Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-09-24
Sflfrf Rsabing.
The Buried Cities

The following interesting and in
st-uctlve sketch Of the history Of some
Of the buried cities, is taken from
Cham5ers' Journal. It's worth study
ing and pondering over, as it throws
much light on facts regarding the de-
struction OF those cities not heretofore
known:
A halo Of romance surrounds the
very names Of Pompeii and Hercula-
neum, as we read the strange story of
their melancholy fate; but when We
visit those silent streets and stand in
those empty theatres, the romance is
translated into such vivid reality, that
We seem 10 live in the life Of that dis
tant past. every detail OF which is pre-
served, aud brought visibly and tan
gibly before us. Nature smiles. un.
fadedhnd unchanged,in all her South
e n loveliness; the purple waters of
! he Bay of Naples still kiss The SS;S,Se
.afu we V!Hc @l.ss. Are Iaila -
.,wiul reminder or s>r b.a,c- fnrees
! y.nouidering beneath Il, ever ready to
oyervhelm The surrounding plain, and
10 repeat the story written on Pcmpeii
and Herculaneum with finger Of fire.
The principal excavations have been
made at Pompeli. which. being buried
in ashes, was more easily disinierred
than Herculaneum, upoS which the
full force OF the crimson lava stream
flowed in it's burning course, harden
ing rapidly TO the consistency OF mar
Bile, which had to be quarried before
the city could be reached. Owing to
the ditlicults of the work, on ly small
part of the necessary excavation Is
completed. aud great care has to be
exercised. from the fact OF another
town having sprung up on the surface
OF the lava, and the consequent danger
Of undermining it. We walk through
narrow passages tunneled IN the lava
to the large theatre. The orchestra
with its marble seats is perfect; the
stage, too, is excavated; but the re.
manning parts are not yet quarried out
of the enormous mass OF lava, many
Yards in depth, under which they were
buried. We pass through more lava
tunnels to an excavated square, con-
tanning houses and shops. The frescot
Of the so-called House of Argus" still
retain their bright coloring; many ol
the marble pillars are ealcined to lime
| On the marble counter OF wineshoI
the green impressions Of bronze coins
found there still remain. At the side
are pumber OF the earthern amphora
used to contain the VINE; but, as y
Pompeii, most of the articles discover
ed in the houses have been uecessaril,
removed TO the Museum of Naples
The whole district surrounding Her
culaneum is mass of cooled lava, 1
black desolate region, whence lava il
quarried for paving and building pur
poses. The air is sulphurous, ant
tainted with Nesuvian smoke.
Very different is the beautiful seen,
| from Pompeii, with the blue sea ol
Que side and luxuriant vegetation OF
the other; in the distance, the shadow,
violet cliffs of Capri and lschia risin.
from the waves We descend a slop
ing path to the silent city, which
stands between too enormous embank
meLts Of ashes, like a very deep rail
way cutting, and enter by the grea
gateway, with arches aud pillars il
perfect preservation. Through a small
arch at the side, intended for foot
passengers, We pass into the deserted
streets; from the high narrow footway
we see the track of wheels on tn
paved street below; and the great step
ping stones are still there, rs in day
Of old, when the Pompean ladies AN
their attendant slaves stepped light
from one to another, on their way
the baths, the theatres. or other diver
sions of that gay life, whose every de
tail lies crystallzed for the benefit {
succeeding ages. Everywhere stan
the remains Of sculptured fountains
at the street corners, in every hous'
, in every square. The whole city mus
have been musical with the ripple {
: falling waters in those long past sun
! mer noOntides AMI moonlit nigh,
y when Pompeii was in its zenith I
!" pomp and pride.
A number of converging streets lea
: into the forum-the centre of II
+ city's life. Here are the perfect r
e. mans of beautiful temples. with the
marb columns and sculptured altar
on which inscriptions to Juno, Venu
etc.. may still be read. On some a
delicate carvings representing sacl