St. Landry democrat., 1890-08-02
POMPEII.

POMPEII.
What memories are awakened by that
name Let the readers mind wander
back over the centuries, now almost
buried in oblivion, and rest upon that
fatal day, when Vesuvius, angered against
the weak mortais that dwelt at her base,
poured out upon their defenseless heads
that fearful storm of ashes, sulphur and
lava, which in few short hours, made
the once noble city to become thing Of
the past AS the traveller walks through
the silent street of that half buried and
deserted city, he seems to hear once more
the rattle of chariot wheels as those pom
derous vehicles dash over the paved
streets. He seems to see the men In their
splendid robes going to and from their
various pleasures and business pursuits.
The women, as in our modern times, stand
gossipine on the streets and the door ways,
Listen Above the din and confusion,
coming nearer and nearer, he hears the
clear tap, tap of the staff of Nydia, "the
blind flower girl, selling her sweet flow
ers to young and old alike. For who
could refuse such sweet pitiful face as
we can imagine was possessed by Nydia.
Now, in the distance, he can distinguish a
group of Senators discussing the political
questions of the day and little thinking of
the danger SO soon to destroy their homes
| and hurry them into the presence of their
| Maker. But bark What noise is that
A low rumble coming as though from
earth's Utmost recesses. Look A dark
cloud arises from Vesuvius and like pail
covers the fair city. Swiftly it descends
| and stiles the shrieks and prayers that
ascend in vain for protection. The night
passes, and morning dawns only to light
up great plain of smoking lava. But the
| rude voice of the guide, awakening the
| traveller from the reverie into which he
has fallen, admonishes him that time is
| passing and he must go on if he wishes to
see the wonderful ruins. for the gates
close to all tourists at 4 O'Clock.
The city of Pompeii was completely
| buried and lay beneath mass of mate
rails from ten to twenty feet deep. The
face of the country was altered and the
shape of the mountains was changed, but
Pompeii was not forgotten. The Emperor
| Titus contemplated it's rebuilding. but
| abandoned the object. The Emperor
Severus plundered it to enrich Rome
| and it was not until the reign of Charles
| Ill, King of Naples, that the work OF ex
cavation commenced.
The Cavaliere Giuseppe Fiorelll, pro-
found scholar and sntiquary is now super
| intending the work OF excavation.
Since his appointment, the city has been
rapidly unearthed, and now the tourist can
walk from one end to the other. The
picture of an old Roman town is marvel
Iously vivid and its shops, streets and
alleys, it's forum, baths and amphi-theatre,
its costly houses, works of art and tombs-
all are laid bare, and the dead city lives
again. 1t is q marked fact that the major
ity of visitors to Pompeii are English. sand
Americans. Italians seldom, if ever, 60
there AS the tourist passes on through
the narrow streets he comes first to the
Museum containing the relics that have
been excavated. Such as pots, pans, arm,
or, coins, jewelry, painting, on stone
human bodies, bones of animals and men,
&c. These are most interesting, but ne is
naturally anxious to see the homes that
were once inhabited by the people who lie
before him cold in death.
Walking onward, up from the Porta.
della Mania, he comes to the Temple OF
Venus, the patron Goddess OF Pompell
and the largest and finest temple in the
city. This temple was used for offerings
to Venus and religious services. Next he
| Teaches elc IuIu kA WAASAs % ia SFSA J
Roman city, was the centre of the place.
Strolling about amid the ruins of the once
magnificent building, how easy to imagi
it to be flied, as of yore, with white-robeo
Senators listening to one of their number
appealing to them to pass some law in re-
gard to the improvement of their beauti
full city. There on one side, stand group
conversng on some new manuscript, anc
here, another group criticising the man
ner of the speaker, while yet another
group discuss the subject on which ht
speaks. But walking on, the enthusiastic
traveller passes the Temple of Jupiter
Temple Of Augustus. Mercury, the Basil
ics. and comes to the Prison The cell
are narrow and dark, and the skeletons o
one or two prisoners were found here, thu
shackles still encircling their leg bones.
} The reader must not think for momen
that the people of Pompeii had no amuse
ments. For the Great Theatre, to which
there are three entrances from the eastern
side of..the Forum Triangular, is one o
the lars est buildings ever erected by tn
Ancients The theatre was constructed t.
accommodate 5000 people and in the palm.
, days of the city, it must have presented
cav appearance. with its marble decora
lions, its statues and embel lishments
Strolling onward, the great Temple of Isl
) is reached. This is on slightly elevate
base in the center of court, surrounde
by a portico of painted Corinthian col
: umns. between which are several altars
A few skeletons were found here, on
3 being that Of man who had endeavore
to clear his way through the wall, til
door having been blocked up by ashes
i The axe lay by his side, and traces of hi
frantic efforts are seen upon the wall.
But it is nearly o'clock according
Neapolitan time and as the gates close
c this hour, little haste is necessary. u
: it would not be just to those of my reader
!; who have taste for painting to pass owe
: the specimens found in most OF the house
I in Pompeii. ALI the pictures, represent
}. ing men, women, horses, dogs, birds, sa
l riHcial scenes, &C., are painted on tt
walls, for it seems that frames were nj
then in use. The pictures are as we
o preserved az though they had bee
II painted but yesterday. With what Intel
J. cot we gased on them, and wonders
what had become Of the hand that