Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-06-07
A Silent City.
ExCAvArED E WONDERS OF PoMpEII-How
THE ROMANS LIVED EIGuTEEN HUNDRED
YEARS AGO.

YEARS AGO.
Naples is always crowded with visitors.
All the tourists edo" Pompcii, as tho saying
is. Arairoad runs from Naples to the oity,
which has bccp about cxhumcd from the
ashes; aud delightful ride of about forty
minutes duration, which takes US along tho
beautiful bay of Naples in full view of its
bluo mpid waters, aud carries US over tho
ruins Of the twin city in the dreadful de-
struction far-famed Hcrculancum. The
remains of Pompeii arc all under tho control
of tho government, which charges an ad-
mission fec Of two francs, for which amount
visitors arc also furnished with competent
guides. The gateway by which you enter
is onlya few minutes walk from tho rail
road depot, and you arc at once within the
precincts of tho Silont City.
Eighteen hundred years ago tho city was
full Of lifo. Nearly 10000 pcoplo promo
naded its streets, and it was sceno of
Roman luxury. Its situation on tho 60,
made ita. most fashionable placo of resort
for tho wealthy Romans, and tho Emperor
Claudius had his pleasure house there and
the great orator Cicero residence. 1t was
likewise commercial seaport, and q lively
traffic vas carried on by its merchants. But
in August, A. d. 70, Vcsuvius bclched
forth mass of burning lava, ashes, cinders,
hot water and mud, and the town was totally
buried. Since that period other eruptions
have hcapcd up more volcanic matter on
the site Of tho city, and for nearly seven
teen centuries Pompcii qemaincd dead to
tho world. About one hundred years ago
tho .entombcd city was discovered, and i'm
modiately action was taken to cxcayatc as
much Of the ruins as possible.
Tho work has bcou going steadily on,
but not moro than one-haf the city has
yet been ezhumed. Still, many acres havc
boon dug over and many miles of street
have been brought to the light of day. Tho
buried portion is still covered with tons
upon tons CT stones, ashes, cinders and
hardened mud to a depth of from ten to
twenty feet above tho tops Of the houses.
Over this arc two feet OF rich soil, which s
exceedingly productive and covered with
trees. ,''
Tho government cmployu every winter
about two hundred people, comprising men,
women and children, in cxcavating this
pare iHo tuCu uISj Liio Wolieu anu CHiiu-
rem carry away the rubbish in baskets. The
cxhumcd portion of tho city lies open to
the bright sun and is somewhat slightly
elevated above the level of tho surrounding
country.
Tho city is now perfect pioturd Of q
Roman city two thousand years ago. The
streets, pavcmcnts, temples, images, thea
tors, dwellings,, columns, household gods,
paths, arches, fountains, forums, shops Of
vnrious trades, musical instruments, weapons
of war, implements of labor, marble and
bronze statues, mosaics, frescoes and draw
ings, dining rooms, bed rooms and kitchens,
with their appropriate furniture; food for
tho hungry and medicine for tho sick;
glassware, vases and pottery; gems, medals
and coins and fruits, flowers end shrubs arc
all seen as they wcro on tho terrible night
whom tho city was doomed to sudden de-
struction.
The streets arc narrow, some not being
more than eight feet across, but they are
straight and regular. Tho pavement is
composed of large fat stones or blocks of
lava, aud the deep rut cut in them by the
Roman ohariots are clearly porooptiblo. At
tho crossings arc large stepping stones for
the use Of pedestrians, so as to keep their
feet from tho mud. Everything in tho
street was silent and deathlikc. There
wcro no human beings in tho houses, no
promcnadcrs in the streets; all were de-
serted. The dwelling houses arc generally
small and ono storicd. They arc built of
stone and brick, plastcrcd on tho outside
with mortar. An open court is. in the
center, and the different rooms arc arranged
around ia tho oriental style. Most Of the
roofs arc destroyed, having been crushed
down by the weight of tho ashes. In tho
dining. rooms tho tables are Of stone, and
many are covered with petrifed food. Beds
and couchcs are in tho sleeping rooms
In one Of the kitchens was found fowl
put in tho skillet, and stowpan containing,
a small pig for roasting, all prepared
cigLtcen hundred years ago. Many bcauti..
ful mosiacs wore found on tho, floors, and
elegant frescocs on tho walls, and thoy look
as bright md fresh as. if they hpd only beon
finished fow years. Tho fresooes, pic
lures, mosaies and sculptures and even
jewolry discovered in some Of the houses
show terrible depravity in morals. In tho
'llousc OF tnc YeStalS, upon thc ooOr
sill, is tho word "Slavo," welcome. A
mosaic with tho representation of. a fierce
dog, with tho inscription "Cayo Cancm,"
beware of tho dog, is near tho threshold of
tho "Houso Of the Tragic Poet"
In tho streets arc many shops which still
havo tho signs over tho doorways. In ono
thcro Is some marble partly soulpturedsS
and tho artists tools lying around; 10 an
other, medicines and surgical instruments;
in third marble counter, with somo
liquor jars behind it, and tho stains mado