Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-19
MT. spauldlng,s Lectures.

The fourth lecture in Mir. Spaulding's very interesting and eminently instructive course on Pagan Rome was given last evening at the Grand Opera House. The subject was the amusements of the ancient Romans. The lecture was prefaced by a sketch of the dramatic art among the Romans, in which it was shown that while the drama was indigo nous to Greece, it never reached a state of high perfection at Rome. What in the high est efforts of the stage was most delightful and satisfying to the artistic sense of the Greek had little charm for the realistic Roman. From the emperor to the lowest street gamin the whole population of Rome took the keen- est delight in those bloody scenes that were enacted on the arena of the Colosseum or amid the exciting chariot races of sthe Circus Maximus. Under such influences the growth and development of the classic drama ceased, and it was replaced by the spectacular play, sure sign of it's degeneracy.
 The first view given was that of the theater of Marcellus, showing the semi-circular part or auditorium. By means of view taken from another ruin the stage side of theater was shown. Views of an open-air theater, built upon hillside at Pompeii, and of the theater uncovered few years since at Athens
 
 man and Greek theaters was explained. The large space in the latter, known as the orches- tra, was occupied by the chorus, an important element in the Greek drama, but unknown to the Roman theater, was therefore proportion ately much smaller in the theater of the Ro- mans. view was given of a Roman theater which is still in an excellent state of preser- vation in Asia Minor. This view showed very clearly the long narrow stage, the elaborately decorated wall at the rear of the stage and also indicated the meagre re- sources in the way of scenery in the Roman theatres, as compared with the theatres of the present day. Views were also shown from ancient Pompeiian paintings of actors and of the masks used to show the characters repre- sented by the different actors. The Circus Maximus, now desolate ruin between the Palatine and Aventine hills, was then de- scribed, and g view from 8 fine restoration of It was shown, in which were represented the sp571G or broad wall around which the chariots passed in the race, the emperor's private box, and the seats for spectators on the hillsides, crowned by the palaces of the nobles on the Palatine. A diagram of the race course was also given, showing at one end the stalls for the horses and charlots, which were built on the arc of circle having it's centre at the be- ginning of the course, so that all contestants might have an equal chance in the start, while at the other end of the course was represented the great gate out of which the winner of the race alone passed Tn triumph aG the clOse or the games. From sculptures views were re- produced showing the chariots and the manner of running the races. The lecturer then took up the Colosseum and the gladitorial combats that were enacted within it's walls. Several different views were given which, with accompanying explanations, gave clear idea of the massive walls of the structure and of the very perfect internal arrangements for the accommoda- ton of the vast multitudes that came to wit ness the gladiatorial shows. Some of the most interesting views were those of the re- cent excavations in the arena of the Col osseum by which it was shown that underneath the arena were kept the appliances for the shows, and that wild beasts were brought through pass ages underground from dens in the hillsides adjacent to the Colosseum and lifted into the arena. The lecture closed Ewith several pictures of gladiators and gladiat or ial combats. The great painting of Gerome's was also shown in it's original colors. The next lecture, on Feb. 18th, will be on the Catacombs and churches of Christian Rome. The paintings of the early Christians and the splendors of their later churches will be fully described and illustrated.