The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-03-31
SCENES IN POMpRII.
Carissities Of the Dsstrmction Seen In the
Museum.


fancy one of my first thoughts, after
passing through the gateway, was that the
Museum was befttingly well placed. Being
just within the entrance to the city. il forms
sort of prelude to the march one has to
make. The sight of those black bodies, OF
natures own embalming, lying there as
they lay living, and alive were slowly
buried eighteen centuries ago, may set the
mind thinking ere a step is set upon the
silent streets. Here they lie, just as they
died, uncoffined and unshrouded, choked
suddenly to death. This seems clear from
their position for their faces are turned
downward, and the arms are folded under
them, as though to keep q little breathing
space, while the sitting shower of ashes
was fast suffocating oil who came within its
fatal reach. There are here seen but two
exceptions-a woman who was found with
upturned face, and q dog that was discov.
cred lying on its side, with open, gaping
jaws and limbs distorted and convulsed. II
man have any heart more human than
the one which is contained within cab
bage, he may hardly see unmoved such
mournful sights rs these. Nor can one fail
to feel interest, as one glances at the articles
Of ancient use or ornament discovered near
the bodies which have lately been unearth-
ed. Here are all the usual goods and chat
tells of household, as profuse in their va
riety Us in any common, modern auction
catalogue of sale. Here are instruments of
surgery that show that the old practitioners
were skilled in their profession; and i'm
pleinents of cookery, of very highly appe-
thing structure and most artistic shape. ]
noticed especially sieve, or perforated
copper vessel, doubtless used for making
forcement and other dainty dishes, and l
observed that all of the holes were drilled
to form q strictly symmetrical design. In
another the pattern of a peacock was dis
played. possible to crafty Che taste Of some
classical aesthetic. Indeed, the whole Pom.
peian household seemed pervaded by high
art from the frescoes in the bedrooms to
the crockery in the kitchens and the statues
in the hall. Nor was art adapted only to
the uses of the rich. Even the butcher
used a steelyard with handsome head Of
bronze to serve by way of weight, and the
winter poured his wine into drinking cup
adorned with bas relief of Bacchus.
Verify, there is nothing new under the sun.
The bread baked yesterday at Naples Is Of
precisely the same shape as the loayes found
at Pompeii. which were put into the oven
near two thousand years ago. The coinage
Of that period differs little from our
own, except that it SURPRISES ours in quail
ty Of workmanship. A flaming table then
was furnished with pair of dice, and q
lady's toilet table with mirror and a royce
pot. Small boys scribbled on the walls,
and played with balls and knuckle bones
and marbles in the streets Of old Pompeii
ms they do in modern Paris, Naples. Lon
don or Berlin. The printing press had not
then been invented. It Is true, and newspa-
pers were wanting for the purpose of ad-
vertisement. But electors were appealed
to very much as they are now, as is proved
by many mural inscriptions in the place.
BY these they were adjured to Vote for
Blobbins. the True Friend Of the People"
or to go and hear Bugginsius, the famous
platform orator, who was noted for his
pluck in pitching into the patricians, a.
speakers may nowadays who abuse the
House of Lords. Excepting books and
newspapers, whose presence some may
fancy q not wholly unnixed blessing, there
are traces at Pompeii Of all sorts Of London
shop things and ways and means Of living.
There even ars the pass checks which were
current at the theatre, where the people
were assembled at the time Of the eruption,
and the figs and other fruit which were pre-
pared for their refreshment upon that fatal
afternoon.