Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-16
A POmDeian House.
The s'Casa Del Centenario'' the Largest
 Hitherto Discovered.

The ssCasa Del Centenario'' the Largest Hitherto Discovered.
 The Naples correspondent of the Daily News writes ''The house which was begun to be excavated at the celebration of the centenary of Pompeii, and is, therefore, called Casa del Centenario,' and from which I then three skeletons dug out, has proved to be the largest hitherto discovered and is of peculiar interest. It contains two atria two trichnia, four alae or wings, cali darium, frigidarium and tepidarium. It oc- cupies the entire space between these streets, and most likely fourth, which has yet to be excavated. The vestibule is elegantly dec- orated and it's mosaic pavement orna- mented with the figure of a dolphin pursued by seahorse. In the first atriuni, the walls of which are adorned with small theatrical scenes, the pavement is sunk and broken, as if by earthquake, and there is a large hole through which one sees the cellar. The sec- ond atrium is very spacious with handsome perisyile, the columns-White and red stucco being 26 in number. In the center is large marble basin within the edge of which runs narrow step. On the pedestal at one side was found the statuette of the Faun which I lately described The most in- teresting place in the house is an inner court or room, on one side of which is the niche with tiny marble steps, often to be seen in Pompeian houses. The frescoes on the walls are very beautiful. Close to the floor 
 yard wide, with alternately lizard and stork. Above 1t, about yard distant, droop as if from over wall, large branches of vine or ivy and broad leaves like those of the tiger-ily-all very freely, naturally, and gracefully drawn. At each corner of the room bird clngs to one of these branches Then comes Q space-bordered at the top by another row of leaves-in which is represent ed a whole aquarium, if the room were lined with tanks There are different sorts of shells and aquatic plants lying at the bot tom of the water, and swimming in or on it all kinds of fish, jelly fish, sepias, ducks and swans, admirably sketched with light yet firm touch. The nipples made by the swim ming ducks are indicated, and one duck is just flying into the water with splash On each side of the niche this amusing aquarium is enlivened by special incident. To the mureena Qamprey)-which turns round to bite-in it's tentacles to the right fine lobster has pierced another muraena through and through with it's long, hard feelers, or horns. These creatures paint ed in the natural colers very truthfully. On the left wall of the room, above the fish es, are two sphinxes supporting on their heads square marble vases, on the brim of each of which sits dove. Behind the niche, and on the left side of the room runs little gallery with corridor underneath, lighted by small square holes in the border of hang
 
 the niche is decorated with a woodland land scape, in which, on one side, is represented bull running frantically away with lion clinging to it's launches on the other, horse lying struggling on it's back, attackedby aleopard all nearly the size of life. On each side of the doorway is painted respective ly, graceful doe and bear. The other rooms are also very beautiful one with A splendidly elegant design on black ground; in another small fresco representing man pouring wine out of an amphora into large vessel. The bathrooms are large and ele- gant, the cold bath spacious and of marble. In one room corner is dedica- ted to the lares and penates, and in the fresco decoration, among the usual serpents, &c., noticed the singular figure of Bacchus or bacchante, entirely clothed with large grapes. In one of the mosaic pavements is head of Medusa, the colors very bright and well preserved As some of the rooms are only excavated to with in two or three feet of the floor, it is possi- ble that many valuable ornaments or statu- cites may yet be found, as everything indi- cates that this splendid house belonged to some rich citizen,m