The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-05-09
From vesuviuz

We have been permitted to make extracts
from letter received by his wife from Dr.
Robert II. Rice, Of our city, now making the
tour Of Europe. It is finely written, and will
be read with pleasure BY his many warm
friends in this locality
PoMPEn, Apr. 10th, 1873.
My DEAR WIFE: seize tho opportunity
to write you few lines from this interesting
spot arrived here last evening, and have
spent the day in looking over the ruins of
what two thousand years ago was city of
about thirty Thousand inhabitants. la the
year A. ID. 50 it was visited BY a terrible
earthquake which so far ruined the place that
the propriety of its reconstruction was enter
tanned with much doubt; but the inhabitanfs
again took courage and the work went on
when zixteen years later A. d. 70 Vesavius
bnrst forth and swoopsd down upon it like an
avalanche and buried it. out OF sight. Thus
this Inflated city and its contents remained in
oblivion for nearly seventeen hundfed years,
for it was not until the latter part of the
eighteenth century that its excavation was be-
gun, but since then it has bsen going on with
more or less activity and the work is still be-
ing prosecuted with a good deal of energy.
New discoveries are constantly being made
and much yet remains which in the course Of
time will be brought to light.
The impression which it gives of the actual
presenc ce of Roman town in all the circurn-
stantial reality OF its existence two thousand
years ago, is so vivid, that it requires but a
small effort of the imagination to place our
selves among the multitRdes which once
thronged its streets and theaters, and occupied
its now voiceless chambers. Few places GER
tainly afford broader and more varied scope
for the imagination to work upon
You are doubtless aware that many of ifs
relics have been carried away to distant places
aud eonstit ute some of the most esteer,s, s,i a.
interesting treasures of various museums
The principal and by fsr the largest collection
OF the discoveries at Pompeii, however. ia
preserved in the nnssum at Naples. There
Is also museum here containing MANY. II
Is marvellous to sec how we'll all, even the fig
nTes and frescues on the walls have. been pre-
served for such length of time. Some Of
them appear as fresh and distinct as though
they had been the work Of some artist who
might still be hrandishing his pencil. will
not enter INTO details, as the time is so short
when shall return home, and can thus give
them to you much better than could now
doln letter. Neither shall say ANYTHING
abont Rome in this letter, as 1 shall return
there IN few days, when 1 will write again.
L was much pleased with Naples. It is a
hne city of about halfa million inhabitants.
beautifully situated, a. magnificent seaport,
and has'an extensive commerce. Here too,
may DO seen the extremes of elegance, degra-
dation and poverty. The country and scenery
around about are lovely; the weather mild and
beautiful; lemon, orange and fig trees loaded
with fruit, vineyards and beautiful gardens
everywhere. I can hardly realize the fact
that l am right hero at the foot of Vesuyius
and yet look out of my window and see it
smouldering away without the least appre-
hension of danger. shall go to Sorrento in
the morning and from there to Capri. Win
return n IN few days by way of Naples to
Rome.
yours afectionately,