The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-04
Our @lio.
Iprical photOgraphs Of Old Rome.

|1orical Photographs Of Old Rome.
/ herc are now to be seen in London aud
|xford series of photographs which
.t|ish the substantial truth Of the ira
|.|pal history which was current among
<ducated classes Of Rome during the
<'1stan aye, and which the criticism Of
Hter schools of modern historians has
Id 10 dcmolish. The Roman cores
|Ients of the London newspapers have
Asionally spoken of the excavations
|<h have been made in Rome during the
tscnty years, at the expense Of the late
1eh Emperor and the Prussian Govern
+ aud of an English Archaeological
~, Of which the most energetic
l[er, IL not tho founder and chief sup
~ was Mr.. j. II. Parker, whose Clos
f pf Architecture and other kindred
& have so materially aided in the re-
< Of the study of Gothic architecture
eme. But few persons are aware that
personally prosecuting his researches
he buried history of the Rome of the
Mr.. Parker has expended a very con
able sum in the execution of more
B 900 photographs of every important
olent of Roman remains which can
late the actual history Of Rome, from
by earliest foundation down to the
seyal period, adding to this strictly
prieal collection photographs of all the
Gace-Roman sculpture in the collcc-
Of the Vatican and the Capitol.
hc value of these photographs, from
II literal truth, cannot be ovcr-cstimat-
and they furnish the most important
kribution to historical knowledge which
art Of photography has yet supplied.
drawings made by hnnd can be depend
hpon for perfect accuracy in such min
details Of measurement as arc essential
he arguments which are to be founded
p them and moreover, many of the
tographs were made by the aid Of the
gpesian light, us they are transcripts Of
which lies in the deepest darkness.
ns for some time been held by the dom
schools of historical teaching that
bave no means Of forming any satisfac-
estimate Of the actual condition of
ioman people during those carly ages
are popularity known as the period
be Kings. The traditional stories
} were put into historical shape by
are not, il is said, worth serious con-
ation. There may, and there may
have been, though doubtless there
some leaders Of the chicftain kind,
me means or other, the obscure and
increasing shepherd population,
ultimately was developed into the
hn Republic, aud who carried on a
OF quarrels, which legend has de-
led by the sounding title of wars.
We cannot trace any clear succession
kcse chiefs, or learn what they actually
fved, and can only assume that If ever
was such a person as the leader
3n tradition called Romulus, he must
been the mere head of some band of
ontcnted or halfoutcast followers, who
down somewhere ON the site of the
city which ultimately included the
p hills aud the land Immediately ad-
ing them.
|et us sec what Mr. Parker aud his
{ographs tell us, in contradiction TO this
generally received theory. In a word
Excavations of the last twenty years
! unburicd the actual foundations, and
y than the foundations, Of enormous
KS, which show that in the period Of the
'gs, Rome was fortified city Of very
siderable Importance, governed by de-
'ic monarchs. The fact Of the con-
ction OF an dre, or citadel Of great
ngth in war, together with the com
'cement Of special Notifications, dis
tinued after some important event, is
blished beyond doubt. The wells
ch were constructed by the chief
'm we may as well call Romulus as any
lg elsc--for the use Of his garrison
N driven to their last resources, arc
IN existence Mr.. Parker had him
let down into these wells, and found,
what astonishmcnt and delight may
imagined, that in their construction they
totally unlike any other wells in Italy,
lent and modern, with one solitary cx-
lion. That exception is to bcy found in
remains of fhn oil Etr,,r;a,, ,.,tv of
q Longa, which was nnquestionably
rishing place about the time which ira
on assigns as the date Of the foundation
aon'e- There was a report among the
: people who lived near tho walls Of
nulus that some sort Of old and dried
wen did there exist, but Of the perfect
a'''on and structure Of the existing