The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14
LAST DAYS or POMPEII.
A Complete Desrrtp ion of the Grand
Perform

A Complete Dcs'iip'" h ~ W" N'""'
Performances.
Tbose who wish 10 form an idea of
the busy life of ancient Pompeii must
turn ia the glowing pages OF Lord Lyt-
toms immortal novel, The Last Days or
Pompeii." But in order 70 better un-
derstand the beautiful spectacle when
Is being produced ln Rchnvni, IL VIII
he we'll for the spectator To imagine that,
as he sits facing the gigantic panorama
of the once fair city, which has the
chosen residence OF Pliny, he Is himself
an ancient Pompeiian, invited TO witness
the festival held there annually IN
honor OF the goddess Isis, whose temple,
as already said faces him.
The day has been beautiful and serene,
and only slight clouds of smoke rise
from the crater of the volcano. ArDaces'
"A rich Egyptian. whose house. In the ar
chitecture Of the land OF Isis ana CIeo'
patra, bathes its marble steps IN the
water to the right, has assumed, 10y
reason Of his great wealth, Leading ana
most influential position in POmpell, anu
chosen the feast day OF the great hsypt-
ian goddess. in order TO dazzle, not only
the eyes OF the fair Neapolltah' zone,
with whom he is desperately In love, WIN
a display OF his wealth and power, but
also those Of his fellow cltlZeuS ~ lhe
performance begins the streets Ill up
with The people" the populace, VINO
arrive Singly and In groups, IN ordet 10
secure seats 10 witness the PROFESSIONS
and festivities Husbands and wives ana
-
refreshment vendors, and priests, Whle
lads and lasses eagerly press about IN
search of places when command the
best views Of the pageant. It,
Presently trumpet Is heard, AT Inv
same tine small wer-deCked bIrges pass
across the ornamental Idke, ana me
pToWs OF the gaieys make their appeal
dnce as from under the triumpRal al C ..,[I1
group OF soldiers, with standards anu
musical instruments, emerge. ana an
nounce the coming of Arbaces Inc
soldiers are followed by a dozen negro
slaves, holding up inscriptions anu DAY
nerets in honor Of the powerful Egypt
Then come priests i'm white robes, next,
number of dancing girls, and a senator
or "member for POmpelt,' with his at
tendants; next come ladies, and lastly,
a guard Of honor, two and two, IN front
of Arbaces, who, clad in purple ana
gold. walks under a canopy.
This procession crosses the stage, ana
bows to the officials of the city. who
sit under a canopy to the right, In
building overlooking the water. Inc pro
cession then turns 10 the left, ana part
of II, including Arbaces. passes down me
stems TO the waters edge TO await the
arrival of the galleys, which now enter
in full view. They advance gradually;
and from the first alight soldiers ana
slaves; from 1.-THE second, lone and her
afianced bridegroom. the Greek, Glaucus:
Arbaces receives lone with PROFOUND
ObeisanCe, but barely condescendS 10 no
tice Glaucus, thereby indicating his Jeal-
ousY and dislike. The procession re-
forms. and the guests take their posi-
tons under the pOrtico Of Arbace5' mouse.
by this time ii is dark and the beauu-
full city. with its villas ana temples
appears brightly lighted with divers kinds
Of lights and lamps. Music strikes up
and upon the signal Of a blast Of trump
cts, the doors of the temple or ISIS are
thrown open, and the temples iliuml-
mated interior Is discovered. The priests,
i'm white garments. and the priestesSes
I'm white and dark blue robes, issue
sOiemniy bearing aiOft the golden image
Of the Egyptian goddess, which they
place In the centre Of the stage.
All kneel for a moment, and then the
dancing girls begin a slow movement;
and Nydia the blind girl. appears ana
Dances gracefully. Suddenly Arbaces
cries out: II there be Christians present
and known to any of you, let them be
denounced and brought forward 10 ADORE
the great goddess Isis The people
i'm return. cry out: "Glaucus is 2 Chrls-
tian: let him worship the goddess, or
death be unto him
lone, upon hearing these cries, ana
knowing her ai!ianced husband TO bt
secretly Christian, rises III terror, "Ho
Glaucus boldly descends. and sword IN
hand. advances toward tne ldol' "itl'i
now APPEARS to glow with eternal Hre;
Vesuvius also begins TO snow slshS Vl
an approaching eruption, Glaucus Is
about TO strike the goddess, when the
blind Nvdia, guessing the Intention ana
guided by his voice. prevents him, am
rushing toward the goddess herSclt
nverthrows the tripod which STANDS az
the idol's feet. All rise I'm confusion. the
earth duakes. the dread mountain Nom-
its forth flames and clouds or smoke'
the tempe columns tottert the ptoPIt'
forgetting Isis and her priests. remeIh-
nor only their danger. Glaucds SelZtS
lone and with Nydia clinging to them
they manage to enter b9dt, anu ar1
aeon amid the flashes of lightning anu
the glow from the t9rlentS Oh I'm, I,,,, ne
lava escaping across the water from the
Joor,ed civ ArbaCe3 is Killed by a
falling column, while the people scream
ing and shouting for alo' lush III wi, Wiz
confusion In every direction, realZins
49, I5ni ,,,ton's magnificent and graphic
doeCrintion of the appalling catastrophe:
.arba sudden illumination. the bursts OF
the hoods OF lava, ana the earthquake
which we have already ,descrloed caduc
VA Ian SalIust and his party had Just
va WI The direct path leading from the
sin,.tS - the mort, and here they were
arrested BY an Immense tro"i iii''e
tban half the population o, 'le ul,y,. ,ho
'i T,,,ati snread along the field, without the
Ihey .Ihpnvsands upon thousands uncer-
walls, St,Iar 10 fiy. The sea had retired
IAN saIii go, the shore. ana they VINO had
aad IN II had been SO lerrl,Ien Dy M
ned 10 and preternatural shrinking or
agitatlon az the gasping forms Of the
the ts, sea things which the waves
t5 iaft I,pon the SAND, ana ny the
sourd ~ the huge Stones Cdst from III,
souhu ~ into the deep, that they had
mourta ad again 10 the land, as presenting
returneu sriebtful aspect of the two. Thus
the less sTreams OF human beings, the
the tMuI,,ard the other from the sea, had
one sesatber. feeling a sad comfort In
met to .s arrested in despair and doubt.
nmInpeIs s,.,d e. to be destroyed by fire.
'The MoiId man I'm long, loose robes, a
sald an , o ~ the Stole school
pnnosoPnood Fuicureau wisdom have alike
store a"' mis- prediction; and the hour
agreed ~ As he spake. there came that
is come, r,Ir,ination which heralded the
sudden HtHrrhaces. and glowing over that |
G nGath - multitude. aWedi crouching.
iila S,ass never on eartn had the races |
brea m Seemed so haggard-never had the |
OF m men ~ mortal beings been so stamped |
meeting borror and subimty OF dread |
with the Iii the last trumpet sounds. |
meyer, ~ meeting be seen again! And |
shall sun na the form OF Olinthus, with |
above rThsed arm and prophet brow. girl |
outstren living fires. And the crowd |
with " lace OF him they had doomed |
knew thff OF the beast-then their |
TO the aat their warner and through |
victim ,,,nass again came his ominous |
the stii1I,he hour is come! Christians re-
voice. ~ cry. IL was caught up-echoed |
peated nv IN side-women and men. child |
from siuSS old age repeated, not loud. but |
hood alno AMI and dreary murmur-'The
noun 20 ,nc Cohen Company.
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