oils.
The earliest historical mention Of
'ompeii dates from 80 B. c., but that
is antiquity is much greater, however,
S proven by its monuments. 1t was a
3reek colony, founded by the Oscans,
md at the time of its destruction num-
)ered about 30, 600 inhabitants. The an
,ient settlers became completely Roman
zed, and the city, cosmopolitan in its
character and architecture, in its efforts
o recover from the effects Of an earth
quake in 60. Occasionally, in the now de
erted streets are to be seen blocks of
marble which had been prepared for
ONE building that had been partly
haken down. Pompeii is the best and
'nly source by which a true idea of an
lncient Roman town and the manner Of
.ncient domestic life can be obtained
About One-third of the town is now ex-
III he i 81