The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-20

works might be saved if farmers would |
unite in obtaining supply OF water
Chicago Times.
The Beautiful Ornaments Vnca-theG
from Ancient TOmbs Near Naples.
LAST June we were courteously in
vited by Baron Spinelli to pay a visit to
his casino, near Cancello Ga station
within three-quarters of an hour from
Naples), which he has made into a
museum for all the valuable objects he
has gathered from the crowded part of
the metropolis of Suersula already exca-
waited. Passing through fields rich in
produce, and meadows crowded with
young buffaloes and scented with sweet
clover, we arrived at the simple old
country house, which leans against an
old medieval tower.
Ascending broad staircase, lined
with rows of amphora, we entered a
suite of spacious rooms filled with cases
and tables crowded with rare objects.
It was difficult to believe that such
quantity and variety had been found i'll
a piece of ground not more than about
two acres in extent. We saw vases,
scarabei, ornaments for the neck, brace
lets, rings, brooches, on exactly the
same principle as the modern safety
pin-the sheath which guards the point
being, however, very long-some with
several ends of threads, upon which
hung a few remaining beads, still adher-
ing; and various large ornaments, the
use of which it has not yet been possible
to ascertain. Some of the most splen-
did are the things found in the most an
cient graves. They consist of articles
made of bronze, particularly personal
ornaments. They are all of exquisite
finish of workmanship, though very
primitive in their figurative decoration
when it exceeds mere straight or wav-
ing line.
Several bracelets which Baron Spi-
nelli caused to be polished shine with a
deep luster like that of red gold, and
still possess their elasticity. Some were
found composed for the most part Of
pure gold. 1t seems as if the ourocholeo
so praised by Pliny and others had been
rediscovered. In only one place has q
similar metal been found, that is, in
Corinth; the celebrated mirror with the
representation of Korinthos and Leukas
is made of the same material. The ap-
pearance of these bracelets is, when in
an oxidized condition, exactly similar
to that of oxidized bronze, but the metal
of the bracelets is considerably heavier.
In Naples the dealers in antiquities made
a good business by selling all that they
possessed of similar shape to those eager
to have and wear such ornaments; but
no one could change the nature of the
different material the beautiful luster
and elasticity of those made of "Spinel-
lis metal,'' as it has been called in Ma
Piles. Among other things taken from
the tombs of the first period we noticed
large pieces of amber, generally per-
forated.
One beautiful vase. taken from one OF
the tufa tombs, was Greek hlkgshos,
the lower part covered with fine shin
ing black glaze, the upper with a coat
of excessively fine white clay, upon
which figures in outline were designed
with exquisite delicacy. There is only
one vase, found at Nola, which can COM
pare with It, the celebrated vase with
the representation of Anesidorus. An
other vase which contained the ashes OF
some fatty substance was one from the
mandatory of Heron, the first of that
make found with two names inscribed
upon it, indicating that Makron, its
maker, worked in Athens in the atelie7
of Heron. 1t is the only one of it's kind
and epoch till now found at Sue-su!a,
and it would be premature to draw from
it's presence there any chronological con-
clusion. 1t might well be that such q
vase had come into the possession in
later ages of one far from the country oi
J its manufacture. A curious object was
} cup with q cover ornamented with
| figures, inside which was the remains o1
balance in miniature; perhaps toy
The arms and supports of the balance
were of wood, well preserved the plates
were made of the two halves of q nut
The bracelets were always found In
| pairs, and generally still encircling ths
bones of the skeleton.
From the fact that fragments of liner
may sometimes be seen adhering to the
inner side of the ornaments, it may be
inferred that when the corpse had beer
clothed in kind of long -sleeved shirt
, the bracelets we put on outside, 30 a.
3 not to be hidden by the dress. TheN
r are mostly of spiral shape, like ser
3 pent, and often wind several time
: around the arm. They are 80 elasti,
e that they can be drawn out to grea
q length. Many rings are also spiral, ant
y so long that they must almost have GOV
!. cred the finger, like the rings worn il
i such numbers by the Neapolitan women
Il No arms of bronze were found at Suer
e sula, and few of iron-several knive
o and daggers and perhaps some lance
l. heads. The objects from the oldest an
n therefore most interesting period Civ
9 evidence of people little advanced il
e the art of design, yet well-to-do, an
). not only accustomed to adorn them
e selves With the metal ornaments brough
3, there by Greek ships, but also to prid
e themselves on giving a rich trousseau t
d their dead on their departure from thi
1t world, and on emitting no prescribe
l. religious rite. How strange it was, i
n that rural and lonely villa, to ponder O
r the remains of so distant an age! Ho,
Is vividly they reminded US that the fai
le country around Naples has been, age
: and ages ago, peopled, devastated, an
!. repeopled; as rich in native production
r twenty three centuries ago as now-pel
le haps richer. Every step taken In th
y Canpagna .telice is . step over grave
70 Cor. London Daily Nesos.
y The Cost In Men Of the Afghan Wa,
d A RETURN has been made to Il
4 Houoo ~ Commons ~ <bo pur,ba,