Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-20
A POmpeiian House.

The house which WAS begun to be
excavated at the celebration of the
centenary Pompeii, and is, therefore,
called casa del Centenario," and
from which I then saw three skeletons
dug out, has proved to be the largest
hitherto discovered, and is of pecu-
liar interest. 1t contains two atria, two
trichnia, four ale or wings, a callda.
rum, frigidarium, add tepidarium.
1t occupies the entire space between
three streets, and most likely fourth
which has yet to be excavated. The
vestibule is elegantly decorated. ind
its mosaic pavement ornamented with
the figure OF dolphin pursued by q
sea-horse. In the first atrium, the
walls of which are adorned with small
theatrical scenes. the pavement is sunk
and broken, as if by an earthquake,
and there is a large hole through
which one sees the cellar. The second
atrium is very spacious, with q hand
some perisyile, the columns white and
red stucco-being 26 in number. In
the center is a large marble basin,
within the edge of which runs mar
row step. On the pedestal at one side
was found tue statue,te of the Faun
which 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, Of
ten to be seen in the Pompeiian houses.
The frescoes on the walls are very beau
tiful. Close to the floor runs wreath
OF leaves about a quarter of q yard
wide, with alternately lizard and q
stork. Above it, about yard distan t,
droop, as If from over wall, large
branches of vine or ivy and broad
leaves like those of the tiger-lily-all
very freely, naturally, and gracefully
drawn. At each corner of the room q
bird clings to one of these branches.
Then comes space-bordered at the
top by another row of leaves-in which
is represented q whale aquarium, as il
the room were lined with tanks. There
are different sorts of shells and aquatic
plants lying at the bottom of the
water, and swimming in or on it all
kinds of fish, jelly fish. sepias, ducks,
and swans, admirably sketched with q
light yet firm touch. The ripples
made by the swimming ducks are in
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 left large octopus has caught .
mur@na (lamprey)-which
turns round to bite in its tentacles; to
the right fine lobster has pierced an
other murana through and through
with its long, hard feelers, or horns.
These creatures are painted in the
natural colors very truthfully. On the
left wall of the room, above the fishes,
are two sphinxes, supporting on their
heads square marble vases, on the
brim of each OF which sits dove. Be.
hind the niche, and on the left side OF
the room, runs little gallery with
underneath, lighted by small
square holes in the border of hanging
branches. The wall of this gallery be-
hind the niche is decorated with the
woodland landscape, in which, on one
side. is represented a bull running
frantically away with lion clinging to
its launches; on the other horse
lying struggling oil rs back, iE.iacked'
by a leopard; ell nearly the size Of
life. On each side of the doorway is
painted, respectively, 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 bath rooms
are large and elegant, the cold bath
spacious and Of marble. In one room
q corner is dedicated to the lares and
penates, and in the fresco decoration,
among the usual surpents, etc., I no.
ticed 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 we'll preserved.
As some of the rooms are only exca-
waited to within two or three feet of the
floor, it is possible that many valuable
or statuettes may yet be
found, as everything indicates that
this splendid house belonged to some
rich tizen.-Iadidnapolis Ne,cs.