New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-09-29
A Pompeian House.

1uS uOII30 " s3i3Aa W.. ucgUn 10 De cX"
cavated at the celebration CT the centen-
airy of Pompeii, ana Is therefore called
"Casa del Centenario," and from which.
I saw three skeletons dug out, says the
Naples correspondent of the London
Daily NeUs, has proved to be the largest
hitherto discovered, and is of peculiar
interest 1t contains two atria, two
trichnia, four alae or wings, calidarium,
frigidarium and tepidarium. It occu-
pies the entire space between three
streets and most likely fourth, which
has yet to be excavated. The vestibule
is elegantly decorated, and it's mosaic
pavement ornamented with the figure
of a dolphin pursued by 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 tho cellar.
The second atrium is very spacious,
with handsome peristyle, the columns
white and stucco-being twenty six
in number. In the center is a 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 lately described. The
most interesting 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 runs
a wreath of leaves about quarter of
yard wide, with alternately a lizard and
stork. Above it, about yard distant,
droop, as if from over wall, large
branches of ivy and broad leaves like
those of the tiger-tail-all very freely,
naturally and gracefully drawn. At
each corner of the room a bird clings
to one of these branches. Then comes a
space - bordered at the top by an
other row of leaves-in which is repre-
sented a whole aquarium, as if the
room was 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, adj
mirably sketched with light yet firm
touch. The ripples 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 incl
dent. To the left large octopus has
caught a monstrous murnna Qamprey)
which turns round to bite-in it's tenta-
Giles; to the right a fine lobster has
pierced another murena 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 two
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 a little gallery with a
corridor underneath, lighted by small
square holes in the border of hanging
branches. The wall of this gallery be-
hind the niche is decorated with a wood
land landscape, in which, on one side,
is represented bull running frantioally
away with hen clinging to its haunch'
es; on the other, horse lying strug-
Cling on it's back, attacked by q leopard;
all nearly the size of life. On each side
of the doorway is painted, respectively,
a graceful doe and bear. The other
rooms are also very beautiful; one with
splendidly elegant design on black
ground; in another a small fresco rep.
.resenting 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 corner is dedicated to the lares
| and pe,satcs, and in the fresco decora'
ton, among the usual serpents, etc.,
noticed the singular figure of Bacchus
or baechante, entirely clothed with large
grapes. In one of the mosaic pavementl
is head of Medusa, the colors very
bright and well preserved. AS some O
the rooms are only excavated to within
two or three feet of the floor, it is posi-
BILE that many valuable ornaments o.
statuettes may yet be found, as every
thing indicates that this splendid house
belonged to some rich citizen.