The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
THE P0NPEI COMMUNICATION.
The Destroyed City To-Day and Eighteen
Hundred Years Ago.
UNEARTHlNG BURIED TREASURES
Speeches, Poems and Memorials OF
the Celebration
NAPLES. Sent. o6. 1879.


never during the 1890 years which have elapsed
since the sudden and fearful destruction of Pompei
have her usually deserted streets swarmed with SO
MANY public dignitaries, men of science letters,
fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen and holl-
day seekers of all classes the yesterday,
on the occasion of the eighteenth centennial ami
versary of the catastrophe which overwhelmed the
group of hourishng and populous cities situated IN
this part of the lovely bay styled by the
ancient Romans '.the golden cup BE-
fore describing in detail the commemorative
ceremony of which transmitted to the HERALD
Geographic resume l must report that quite
polemic has arisen among the lovers OF correct
dates with respect to the day officially fixed on as
representing the eighteen hundredth anniversary OF
the unexpected vesuvian outbreak; for although
Piny the younger gives in his sixth book an exact
account of the catastrophe in which his uncle. then
Admiral of the Roman fleet at Misenum lost his
life and fixes the year Enthusiastically, the day men,
toned by him. the 9th of the kalends OF September,
is construed by chronologists into the 23d OF
August and by Others into the 23d OF Novem-
ber calculating the difference between the Julian
year and that established by the Gregorian calendar.
Five or six thousand invitations, or, to give the
tickets the moro classical name adopted FOR the
occasion. nSsere. having been issued by the COM
mittee charged to organize the festival it may be
imagined that the departure OF so many guests from
Naples yesterday morning. in addition to the other
thousands who went to Pompeii without any invita-
ton at all, US well from this city IRON the
virons, quite sensational affair. The special
trains. although of unwieldly length. literally
taken by storm but they succeeded each other until
everybody was accommodated. The road presented
IN equally animated appearance, and variety of
vehicles, from the dashing four-n-hand to the
plcbeian coricoO traversing clouds of dust they
wirled through portici and Tore dell 'Annunziata,
were all fully occupied.
THE RUINS.
From the station OF Pompeii to the entry of the
Bncient city the distance is not than hundred
yards. The special train in which l travelled con-
voyed also the Project of Naples, depued to preside
by the Minister of Public Instruction. who was too
i'll to leave Rome for the ceremony; the Commenda-
tore Fiore. director of excavations Of antiquities
and great number Of official distinguished per-
sonages. All moved toward the entry Of Pompeii,
passing through the Porta Marina aud continuing to
the ancient baslica. which already crowded
with visitors who had arrived by earlier trains and
at one end of which pavilion had been erected for
the convenience OF the speakers appointed to adj
dress the assembly. The scene was very animated
the people being pcturesquely grouped around
and upon the broken columns and architec-
tural or the basilica and conversing
In all languages. among which, after the Italian the
German was the most prominent u number Of
savans of that country, as well as learned members
OF the German Institute OF the capital having como
from Rome purposely. There were also good pro-
portion of scientific men from different parts Of
Italy not only come for the OCCASION but also
congresses, Will. That of professors of Italian
history. z OF architects and engineers. 3. OF
medical men. All these professional men suspended
their discussions for the day and had special trains
to convey them to Pompeii and back. Then there
were diplomatists including the Spanish Minister,
officers all grades, ladies of all ranks, Senator's
thors, comprising two very opposite ceebri-
ties Ernest Renan and the comic poet
Carducci. As many as could get access to the pa
vilion surrounded the Professor, Michele Rug
gero, who for several years has conducted the
the supreme direction OF Professor Noreli, to whom
the merit of the really scientific restoration of the
ancient city to light without destroying dspers-
ing its venerable ruins. as was too much practised
by earlier excavators, is chiefly due.
Professor Ruggiero's discourse was highly inter-
esting commencing with description OF the -four
ishing condition or the Vesuvan district previous
to the fatal eruption of A. ID. TO- which over
whemed several cities remarkable for their
progress in art, manufactures aud
merce, and desolated region celebrated
Tor its extraordinary agricultural productiveness
Passing the long period of Abandonment and
mediaval barbarism during which the tradi-
ditonal existence of Pompeii and Hcrcuaneum
forgotten the Professor mentioned the earliest dis
coveres casually made by the Prince of E!beuf at
Resina ill the beginning OF last century consisting of
ancient villa richly adorned with columns,
statues and mosaics. all of which were sent out
of Italy.
Charles I'LL. King OF Naples, discovered the thea
tire of Herculaneum in 1885, and the first excavations
the real site of Pompeii made ten years
later but carried very irregularly and with great
depreciation OF precious objects and destruction of
valuable public monuments ana private copstruc-
tions, during the regns of successive monarchs of
the Neapolitan House OF Bourbon, until the change
OF dynasty in 1860. when more scientific and
orderly era was inauguratod in the exhumation OF
the long buried city. The Professor went into
statistical details to demonstrate the greatly in
creased activity with which the undertaking is now
carried on For instance during the liz years from
174s to 1850 only 1926 square metres OF the
Gent city restored to light, being ut the rate of
Loaf square metres year. and with scarcely any at
ention being paid to the necessary restoration and
preservation OF the uncovered ruins. But during
the eighteen years from 1860 to 1873 thanks to the
encouragement and pecuniary means Afforded bytho
Italian government. 1888 square OF the city
were uncovered-that is to say at the rate of 1883
square metres year, and making at the same time,
the most important reservations to insure
the ultimate preservation OF the ruins. Pro-
lessor Ruggiero also explained how by paving
attention even to the minutest fragments of archi-
tectural arrangements or mechanical contrIvanccs
and studying thom carefully instead OF hcarding
them uselessy III magazines. many of them have
been recomposed, undoubtedly in their original
forms, afiordng worry instructive insight into the
ingenuity displayed by the ancients IN objects of
public use or domestic comfort. OF architectural
restorations out of existing many
are now visible throughout the city. and was glad
to observe that several portions OF the ancient
Mchitraves have been placed their CORE
spending columns since my last visit to pompeii.
Ono tne specimen at the eastern end
of the very baslca in which we were
listening to the lecture. and some photographers
had avaiied themselves OF the commanding position
offered by the lofty archtrave to place their ma
chimes on 1t and portray the group of the lecturer
and all his learned colleagues collected under tho
pavilion at the opposite end of the basiiica.
portion of the colonnade of the great forum
has been similarly restored well that of the por
ticos OF the council hall and the triangular forum.
Some specimens of projecting balconies, generally
covered, have been restored aud portions of really
tique roofing have been replaced Situ The uscun
established at the right hand OF the Porta Marina
entering Pompcii now contains several most
Interesting restorations or should rather say re-
compositions, of existing and often very minute
fragments of bedsteads. seats. chairs, household
utensils, musical Instruments, locks, keys. caskets
kc and the museum at Naples has been also much
enriched in this class of udciously restored objects
NEW PUBLICATION.
Professor Buggiero announced the publication for
this of very elaborate treatise on The de-
struction of Pompoi containing dissertations by
the most learned commentators on the subject and
bringing the description of the excavations down to
the end OF 1878. This work. the conplotest of its
kind yet produced suit to Professor Fiorells
celebrated relation published in 1873. and was com