Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-06-14
MODERN ROME.

A most wonderful transformation is being
rapidly effected in the construction and ap-
pearance of the Eternal City When some
IA years ago the troops Of Victor EN-
manuel made their entry by the Porta Pia,
the condition Of Rome was deplorable in
respect to the narrow, noisome streets, the
accumulated piles of filth on all sides, and
the lazy, dirty habits of the inhabitants.
The Italian government, however, immedi-
diately on taking possession of the long
coveted capital, instituted u vigorous system
of municipal reforms; and although the
projected changes involved an enormous
outlay, they have been to great extent
carried out, and now large portion of
Rome presents an aspect in no wise inferior
to that of the other great centres of Europe.
The entire Esquiline quarter is laid out in
broad, handsome streets and squares, lined
with imposing buildings. Cleanliness is
carefully maintained throughout the city by
an army of ofstreetsweepers, whose brooms are
kept in constant action, and the lavish water
supply, said to be the finest in the world,
beside being utilized in numerous public
fountains, carries its cleansing stream into
all the newly constructed dwellings and
result of this sanitary reform the dread
Roman fever is rapidly disappearing, and
will probably, ere many years have passed.
have become q tradition, exciting wonder
that tho old order of things under the pom
tiGcal government could ever have been
endured One of the most admirable fes-
lures in this great work of Improvement is
the intelligent care that has been eYinced
in preserving and partially restoring the
relics of imperial and medieval Rome.
Through a thousand years of neglect and
positive destruction, Systematically pur-
sued, the ruins have been so degraded that
it required the eye of faith to assimilate
them with the traditions of the mighty mis-
tress Of the world. 1t is true restoration
cannot as yet extend beyond merely arrest
ing the progress of ruin, but this at least is
being done most effectively. Wherever
ruined wall or tottering arch requires sup
port, bricklayers and stonemasons are set
to work and the damage is repaired, while
tho distinctive features of the ruins are in
telligently preserved. For instance, in the
excavations of the forum, which are being
actively prosecuted the remains of the
| house of the vestals were uncovered, and
| here the ruins were carefully propped up,
each brick numbered to fit into the space
| whence it fell, and the fragments of mar
BILE cornice, together with the vestiges of
frescoed walls, fitted carefully into position,
so that this most interesting relic of the
| last centuries of the empire is now good for
another couple of hundred of years, even if
no other steps should be taken for its fur
ther restoration. During the work Of eXca-
vation in the house Of the vestals, while dig
sing in the cellars lying under one OF the
| chambers, the workmen came upon mum
Der OF large jars amphor:c, many OF them
| broken, but with some few intact, and
| among these latter was one sealed with
hard wax, blackened with aye, and sealing
oil in layers On being opened this jar was
| found TO be full Of dark, viscid substance,
| which, on investigation, proved to be oil,
| and was undoubtedly such as was used by
| the vestals TO feed the sacred flame on their
| altar, from which, as is well known to stu
dents of history, the fire was distributed to
all the sacriGcial altars in Rome. This GU
rious fud, after its interment of some ], 800
years, has been the source OF the llvelleSt
satisfaction among arch:rologists, and
has attracted quite a number OF savants
to Rome, on the qui vive for any furthur
discoveries OF similar nature chat may I've
made.
While digging for the foundations Of a
|
Hermaphrodite'' was discovered, executed
in the finest style of Greek art. This sta
tue, which has but one counterpart in the
world, namely, the famous hermaphrodite
in the gallery of the Louvre, is ranked
among the most perfect specimens of an
cient art and would, if intact, be considered
priceless. Unfortunately, it has been mutt
| lated, in that one leg is gone, but even as 1t
| is, it was taken by one of the Costanzi Gre
ditory at valuation of $4,000 francs, and
the present owner declares that he would
not part with it for less than three times
| that amount.
| It is difficult to arrive at a just apprecia-
| ton of the almost eXhaustless mine OF anti
que treasures lying beneath the accumula-
ton of soil in Rome. Under the city of the
middle ages are inferred the marbles, bron-
zes, columns, and statues which embellshed
the residences ofnobles and patricians under
the Caesars. Some conception of this may
| be formed when it is told that for moro than 4OO
wears not single slab of marble has been brought
| into tho city, and, nevertheless, tho prodigaity
| of this precious material is noticeable at every
| turn, in churches and palaces in the loWilest
dwellings and shops, even in stables ana COW
! pens In byways and noisome close lanes eX-
ouisite bits of sculpture have been mixed with
common building material. Wherever the spade
turns over square foot of ground fragments OF
statuary and basrelief are found in the black SOIL
and for many years, under the pontifcal govern,
ment, the limo used in Rome was manufactured
! exclusively from the marbles that once adorned
the dwellings of a Caesar cmbellished the tent
pics of the gods This wholesale vandalism is
almost inconceivable, but, happily, an effective
check has been put upon any further destruction
and in the course of time tho world may yet see
tho restoration in part MT least, of the existing
relics ofthe grandeur of imperial Rome.-S. Pau
| Pioneer Press.
WHICH IS VERY IMPoRTANT.-Othe plas