The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-31
the RUINS or CiRTH AGE.
Where Hannibal WINS L~d to the Altar and
the Dous Of WRr LcI Loo-e.

To THE EDITOR OF THE LoNDoN TINES
SIR: Having recently visited the site OF this once
famous city, nave thought that II might not DO
unintcreSting to your rea iers TO know some
tninc OF the present condition Of its RUNS, while
AZ the same time call attention to the whole
SAFE destruction VI the few but beautiful re-
manning monuments OF its departed glory.
Landing at the little town OF Goletth. which il
the port of funis, aud distant from y about ten
miles, put up AT the hotel there. kept by All
IL iiihn. A wide but shallow lagoon stretches
out toward the modern city on the LEFT, with
wnicn communication ID kept up by trains
which run at Intervals during the day. mile
or two out from the station, on wide plateau,
we come upon tho foundations Of a wall
some three feet N thlckness. Following
plowed ground covered ws}sS fragments Of
broken marble columns, trth here ana
there heap OF ruins. last crhmolng % decay.
seated among these we contemplate the history
of city whicn was once tue rival OF Rome nd
toward which the eyes of the civilized world
were turned. Here Hannibal, when "a boy ninc
years Of age, was led to the altar by hi, father.
Himilcm, and there. with bis hands upon II.
made to swear eternal hostility to the Roman
peopla-an o'th which his after life proved had
not been foIgOtteu 10y him. On this hillside In
ter years the Roman Envovs stood, aud one OF
them addressing the tarthaaenian senate sald,
folding his tpga over h- arm, " In this told
carry peace or war; choose You which you will
II vr " Give us witch YOU WIZ i the reply.
Then take war says the Romln Envoy. lot
ting his tuga fall loose and war fierce ana long
continued was once more wuged Between these
me only remains In any way complete are the
reservoirs and the uqueduct. The former are
structed on ~cale uf great magniitcence. Ihey
are calculated - hold q lsrae supply u water.
These have ull been arched over. out some Of
the .r'ues are beginning 20 give way, and have
tumhled INTO the tanks. Round the margin OF
these pool, paths extend. paved with small
pieces OF polished marble about an inch square.
All around may be picked up The fragments OF
pottery, broken lars. Ac., which, doubtless. have
been In use Tor inc carving Of wafer by tho
mlidens OF the city. few ancient coins were
gwen me here hV a iittlc boy vino had picked
them up when herdine ms goats near ny Some
of them appear t. Cc Roman.
The aqueuuCt, constructed Of enormous
blocks of stone. and extending away toward tue
direction OF luuis has IN many places gwen
way, tut enough remains above ground 10 en-
abls u To trace II through many miles.
Inc lovely situation Of tue city, standing on
that prominent he idldud against which tho
waves ot the Mediterranean beat. as in the days
when the Roman feet went down henetth IN IN.
came ~ couqu"ror-. int IL might not be 50
accos ibls to foretgn Invasion accounts In ali
PROBABILITY for the change Of situation IN the
more N uern city OF lunis.
II We with regret | found among the ma
t"rhl collected Tor building purposes 1t tho
town Of Golctti parts Of marble columns, with
c'fVei work 81 the most magnificent descrip'
ton, AL ot winch are being broken uptO erect
some humble Seedlings.
The ltilian7 ana SDanlards OF the Middle gcs
have adorned their pilices with marbles from
and columns. which were once the admiration
otD,do aud of Hannibal. lsit too mCcn To huue
that an rfpri might Yet secure for ms some relic
of II CITY the very foundations Of which may be-
tore lOug become lost u our stght
MAlllDEIH, Glasgow. W. l.. ROBERTSON.