Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-27
MILDRED RusSELLS EESTER.
4NelgyrAsD xoDRRN KoAE.

1Ke3EvT.xNDl x0DERN ROME,
Woatevs.s Amsus shs Rssns- An tssersss'
Ne cusrer : s's ssvasts A tisw-sa'
ekvsek- tsrSssal fsswasa-Ssssess.
rsrss5al correspondents OF she Disratch.l
RoME, February g, 1885.
Ii Rome, il anywhere in the world,
tllc wand Of eclccticism is certainly
seeded to flourish over she rush OF
thought and incident that course in
rapid confusion through ones brain and
before ones eyes, and 10 bring out
something definite from these chaotic
elements. Yhe art collections Of Greece
and the Italian renaissance are great
and fascinating. and IL one had courage
enough TO neglect everything else and
devote attention solely 10 these, the
task would turn into summers holi-
day. But the mighty past OF Rome
snthralls like an irresistible magic spell.
Modern Rome is built on the top Of
ancient Rome, or has picked out hooks
IN q temple or palace and turned them
ieto churches or museums. or else
used some OF the old city's we'll
nigh impcrishable materials IN max
ing what are but huts in COM
parison with tho edi6ces from which
they were taken. The Palatine, one
Of the seven principal 'hills.of Rome, is
covered with the ruins Of the palaces
Of the Caesars, which superseded older
buildings. Blocks OF cyclopean or un-
nortared masonry discovered in differ
ept places formed wall which at a
very early period, probably under the
hrst kings. girt this hillhalf-way up its
slope. Within this circumference the
Evolutionary tabled andhcroic ancestors
Of the Roman tribe had their homes,
and authentic history assigns dwellings
to Catiline, Cicero. and otherwell-known
characters in Republican times. After
Augustus had secured the imperial pow
eT he built n palace on the site Of the
ancient dwellings Of the kings and es-
tablished his Wanted Greek and Latin
library there.
RUINS IDENTIFIED.
This spot is at present occupied by
the villa mills and its gardens. The
easily distinguished groups Of ruins are
those Of the palaces Of Tiberius, Cali
guls. Domitian. and Scptimius Severus,
and Of tn, only private house on the
hill which belonged to Silvia the mother
Of IYberius. This last is interesting
from its simple and unpretending style,
and consists Of court, around which
reccption-room, two smaller ones sup
posed to be for sleeping, and dining
room are arranged. Painting still dis
sernible on the walls show that the
house was artistically decorated, and
remnants Of water-pipes and heating
apparatus are suggestive of what we arc
pleased TO call modern comforts. Little
is left Of the buildings of Tiberius. but
those Of Caligula, which stood on the
side nearest the Forum Romanum, and
Of Domiiian and Septimius Severus are
Of considerable size. Caliglla enclosed
the road called the Ascent Of Victory,
and connected his palace with the Forum
by steps, passages. and bridges. that he
might have easy access TO the Capito-
line beyond it. on which stood the Tenn
pie Of Jupiter, whose representative
this aspiring ruler claimed to be on
rarth, and with whom he wished to be
n constant and untrammelled inter
course. Domitian enlarged new palace
bnilt by his father, Ncspasian, near
he centre Of the hill. and added |
nails suitable in size and arrangement |
or the administration of Govern
nent and obtained the necessary level !
surface by means Of heavy substruc-
lures. From the dining-hall the guests
looked out between rows Of marble |
columns on fountains and rare trees,
md might afterwards have wandered to |
, conservatory near, III which exotic
plants bloomed within an elliptical ba-
lin of fountains. Though it is not !
Known TO what use all the apartments |
we're applied in the palace of SeptimiuS
severus, il is certain race-course, q
heatre, and school for the imperial
dawes were among the number.
ANCIENT, cARICATUREs.
Several. caricatures were discovered
N the walls of the last, and one Of
hem has been removed to the Museo
Iircherany. A wide platform. sup
orted by, masonry, afforded the En-
error and his court an opportunity of
njoying prospect of the distant hills
= Of overlooking the games in the Cir
MS Maximus, which was below it.
among the ruins are bits Of
marble balustrading, deliberately carved
ornices, pedestals, Mosaic payemcnts,
vsll-paintings, &c. There are near
Jews Of the Coliseum, the Arches of
and Situs. and the many
olums in the Forum. and distant
Jews of Ramc, the Campagna, and
he mountains beyond. Vineyards and
ardens, now Iaurestinns bushes in full
doom, almond-trees just bursting into
nowy whitepcss, and numbers of wild
overs diversity and enliven an inspec-
ION Of these ruins, whose walls, oolos-
Al in thickness and for the most part
oofiess, and suites of skeleton apart
,ents, are somewhat grim reminders Of
asst glory. AT the same time they show
neh an enlargement Of idea in design,
nd are the remnants OF what may
All such huge compound buildings,
hat there is scope for the widest flights
Imagination as to what use many
arts were put, aud what scenes were
nacted there and thousand other
oints.
THE JEWISH QUARTER.
As in every part of the eastern hemi-
phere, 20 in Rome the Jews have been
abject to numerous oppressive exac-
ons, and when they were first assigned
quarter on the left bank of the Tiber,
here the chief part of Rome lies, they
ere ordered to wear yellow head-cov-
rings and pay for the horsc-racing
rizes at the carnival in addition to be-
V walled in and having their gates shut
shutdown. The Ghettso, as their