, 1874-04-11

W - H'ut 1tneEe are only Two streets in
Ponpaii wider than that) the same vorv thick
walls OF stone and brick covered with stucco
Outside as we'll as in the same kind of irregular
or octagonal-shapod fag-pavcment the same
lttlc plazas, or public squares,-mero widen
lngs OF the street; the same style OF court
yartls, or areas in the middle Of houses. con-
nected by an archway with the street. Th1se
courts, of which hundreds may be seen in Pom
peii were called atriun7s !; and in the centre OF
each was IN a,npluuil7n, or square aperture for
catching and holding water. This inaplupi4na is
not in use in modern Italian towns. Often there
was fountain in tho atriun., with water-god
aud other Btatuary. Tho same may be seen still
in the cities Of Italy.
The favorite and prevailing colors Of the
stncco walls were rod and yellow, or rather
orange and lomon,-the former for the dining
rooms, aud the latter for the parlors. Pictures
OF NEUROLOGICAL subjects, OF every conceivable
kind. we're painted on those stucco walls; and
exactly the eame thing and the same designs
may be seen all over Italy. There has been
little change in the taste Of the people in respect
to tho architecture of their towns: for stuccos
and frescocs, for colors and deslgns-the Greek
modeia,-havo been perpetunted in almost every
respect for these eighteen centuries. The chief
difference observable is in the height OF the
houses The modern italian houses are three to
si1 stories; those Of the days OF Pompeii appear
to have been only one or two. Perhaps it vaa
not so Of all other cities.
Pompeu is
RooFLEss CITY;
not dozen buildings are covered. and the roofs
being the Thermp, or public bath-house. which
had q frontage Of three Streets it's principal
entrance being from the street Of Fortune. Tho
weight Of the nlud-ash crushed in al the roofs
not mada of arches aud tumbled down more OF
less the partltion-walls, which gives tho city 3
ragged, ruinous aspect when viewed from the
streets. But there is no mark Of fire. The walls
are not cracked and blackened, OF calcined, but
look as new aud natural as they did the day be-
fore the eruption Tho stucco walls and tho
fresco pictures appear as fresh as those OF mod
ern Italian towns.
The city evidently has been overtrken by some
great misfortune. rs is attestcd by its roo1ess,
doorless, windowlcss, ompty houses, md
silent, deserted streets. But the dis
aster which has befallen it seems
longest, and it is simply impossible to believe
that 800 years have passed since the calamity.
On thousands OF chamber-was may be seen
ornamental frescoes. and mosaics, and pictures
of every kind, male aud female figures 10 MI fanci-
ful attitudes and attires. chiefly nudo; animals,
frhes, sezpents, birds, flowers landscap pes, fruit
pieces, classical and -gladiatorial scenes. and
NEUROLOGICAL scenesan groups, many OF them
OF great beauty and
EXQUISITE FINISH AND DESIGN.
shall not attempt to describe the temples,
pantheons, theatres, circus, amphitheatre.
courts of justice and jail Cty-Couucil Chamber,
with the Forum and market -plecos The guide
books are full Of these, and people who have
not seea them have either road al about them,
or may do 80 at their leisure, The amphi-
theatre. however, Was huge building, 400 feotby
300 and would sent Il 600 soct.tors- 1twasi in full
blast on the day OF the destruction OF PompeH;
and, when the great black cloud rolled its dark
ness over tho doomed city, amidst fierce flashes
of lightning, loud bursts Of tll1nder. and con-
vu1siye shocks of earthquake. the II, 900 specta-
tors OF the eombats in tho areua between the
gadiatora and the lions and tigers, fled in terror
from tho city, half-su1ocated with no1ious
fumes. pelted by downfall Of Ana, and de!uged
By torrent OF rain. From the knowledge
gained by the excavaions it is believed that
NOT MORE THAN oEE THOUSAND PERSONS
vera caught in the volcanic storm IN the city
and perisled there. How many lost their lives
wandering in the thick darkness beyond the
by the vessels in the harboxs, and other thou
sands, undoubtedly, by the roads along the bay.
After the catastrophe Was over, and the noun
tain had resumed its repose, the survivors ven-
tnred back to look for their pleasant homes.
now buried out OF sight, with only here and
there the top Of pillar or tho arch over hiSSh
walls projecting above tie surrounding embank-
mcnts Of gray ashes aDd pumice-nud- They
tarred to search for buried treasures; statuary,
and othar valuab3es. It Is ohec<vod by the ex-
cavators that hundreds Of pits had been dug
down into tho at,1a Of houses, aud trenches
therefrom wero cut into the chambers, in search
Of personal effects. Comparatively Little Of the
precious metals have been found in cleaning
sway tie dobriy and ashos from houses and shops,
and it is thus accounted for, that so little hns
been discovered. The owners would naturally
prolong the search vhie there was prospect
Of recovering any OF thor valunbles. The
work was not difficult, as tho materials
to excarate were light and easlly
handled. and the inhabitants Of course know
whero to look for property worth the trouble Of
tie search for nothing WAS burned, bnt only
crushed or buried down unior tho weight OF rs
feot OF wet. sticky nshes and graveIly pumice.
Yet, after they had finished their search and
abandoned the site Of the city forever
AN ENORMOUS QUANTITY
Of things have been exllu1ned during the last
100 years. The Royal Museum OF Naples con-
Eains fully 1000 Articles, o every imaginable
description, taken from the ruins Il requires
"nolo Gays " ~ Iulouhn VIZ Auout9 " tto ~
scum, merely glanclng az Tue thlhes 1ouhd "a
Pompeu; ano tnese are out q SINAI PET ot ~uaI
wore recovered. livery museum III EuroPe Ii uao!e
Or !ess stocked VIII cu11osat1es - llom loapen;
IND hundreds ana thousahqg o. p1isAto persons
have secured many vuuaole ana oeausnnl
artlcies. n sEole oI t"o ~ pa.et5 b;s aas ~
seen conunnauy u1as4ue coPles W tne toilpel1an
Ereseoee, ana pctqtes, ana oae1rsneis, r ~ ens
enea OF the lsoyal Museum. tne ~aus s -. sns
houses OF tho ueatny classes MeIo plepaevo