Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-08-11
THE EXCAVATIONS AT rosrrEn
bringing to Light a Beautiful House,
Discovery of Skeleton.


Discovery of a skeleton.
IL seems odd to speak or a dead city
as a growing one. But that Is exactly
the case with Pompeii. There are
many cities in Italy that do not grow
half as fast as the one buried py the
ashes of Vesuvius 1900 years ago. A
person visiting 1t at intervals OF yeaf
notices marked enlargement OF It's
boundaries. The Italians, you know,
are the champion diggers. They make
the shovel is when they attack the
grave of Pompeii. We saw gang OF
them at work there. A government
oyerseer watched them like hawk.
He wanted to be sure that they pocketed
no jewelry, coins, or objects OF art OF
utility Welded by the excavations. The
only produce of their toll in that line
AS we stood by was a bit of iron, which
tie guide called hinge. and the frag-
ment of small marble column. Inc
spades busily piled were gradually
bringing to light beautiful mouse.
The floors were mosaic, with simple
but graceful designs in scroll pattern
nearly as fresh of color as If laid yes
terday. The walls bore frescoes or
fainter tints-grinning masks, fawns,
cupids. birds, fish and fruit. 1t had
evidently been the home of well-to-do-
citizen of Pompeii. The nervous move
merits of the workmen betrayed their
anx .ety. They were hoping at every
moment to make valuable "nnd. !"
Perhaps they might hit upon a great
iron chest, studded with round knobs
like a boiler, and full of gold, money,
or ornaments, or they might be startled
by coming suddenly upon skun or
other human remains. In the latter
event the work is suspended till care
full inspection is made.
The responsible and intelligent per-
son in charge proceeds to ascertain II
the dead Pompeiian has left mould OF
himself or herself IN the plastic ashes.
II so, he prepares mixture OF plaster
of Paris, breaks a hole in the crust, and
slowly rours in the liquid till the mould
Is full, When it has hardened, the
casting is tenderly removed. Lo! there
is a rough image, showing some poor
creature in the agonies of death, prone
on the floor, face downward.
Thus, most usually, were the inhap-
itants of the doomed city caught by the
destroying angel. The skull, or leg. or
arm, or whatever other part of the
skeleton has not relapsed into its origi-
nal dust, may attach itself to the plas.
ter cast in the proper place, or may re-
qulre to be joined on by pardonable
restoration" In either case the effect
Is thrilling its horrible reality. Nothing
IN painting or sculpture can shock the
beholder more than these self-produced
and truthful statues exhibited IN the
museum, which is the first and most
interesting thing shown to visitors.
But, though neither gold nor silver,
nor the minutest scrap Of a skeleton.
nor anything else OF Importance was
unearthed for my benefit, L quilted the
new excavations with reluctance to ex.
anime those parts Of Pompeii with
which the world is already familiar
through the medium of books and pic
lures l found myself quite at home
in the bakery, the wine shop, at the oil
merchants, at the houses OF Pansa, OF
Sallust, OF the Tragic Poet" and the
rest. The high stepping-stones across
the streets looked familiar, as If l bad
trodden them before. The deep ruts
cut by the carts as they groaned up the
hill, coming from the ancient Stabia,
were like friendly landmarks. So fully
have art and literature made us ac-
quainted with this disinterred city.
1t may be true, as our guide insists,
that the temples, forums, baths, thea.
tres, and fine houses now above ground
surpass anything of the kind that may
hereafter be discovered in Pompeii.
But the Italian government is not dis
posed to take that for granted. Liberal
sums are yearly appropriated to push
on the work. 1t bears fruit. A new
temple or amphitheatre may not be
struck every year, but something i:
constantly being turned up to instruct
the world in the manners and customs
of the old Romans, so well reflected ID
the representative city Of Pompeii. OF
bronze or stone statues, household i'm.
plements, and tools OF trades, the yield
is immense and steady. These may be
counted by the thousand in the splendid
museum at Naples. One can see so
rsnny articles OF luxury and use exactly
similar to those he buys nowadays, that
he is fain to pause and try to remember
what besides the steam engine, the pho.
tograph, and the electric telegraph We
moderns have invented. There being
no more room at Naples TO store these
treasures. the excess of them is huddled
together In the court-yards and houses
of Pompeli herself. 1t is estimated
that at the present rate this mine OF
antiquities will not be worked out In
fifty years.