The Osceola times., 1878-05-25
4 SILENT CITY.
How the Romans Lived Two Thousand
Years Ayn.

How the Rom.n. Lived Two Tho..asd
Years Ago.
Naples is now crowded with visitors,
who are enjoying the balmy breezes of
the Mediterranean, and the season has
been one round of gayety. All the
tourists do" Pompeii, as the saying is
Ttis city has been rendered familiar TO
Americans by the late novelist, Lord
Lyttor. in that Incompatible work,
"The Last Days of Pompeii." Eighteen
hundred years ago the city was full Of
life. Nearly 10000 people promenaded
its streets, and il was q scene Of Roman
luxury and voluptuousness. Its situation
on the sea made it most fashionable
place OF resort for the wealthy Romans,
and the emperor Claudius had his
pleasure house there and the great orator
Cicero residence. 1t was likewise a
commercial seaport, and lively traffic
was carried on by its merchants. But in
August, A. ID. 10, Vesuvius belched forth
a mass OF burning lava. ashes, cinders,
hot water and mud, and the town WAS
totally buried. Since that period other
eruptions have beaped up more volcanic
matter on the site of the city, and for
nearly seventeen centuries Pompeii
remained dead to the world. About 100
years ago the entombed city was discovs
cred, and immediate action was taken to
excavate as much of the ruins rs posi-
BILE.
The work has been going stea lily on,
but not more than one half OF the city
has yet been exhumed. Still, many
acres have been dug over and miles OF
street have been brought to the light of
day. The buried portion is still covered
with tons upon tons OF stones, ashes,
cinders and hardened mud to depth of
from ten TO twenty feet above the tops
OF the houses Over this are two feet OF
rich soil, which is exceedingly product.
i've and covered with trees. The exhumed
portion of the city lies open TO the
brighter sun, and is somewhat slightly
elevated above the level of the surround.
ing country. This city is now perfect
picture OF Roman city 1000 years ago
The streets, pavements, temples, images,
theaters, dwellings, columns, household
goods, baths, arches, fountains, forums,
shops Of various trades, musical instru
ments, weapons OF war, implements Of
abor, marble and bronze statues, mos,
aics, irescoes and drawings, dining
rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, with
their appropriate furniture; food for the
hungry and medicine for the sick glass
ware, vases and pottery; gems, medals
snd corus and fruits, flowers and shrubs
are all seen az they were on the terrible
night when the city WIS doomed toa
sudden destruction.
The streets are narrow, some not being
more than eight feet across, but they are
straight and regular. The pavement is
composed Of large fiat stones or blocks OF
lava, and the deep ruts cut in them by
the Roman chariots are clearly percepti-
BILE. At the crossings are large stepping.
stones for the use of pedestrians 80 as to
keep their feet from the mud. Every
thing in the streets was silent aud death
like. There were no human beings in
the houses; no promenaders in the
streets all were deserted. The dwelling
houses are generally small and one
storied; they are built Of stone aud
brick, plastered on the outside with
mortar. An open court Is in the center,
and the different rooms are arranged
around In the Oriental style Most Of
the roof are destroyed, having been