Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-12

irregular oval, and the city numbered
at least 1900 inhabitants. 1t WAS
surrounded with walls, graced and
defended by towers, in which were set
light gates, finely and strongly built,
both for ornament and de-
fence. The roads started from the
gates for the outside world and were
found rutted by the passage of car
riages and wagons. For some distance
from tho city toe roads were lined with
cemeteries, the tonbs SO well built as
to indicate taste aud wealth, as well as
respect for the dead.
The houses were built of concrete
bricks on stones; they were mostly
small and of two stories, with small
apartments. Some, however, were
larger and Of three or four stories in
height and from the various dwellings
300 skeletons were taken. The windows,
in some cases, were furnished with
glass, and mostly looked out upon the
court yards in which the best houses
were built. The ground floors of the
dwelling houses, even Of the finest,
were used for shops, both by the own
ers and tenants, where all the different
trades we're to be found and the various
productions needed for family use, the
windows being furnished with wooden
shutters. The bakers had left their
fruits in the glass vessels, corn, pulse
and leaves Of bread, with the moulds
for pastry Cook shops were numerous
and saloons for hot drinks, where, on
the marble counters, visitors can trace
the round marks left by tumblers and
goblets. A sculptor's studio has been
opened, containing tools and blocks OF
marble, with some unfinished statuary.
There was also surgeons house, dis
playing his bronze instruments, IN
geniously and deliberately finished. In
every large family establishment ar
rangements were found for grinding
and baking. Domestic utensils were
endless, some in bronze, exquisitely
wrought. Curtains were found hanging
between apartments, instead of doors.
Paintings were hanging on the walls,
showing the finest strokes of beauty,
that would compare with the best ar
lists. Bronze and marble figures adorned
some OF the houses, among them fawns,
dancing girl, sleeping Silenus, two
QUOT players LAGOON writhing in
the folds of the sea serpent, besides 70
statuettes OF wonderful art and in per-
| feet preservation. Inscriptions have
been deciphered on stone slabs, pillars
and seals, giving the names of inhabi-
tants, with some tablets in a box re
cording the business accounts Of GER
tain broker, named l.. Coecilius Iacun-
dus
= The name of Sallust, distinguished
Roman historian, has been given Ia
one of the houses in Pompeii, that OF
Piso, Roman consul, to another and
a third dwelling has been assigned to
some tragic poet, because of the char
acter and beauty of the paintings and
the mosaics, among them a dancing
fawn and the battle of Issus. There
| is also the house of M. Lucretius, rich
in coins, vases, bronzes and another
ornaments, with pictures and mo-
safes. Some of the antiquities are Of
| the highest scientific and artistic
value, of astonishing art aud perfectly
preserved.
The streets of Herculaneum were
not more than II feet wide. Those OF
Pompeii were more ample, but none
exceeding 80 feet; they were laid at
right angles of each other, paved with
blocks of basaltic lava and furnished
with stepping stones, across, which
would certainly be in the way of car
riages and carts, and bore marks of
wheels and iron hoofs. Tn pedestrians
were also Accommodated with sidewalks.
The Forum was 100 Yards long and Ri
wide. having portico on three sides,
with galleries above. 1t was sur
rounded with the public buildings and
made place of business transactions
as well as n resort for the lounpers and