The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-06-02

pertormed-to carry the loose earth for
any distance in baskets mounted upon
their heads. At Pompeii it is only car
ried in this way from the spot where 1t is
dug to the railway which carries it off.
The digging is done by rude spade;
but great care is taken when once a fres-
coed wall has been approached, or the
interior of a house discovered, that no
mischief shall be done by carelessness.
The work is constantly superintendent
by an able overseer, who directs the OPP
erations of the persons under him.
As soon as any valuable object is dis
inferred from the ruins. whether it be
statue, a vase, a domestic utensil, or
fresco of more than ordinary beauty. it
is taken at once to the small museum or
depository near the entrance, estab-
lished about 1860. Here it is cleaned
and repaired. after which operations it
is transferred to the National Museum
at Naples. In the center of this de-
pository there are arranged in glass
cases some of the most curious and ter
rible objects connected with the buried
city. They are plaster casts nodded
by the cavities once filled by the re-
mains of inhabitants of Pompeii. With
in two years there were found among
the ruins eighty-seven human skeletons,
and three dogs and seven horses. When
the volcano first burst forth, there came
in the beginning a rain of ashes, which
covered the city to a depth of three feet.
These ashes have preserved to certain
extent the bodies of the unfortunate
creatures whom they overwhelmed. AL
though the soft parts of the bodies had
decayed in course of time, their forms
frequently remained imprinted on the
ashes, which afterward hardened. In
1868, NJ. Fiorelli made the ingenious ex-
pertinent OF carefully removing the bones
of body thus imbedded, and filling the
cavity with plaster 1t succeeded most
admirably in preserving rs he wished
the figures and attitudes of the victims
after their death struggle. In the mo-
ment of flight many had Invested them
selves of most of their clothing. Among
the figures are young girl with ring
on her finger, mother clasping her
youthful daughter. and a man lying
upon his left side. These terrible casts
show only too well the awful agony in
which these wretched creatures died.
Smothered by the ashen rain, tortured
by the burning lava, these shapes Of
plaster represent the most horrible ex-
tremes of human suffering. There is
one cast of dog, which, at the moment
that death interviewed, had writhed him.
self into an attitude that must have
wrenched joint from joint. In addition
to this museum q school and library were
established at Pom peii some fifteen years
ago by NJ. Fiorelli, the students, who
gave themselves to archaeological studies,
being supported by the Government.
Under new and recent organization
they are permitted to spend their time
in visiting the excavations going on In
different parts of the peninsula, and re-
main only a portion OF the year at
Pompeii.
The year 1880 and the early part Of
1881 were especially fertile in discover
les of value and Importance In Pom
peii. A large number of buildings,
mostly dwelling houses, were unearthed
and many interesting objects obtained.
Among the most important relics of an
cient art was a bronze faun or satyr,
ornamenting, when found, the facade OF
an imposing mansion. This faun is
fifty-fve centimeters in height, beauti-
full in execution, but more or less injured
by the coloring matter that was orig
inally used upon it. The head is sur
rounded by a wreath, and on the shout
der rests huge leather bag or bottle.
The glance of the faun is turned toward
the neck of the bottle, and he appears
to be watching an imaginary stream
with a sort of half-drunken ecstasy.
Such designs as these were frequent
among the Pompeiians for their fount-
aims, fauns and satyrs IN various stages
of inebriety beng afavorite subject with
their artists. Another bronze found In
similar position to this one, on
the facade of a mansion, represents
Cupid with the dolphin. The marine
animal is perched upon the boys right
shoulder; while in his left hand he holds
flower.
A very remarkable group of statuettes
was found in chapel situated off the
main hall, or atrium, of house. These
chapels were quite customary in Pom
peiian dwellings,, and contained the
Lares and Penates or household gods, with
which each family was usually we'll sup
piled. The main figure, female deity
representing Fortune, is seated between
two Lares, while above her head was
suspended an elegant lamp. The god
dess is covered with an ample tunic and
mantle. The various parts of the chair
or throne were covered with handsome
ornaments, as were also the circular
bases supporting the Lares. Two Trit-
ons in the act of sounding their trum-
pets are perched upon the back of the
chair. The latter is pronounced by art
lists and archeologists in Italy to be a
most-perfect model of the sculptured
chairs usually found in antique monu-
ments. The lamp is a remarkable OBJ
ject, being shaped like human foot
clad in the most-elegant boot. and was
originally profusely ornamented with
silver, now thoroughly oxidized by the
influence of time.
The works of art and other relics that
have been transferred from Pompeii to
the museum at Naples occupy large
portion of that immense building, which
was originally built in 1856 by the Vice
roy, Duke of Ossuna, for cavalry bar.
racks, and 200 years later was fitted ur
for the reception of the royal antiquities
| and nicturea Tho pompeiian freacoes