The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-08
EXCAVATIONS AT POMPEII.
ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE CITY UN-
COVERED. .N,Eh#

tons, Frescocs, Etc.
A correspondent writes as follows to
the New York Journal of Commences:
1t sccms odd to speak of dead city as
growing ono. But that is exactly the
case with Pompcii. There are msny
cities in Italy that do not grow half as
last as the ono buried by the ashes of
'csuvlus 1900 years ago. A person vis-
lung IL Mt intervals of n year notices O.
marked enlargement of its boundaries.
The Italians, you know, are the cham
pion dggers. They make the shovel fly
when they attack the grave of Pompeii.
we saw gang of them at work there.
government oversccr watched them
Like hawk. Ho wanted to be suro that
they pocketcd no icwclry, coins, or OBJ
Jects of art or utility yielded by tho OK
cavatlons. The only produce of their
t0'i III that inc as we stood by was bit
OF iron, which the guido called a hinge
and the fragment of a small marble coI'
umn. The spades busily piled woro
gradually bringing to light beautiful
house. The floors were mosaic, with
simple but graceful designs in scroll pat-
tern-ncarly as fresh of color as if laid
yesterday. The walls bore frescoes Of
fainter tints-grinning masks, fawns.
cupids, birds, fish and fruit. It had
evidently been the home of wcll-to-do
citizen of Pompeii. The nervous move
ments of the workmen betrayed their
anxiety. They were hoping at every
moment to make valuable "find." Per
maps they might hit upon q great iron
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boiler, and full Of gold money or orna-
mcnts, or they might strike another
wonder i'll marble or bronze, or thew
might be startled by coming suddenly
upon skull or other human remains.
In the latter cvont, the work is suspend
cd till q careful inspection is made.
The responsible and intelligent person
IN charge proceeds to ascertain if the
dead Pompeiian has left mould of him
self or herself i'll the plastic ashes. IF
SO, he prepares mixture of plaster of
Pacls, breaks u hole in the crust, and
slowly pours Ill the liquid till tho mould
is full. When it has hardened the cast
ing is tcndcredly removed. Lo! there is
rough image, showing somo poor crea-
tIlre i'll the agonics Of death, prone on
tho floor, face downward.
Illus, most usually, were the inhabit-
ants OF the doomed city caught by tho
destroying angel. The skull, or leg, or
arm, or whatever other part of the siIele-
: ton has not rclapScd into its original
dust, may attach itself to the plaster cast
} III the proper place, OF may require to
be Joined on by n pardonablo 'trestora-
ton" In either case, tho effect is
thrilling in its horrible reality. Nothing
IN painting or sculpture can shock the
bellolder moro than these sclf-produced
and truthful statues exhibited in tho
museum, which is the first and most
interesting thing shown to visitors. But,
though neither gold nor silver, nor the
mlnutest scrap Of II skeleton, nor any
thing else of importance was uncarthed
Tor my benefit, | quilted the new exca-
Vatlons with reluctance to examine those
parts OF Pompcii with which the world
is already familiar through the medium
Oh DOCKS ana pictures. L found myself
quite at home in tho bakery, the wine
shop, at the oil merchants, at the houses
OF Pansa, Of Sallust, of the '"rrapic
Poet, and tho rest. The high stepping
stones across the streets looked familiar,
as If l. had troddcn them before The
deep ruts cut by the carts us they eroan-
cd up the hill, coming from tho ancient
Stabla, were like friendly landmarks. So
iully have literature and art made us &C.
|
The guido tells me that only about
ono-third of Pompcii has vet been O nm
covered. take his word for it. He is
also of tho opinion that the best parts Of
the city have already been dug out. He
evidently wishes that tho work would
stop. He is very human in this, for he
finds it tiresomo to show people about
the present Pompeii. Treble it's size.
and his labor would be threefold. And
he IS forbidden to accept money. But 1
imagine this very stern prohibition docs
not prevent persons from Offering him
(say) couple of francs on "the sly" or
him from accepting them.
1t may be true, as our guide insists,
That the temples, forums, baths, theatres,
ana line houses now above ground sur
pass anything of the kind that may here
after be discovered at Pompcii. But tho
ltallan Government is not disposed to
take that for granted. Liberal sums arc
yearly appropriated to push on the work,
1t bears fruit. A now templc or amphi.
theatre may not be struck every wear.
but something is constantly being turned
up to instruct the world in the manners
and customs of the old Romans, 80 we'll
rejected IN the representative city Of
fompcn. Of bronze or stono statutes,
household implements, and tools Of
trades, the yield is immense and steady.
These may be counted by the thousand
IN the splendid museum at Naples. Ono
can see so many articles of luxury and
used exactly similar to those he buys
nowadays, that he is fain to pause and
try to remember what besides the steam
engine, the photograph, anl the electric
telegraph we modcrns havo invented.
There being no more room ut Naples to
store these treasures, tho excess OF them
is huddled together in the courtyards
and houses Of Pompcii herself. 1t is
estimated that at tho present rate TINS
mine of antiquities will not be worked
: out ~ fifty years.
Why they Laughed.
An amusing story about Mr.. II. O.
{ Richards and Mr.. Herbert Gladstone is
, Going the rounds. Depend upon it.
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