Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-01-11
a Peep at Pompeii ,

A Peep at Pompeii,
Pompeii posses. s.es a secret power that
capt0ates, may almost say, melts the
scul and when once beheld, one feels like
it is constant delight to think and talk of
it's charms. It cos!s two francs to get &
guide to pilot US IN its ancient streets. Ina.
gine whole city, with q capacity for about
forty thousand Inhabitants, standing in
naked walls story high, and you get fine
picture Of our first view OF Pompe!i. The
guide first leads to the right immediately
after entering the gate. to what is called the
museum. Here ars the fossil remains of
human beinga buried by the ashes of the
terrible eruption If VesuVius in A. D., rs.
We see the agonies OF death on the features of
the face, and the contortions Of the muscles
as they writbed in pain. When they were
discovered, some bodies we're in position
that told long stories one man grasped
purse as he lay in the centre of the street; a
steward was found by hi4 masters door,
with the key still in his hand faithful
Roman sen;incl YVES by his post of duty, his
weapon near By, which poet be had not left,
though the city was near forsaken o. The
dire disaster. More thar sixty bodies have
been exhumed, but they arc not all here In
the museum only few bodies remain
here, aud with them they have left the body
ofa Cog, poor animal it also shows the
points Of death in striking Gay.
We ere next led along principal street
toward the central market place. AS we
waIk along we may observe the ruts of
chariots. formed two thousand years ago;
and, OIL either side of the street in convent
eut quarters, are fountains with spout or
part where the water flowed out, worn
-moolh by the application OF thousands OF
Roman lips. Lead water pipes lead to these
fountains, and they resambie much the
pipes in use in our times We observe the
streets are go Garrow that two vehicles OF
the width indicated by the ruts in the paw.
ing (they are four feet apart), could not pass
each ether, showing us they must have had
certain times for coming in and going out.
The pavement is of q hard volcanic stone;
and the stones are neatly fitted together,
though not cut in regular forms or shapes.
Many open-faced shops are along the prlp
cipai streets, and wine shops are very fire.
ouent. The wine seller kept his wines in
large earthen vessels, sunk in the stone
counter, so thAt when The covers were placed
on, they Jay fat with the top of the bar.
marble, and marble is common to the city.
Signs are painted over many chops, and we
can sec that the colors were once glowing,
though now much faded. We may elso
learn by walking through tie prlucipsl
streets, that advertising is not altogether an
invention Of the present age. Placards
and posters enlven the streets, aud mang
portions of walls were well worked ever
with the paHter's brush. Iu The public
quarters were panels evidently set apart for
public use, and they served much es our
newspapers do now. When first found they
gave announcements OF an election on hand
when the city was destroyed; and several
parties had their several csndidstes' names
placed up to good advantage with the names
OF those who recommended or nominated
thep. Some ordinances of the city are cut
in stone and posted conspicnously and TIE
Emperor Titus had some orders posted like.
wise.
At the public market place our guide
showed us many public buildings, among
them neat theatre which would seat
over 900 1t was built, or rather cut in
the side of the bill, like most of the ancient
theatres, and tier after tier of stone seats
ran up the sientng sides of the hill. The
stage ls narrow, but probably we'll adapted
to the mere reciiag of play, as seems to
have been their mode. Some little ma.
chinery was used in connection with the
stage. The pleasures OF kin0 which we
would rather not notice were common. Not
g few streets were the sbodes Of the women
who lent themselves to heIlish purposes.
The frescoipg of the rooms they occupied
and tho stone furniture of their vile uses are
shocking to all sightseers who gain admit.
tance. Many of the statues and pictures
found are go obscene that they are bid from
public gaze. The city was resort
of rich mon of Rome, and nature
is SO lavish of her beauties that
it must have been favorite resort. Cicero
is known to have had villa here, but we
do not like to connect the learned Romans
name with the licentiousness OF the city.
The villas of these noted rich men of Rome
are elegant 10 behold the rooms are gen.
orally small, but every wall is frescoed, and
the mosaics en- the floors are an interesting
study. On the threshold of many of these
buildings, engraved in large characters in
mosaic, is the word salve (welcome,) indi.
eating, it may be supposed, the readiness OF
the hos. TO welcome his guests.
The Pompeiians we're great lovers of art,
and statues adorp the interior OF dwellings,
and abound in the public places; even the
ordinary utensils of the kitchen were faeh.
ioned in remarkable manner, and we're far
more artistic than those of the present day;
they are specimens of art that evoke the ad.
mi.ation of every beholder.
Many bakeries abound. end some of the
ovens were full of bread when found. The
losyes may be seen a. the museum of Ma
plies. They are round, and weigh about
two pounds: soma are stamped to indicate
they are of wheat flour. Different grains
were also found. and may be seen at the
same place. In connection with bakery
are some ungainly stone mills. They are
formed of two large blocks Of stone of cone
shsne. The smaller ends being placed to.