Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-05-12

6sylyes there man with soul 80 dead,
|no matter what his sentiments may be
N regard to bis own native land, who
has read BuIWer's immortal romance
and has not logged 10 see The buried
city that inspired The tale I We ape
preached Pompeii with dread that
some 81 the illusions might be dispeIled
thai when we came to see the houses
wherein Glaucus and lone dwelt, and
the streets through which the blind
81 NIdia wandered 50 disrcnsolaleIy-
we should find them something less than
. fitting setting for this thrilling story.
Pompem was nothing but provincial
town. The magnifcence and splendor
was supposed 70 be al Rome and in The
larger cities roundabout. The stories
Of Pompeil that were poured in our ears
we fancled owed much to the imagi-
nation Of travellers and antiquanes who
not unirequently lose sight Of morals
when they want TO sdorn tale.
The journey from Naples to Pompeii
may be made by carriage in few hours
time, but we preferred to take the rail-
way and thus secure an extra allow
anee Of time in the ruined city. For
about week we had debated whether
we should not visit Pompeii on Sunday,
that being day when the pestiferous
guide who makes Continental travel
such trial 10 persons Of ordinary tenn
per IL OF duty. We did not so abuse
the day OF rest, however, aud were
rewarded by having assigned TO US a
gcntlemanly old soldier who had mas
tered the FEAT OF holding his toungue.--
Il cost us much speculation TO discover
and even then we did not arrive al
any concIusion--why, on Sundays, the
visitor " allowed 10 enter the ruined
city gratis, and TO wander about At his
own sweet will, while on week days
there is an entrance fee Of forty cents
10 be paid an attendant imposed upon
one that cannot be shaken off wiihou. a
violation OF the rules. A very short
walk from the station OF pompeiI brings
the visitor to the base Of low hill
This must be mounted by path from
which a most beautiful view of the bay
Of Naples is obtained. Presently gate
is encountered where The entrance mon.
ey must be paid, the guide procured,
and Them after a moments walk, the
ruined city Is IN sight.
Maddox and / who are much given
A speculation, bswlldeFed.lh guide by
sitting down upon the first available
stone and entering into q long private
discourse upon the infaiuaiion Of the
people who, 10 ancirnt and modern
times, build over aud over again upon
the site which the ruthless volcano to
our right has covered with its burning
| food u often that IL seems a. il insanity
alone could insist upon such dwell-
ing-plaee. A portion OF the little town
OF Sore del Annnnzisla has been des-
iroyed six times, and yet IL is rebuilt
and as populous as il no terrible agent
Of destruction threatened it. Pompeii
itself, as il stands to-day. presents the
ruins OF a city twice destroyed. In A.
D. 90 the mountain, quiescent for cen.
turtles, awoke from i;n rest, and. with d
mighty earthquake shock, the temples,
colonnsdes, aud dwellings Of Pompeii
were overthrowa. Clinging with Ten
acity that seems almost Incomprehensi.
Bile 10 their perilous situation, .he ~.
habitantD rebUil, their city, but Jailed
10 bring il near completion. Little
more than thirty years had elapsed when
the mountain burst forth, sending first
a rain OF ashes, then the terrific burn.
ing food, accompanied with such qusk.
ings Of the earth that soon the work oil
destruction was accomplished. Thi,
time no hand was raised TO rebuild
Pompeii. Centuries imposed super.
incumbent mass upon il, aud The very
fact OF its whereabouts passed from the
minds Of men. II became legend anC
and tradition while peasants planted
their gardens and built their cabin,
above its ruined places. Finally, 10 ID,
sixteenth century, an architect built !
water conduit through one of its very
streets, but even then no investigation,
were made. II was at last q peasan
who ia digging well 10 water his herd
brought statues and utensils to lighI
which, laid before the King Of Naples
led to the discovery of the buried city
Since 174S. the work OF excavation ha.
been going on. Large portions of tb,
ruined city are Land bare, and the abb,
arehaologIst who superintends the worl
tells us that period OF seventy year
and the sum OF million dollars will b,
needed before he and his assistants cal
complete their task.
We certainly had secured treasur,
OF guide. He did not talk more thai
was desirable, and he soon mastered th,
fact thai we knew ourselves precisely
where we wanted TO 20 and he had onl,
to lead the way. The handsomes
dwelling il Pompeii is the House D
the Faun," 10 named from the beautI
GuI bronze figure OF dancing faun lounC
within ITS walls. Few Of its decora.
lions remain now, most ofthem having
been removed no Naples for preserva
ton; but its lofty colonnades, wide
court, and numerous chambers show il
10 have been princely manson. Tbi,
house is said 10 have been discovered
in the presence Of Goethe's son. Now
skepticIsm is vice carried TO too grea
an extent; but our minds are of the or
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