The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-06-29
MODERN ROME.

AAOSb sA@ASAOS
is being rapidly effected in the con-
struction and appearance CT the
Eternal City. When some fou. teen
years ago the troops OF Victor En-
manuel made their entry by the Porta
Pia, the condition Of Rome was dea
plorable in respect to the narrow,
nois1me streets, the accumulated
piles of filth on all sides, and the lazy.
dirty habits OF the inhabitants. The
italian government, however,
Immediately on taking possession OF
the long coveted capital, instituted
vigorous system OF municipal re-
forme; and although tho projected
changes involved an enormous cut
lay, they have been to q great extent
carried out, and now large portion
of Rome presents an aspect Ia no
wise inferior to that of the other great
centres of Europe. The entire
EsquiliDe quarter is laid out in broad.
handsome streets and squares, lined
with imposing buildings. Cleanliness
lie carefully maintained throu shout
the city by an army Of street sweep
ers, whose brooms are kept in con
slant action, and the lavished water
supply, said to be the finest in the
world, besides bsing 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 result
of this sanitary reform the dread
Roman fever is rapidly disappearing.
and will probably. ere many years
have passed, have become tradition
exciting wonder that the old order OF
things under the pontifical govern
ment could ever. have been endured.
One Of the most admirable features
ia this great work of improvement is
the intellige Mt care that has been
evinced in preserving and partially
RESTORING the relics of imperial and
medieval Rome. Througb thou
sand years of neglect and positive
destruction, Systematically pursued,
the ruins have been GO degraded that
it required the eye of faith to assimi-
late them with the traditions CT the
mighty mistress Of the world. 1t ia
true restoration cannot ss yet extend
beyond merely arresting the progress
OF ruin, but this at least is being done
most effectively. Wherever ruined
wall or lettering arch requires sup
port. bricklayers and stonemasons are
set to work and the damage Is repair
ed. while the distinctive features OF
ruins are intelligently preserved. For
instance, in the excavations OF the
forum, which are being actively
prosecuted. the remains of the house
Of the yestais were unsovered, and
here the ruins we're carefully propped
up, each brick umhered 10 6 the
space whence it FELL, and the !rag-
ments OF oornice, together with she
vestiges Of irescoed walls, fitted care
fully into position, so that this most
interesting relic OF the last centuries
CT the empire is now good for another
couple of hundred Of years, even il
no other steps should be taken for its
further restoration. During the
work Of excavation il the house OF
the vestals, while digging in the
cellars lying uGder one of the cham
bers. the woykmen came upon q
number OF large jars, amphol@,
many Of them broken. bat with come
few intact, and among these latter
vas one sealed with hard wax, black
ened With sge, and sealing oil in layr
era. On being opened this lar was
found to be full of @ dark, visoid subs
stance. which, on investingtion,
proved to be oil, and was undoubtedly
such as was used by the vestals to
feed the sac. ed fame on their altar,
from which, as is we'll known TO
students Of history, the fire was dis
tributed to all the sacrifcisl affairs in
Rome. This curious find, after its
interment OF some 1900 years, hal
been the source of the liveliest salts
faction among aroheologists, and has
attracted quite number of savants
to Rome, on the qui vive for any fur
thur discoveries of a similar nature
that may be made.
While digging for the foundations
of a theatre superb recumbent
statue OF Venus Hermaphrodite'
was discovered, executed in the finest
style OF Greek art. This statue.
which has but one counterpart in the
world, namely, the famous her
mapbrodite in the gallery of the
Louvre, ia ranked among the most
perfect specimens of ancient art, and
would, if intact, be considered price,
less. Unfortunately, it has been
in that one leg is gone,
but even IS it is, it was taken by one
OF the Oostanzi creditory at valua-
ton 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 a! a just APP
probation of the almost exhaustless
mine Of antique treasures lying |
beneath the accumulation of soil in
Rome. Under the city of the middle
ages are inferred the marbles. bronzes.
columns and statues which embel.