National Republican., 1884-06-12
MODERN ROME.
Changes Effected by the Present Govern
mcnt, and Recent Interesting Discov-
81. Paul Pioneer Pres

81. Paul Pioneer Press.
A most wonderful transformation is boing
rapidly effected in the construction aud
appearance Of tho Eternal City. When some
fourteen years ago tho troops of Victor
Emanuel mado thoir entry by the Porta Pia,
the condition of Rome was doplorable in
respect TO tho narrow, noisome streets, the
accumulated piles Of filth on all sides, and
tho lazy, dirty habits of the inhabitants.
Tho italian government, however, imme-
diatcly on taking possession of the long
coveted capital, instituted a vigorous system
Of municipal reforms; and although the
projected changes involved an enormous
outlay, thoy have been to great extent
carried out, and now largo
portion of Romo presents an aspect
in no wiso inferior to that
Of tho other great contors of Europe. 1t is
true that this work of reconstruction bears
heavily on tho taxpayers, for tho cost of
expropriating whole sections of tho city was
enormous. 1t was proved on paper over and
| over again. that the gigantic undertaking was
| quito impossible of realization, In view of the
| impoverished condition of the people, and tho
already heavily-burdened finances. Those
statements were all admirably supported by
| figures, and, in theory, were conclusive; but,
like many other theories, proved utterly
false when brought to practical
test. With a positivcness that had
suspiciously arbitrary ring, tho govern
mont declared that the capital should dc facto
| be worthy of its rank in tho family of
italian cities, and Notwithstanding opposi-
! tion and almost insuTmountablo difficulties
new Rome stands to-day q magnificent result
of energy and patriotism. Tho entire Es-
| outline quarter is laid out in broad, handsome
streets and squares, lined with imposing
| buildings. Cleanliness Is carefully main
| tained throughout tho city by an army of
street sweepers, whose brooms arc kept in
constant action, and the lavish wator supply,
said to he the finest in the world, beside
being utilized in numerous public fountains
carries its cleansing stream into all the newly
constructed dwellings and into many of the
old houses as well. As q result of this sani-
tary reform tho dread Roman fever is
rapidly disappearing, and Will prob
ably, Gro many years have passed,
have become q tradition, exciting wonder
that tho old order of things under
the pontihcal government could ever have
been endured One of the most admirable
features in this great work of improvement
is tho intelligent care that has beon evipced
in preserving and partially restoring the
relics of imperial and medieval Rome,
Through thousand years Of neglect and
potitive destruction, systematically pursued,
the ruins have been SO degraded that it re-
with the traditions of the mighty mistress of
tho world. 1t is true that restoration cannot
as yet extend beyond merely arresting the
progress of ruin, but this at least is being
done most effectively. Wherever q ruined
wall or tottering arch requires support,
bricklayors and stonomasons are set to work
and the damage is repaired, while the dis
tinctive features of the ruins are intelligently
preserved.
For instance, in the excavations of the
forum, which arc being actively prosecuted,
the remains of the house of the vestals were
uncovered, and here tho ruins were carefully
propped up, each brick numbered to nt into
tho space whence it foil, and the fragments
of marble cornice, together with tho vcstige'
of frescoed walls, fitted carefully into posi-
tion, so that this most interesting relic of the
last centuries of the empire is now good fol
. another couple of hundred of years even If nj
other steps should be taken for its further
. restoration. During the work Of excavation
in the house of the vestals while digging IL
the cellars lying under one of the chambers
the workmen came upon number oil large
jars, amphore, many of them broken, bu'
with some few intact and among these lat
ter was one sealed with hard wax, black ene'
with age, and scaling off in layers. On boin
| opened this jar was found to be full of
, dark, viscid, substance, which. on investiga
ton, proved to DO oil, and was undoubtedl!
such as was used by tho vestals to feed tn
sacred flame on their altar, from which, as |
o we'll known to students of history, tho fir
q was distributed to all tho sacricial altars II
Rome. This curious find, after its intermon
of some 1900 years, has boen tho source Q
tho liyoliest satisfaction among archBolo
gists, and has attracted quito number @
u savants to Rome, on the qui vive for any fuI
ther discoveries of a asimilar nature that ma
. be mado.
20 While on the subject of the excavations, /
20 may not be amiss to say fow words toucl
1t ing the erection of tho magnificent Costan2
thCater. This building, which Is one of til
most important of New Rome, has rather
L, sad story connected with its originator,
~ man named Costanzi, who, having amasse
modest fortune, in the first place as
% courier, and afterward in the hotel business
was bitten by tho demon of ambition, an
resolved to erect such building as wou
render him famous. Consequently he d
u voted all his resources to the building
this theater; but before it was half finisht
g. his entire means were swallowed up, al
g to complete tho work money had to
borrowed at heavy interest. lie now iin
)" himself in his old age the nominal own
of one of the finest opera houses in Il
" world; but Mt tho same time, it is said,
y often reduced to tho direst straits to fiji
wherewithal to procure even the necessari,
to of life. To return, however, to the subj
of excavations, it appears that whilo diggil
or for tho foundations of this theater supe
40 recumbent statue of "Veuus Hermaphrodit
was discovered, executed in the finest sty
s. of Greek art. This statue, which has but O
20. counterpart in the world, namely, the flmo
cd hcrmaphrodite in the gallery of tho Louvl
is ranked among the most perfect specime
ea of ancient art, and would, If intact, be CO
sidercd priceless. Unfortunately, it has be,
mutilated in that one leg is gone; but ov
Id as il is, it was taken by one of the Costar
en- creditory at Il valuation of 10000 francs, al
mt the present owner declares that he won
not part with it for less than three times tn
ys amount.
h 1t is difficult to arrive at just appreciate
in of the almost exhaustless mine of antiq
on treasures lying beneath the accumulation
er soil in Rome. Under the city of the midc
ages are inferred the marbles, bronz
columns, and statues which embclished t
residences of mobiles and patricans under I
i'll CAESARS. Some conception of this may
to- formed when ii is told that for moro than
he years not single slab of marble has bo
i'm brought into the city, and, nevertheless /
ho prodigality Of this precious material is i
ticeabe at every turn, in churches a
palaces, in the lowliest dwellings a
shops even in stables and c.
pens. Iu byways and noisome, cl,
re lanes exquisite bits of sculpture have be
od mixed with common building matori
-, Wherever tho spade turns over II square 10
Tn of ground fragments Of statuary and b
mt relief are found in the black soil, and
It's many years, under the pontihcal goyornme
bo tho limo used in Romo was manutactui
.1...G ..1k lac hat nv