Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-23
eavsted so far appear % you to have been

Were the Pompeilans an onshoot OF tue
Roman stock?"
II rather think they we're OF Greek ORR
Gin. though many OF the residents were
doubtless people who came from SARDINIA
and the neighboring isles. i believe they
smoke language which was sort OF mix
ture Of Latin and Greek"
II thought the inscriptions and letter,
ing on the uncovered houses Indicated
that they used the purest Latin" said the
reporter, remembering the famous express
slon Gave Canem" beware OF the dog.
which was discovered on one OF the
houses.
1.-The inscriptions TO which you, refer
we're made by acertain class OF people wno
were commissioned especially Tor TINS
purpose by the government repneu zap
tain Rogers. land hence what they wrote
was in the purest Latin. Their writings.
however, could hardly be taken as
sample"
TIE MEAYFsr PEOPLE IN ITALY.
The city of Herculaneum is only few
miles from Pompeii. but 1t IS not SO inter-
esting as the latter city.
The Young architect, however mucn
noetrv there may be in his soul, ala not
seem to be much impressed with that most
picturesque and striking race the Nea-
politans. He expressed the opinion Una,
very low and treacherous. Certainly tne
average tourist who visits Naples IL llapie
10 he very much shocked by the number
of dirty. naked little youngsters VINO dive
around the street corners and ask strangers
for aims. The juvenile departments OF
some of the big clothing stores on Main
street would most unquestlonsoly nave
n magnificent opening II they suppllen
all the brats in this quaint ltaiian CITY
aelrn hnR IL
sgs. ,bo-orob love for
classic ANTIQUITIES, and he expressed great
regret at the Rome of the present day, he
said that even on his last trip to the Eter-
nal CITY he noticed the hand OF progress
in many places made almost sacred by
their historic associations. The citizens
of Rome like to be called Romans and not
Italians. They take the greatest interest
in all the old ruins, and as O class are wen
posted In archaeology. Millions OF dollars
have recently been expended by the gov
eminent in clearing away the modern
structures which have encroached upon
the crumbling remnants Of the great en-
pire. All over the land the excavations
are being continued.
OLD AND YOUNG ARTISTS.
The reporter asked CAPTAIN Rogers how
the Eternal City managed TO support so
many artists.
1.-The students. as a class" replied the
Captain, require very little, though IN,
mense numbers of them abandon art ana
take up other professions. OF course the
persevering ones succeed, and many Ameri-
cans have made famous names IN Rome.
The Captain said that Ezekiel. the VIZ
gina artist, had won quite reputation
there.
DO you know Marion Crawford ?" ask
ed the reporter. who happened Just at
that moment TO think OF very pretty
little story called The Roman singer,
which this great novelist recently pub
lshed.
"Some years ago | was well acquainted
with him." replied the Captain. l on
know his father. Thomas Crawford, was
the famous sculptor who made the eques-
trian statue of Washington which stands
in the Capitol Square and many OF the
other figures which surround this famous
monument. He died before he completed
his work, and my father finished the me-
mortal. As | remember Crawford. his
name was Frank, but since he commenced
his career as writer he has adopted the
Marion and signs his name. believe,
as +. Marion Crawford"
is he well off in this worlds affairs Z"
81 believe his father left him very COM
fortaby fixed"
Judging from the story Of The Ro-
man Singer | would imagine that he was
quite we'll posted on music"
Il never heard that he had any talent
in this direction, =" said the novelists friend.
" BY the way-I believe his wife is some
thing of a musician; perhaps this Is where
he obtained his information"
THE SCULPTOR ROGERS AND HIS WORK.
Speaking Of artists and writers. it would
not be amlss to say word about Randolph
Rogers, the father of the young Richmond
architect. As stated above he was born IN
New York State, "a was also the senior
Crawford, but spent the greater portion Of
his lite III Rome. He never forgot his
native land, however. and OF the time OF his
death no had crossed the Atlantic fifty
seven times. He was never Sea-slck single
hour, and thought nothing OF coming 10
America several times year. In Hlcn-
mond and Virginia the great sculptor is
best known by the magnificent statues OF
Lewis and Nelson. which form two OF the
most striking figures at the base OF the
monument, and by the artistic allegorical
groups which have been added as the
finishing touches 10 the superb memorial.
The splendid figure of Nelson-by the
wav. which bespeaks III every line the
boldness, courage, and determination
which John Esten Cooke has so ably de-
scrlbed III Bonnybel Nane was not
originally modelled as it now appears. At
first the first figures made in the clay re-
presented the grim old patriot as holding
a sword in his hand, but this was consider
ed as inconsistent with his hunters garb,
and so the sculptor was ordered to sub
sttute musket for the sabre. The change
is an improvement which every one Will
appreciate. Captain Rogers has splen-
did portrait of his father, nearly life size,
which represents the great sculptor stand
ing before the model of Lewis. In this
picture the Revclutlonlst is represented
as having q sword instead of gun.
Just before Randolph Rogers died he
had completed the model Of splendid
group entitled the Last Arrow" which
represents an Indian on rearing horse,
while at the feet of the ste0d another saw
age lies PROSTATE. The statue, which was
to have been put in bronze and made
20 feet high, was intended for the In
dian cemetery at Buffalo. Captain Rogers
now has the model in plaster and contem-
plates sending it 10 the Worlds Fair. The
group. which is distinctively American, is
characterized by the extreme boldnesi
and vigor of outline which marked all OF
Rogers's work and is q masterpiece OF
! wonderful strength.