The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-28

fered- sacrifice 90 Romulus on the site of
the tomb of the founder of Rome when
the Romans returned to the city after lis
invasion and destruction by the Gaus.
That scene has been wildly depicted by
Livy THE Romans, Deholding from the
citadel the city filled with the enemy
were neither able 20 preserve their
presence of mind nor even to have perfect
command of their ears and eyes. To what
ever direction the shouts Of the enemy,
the cries of women and children, the
cracking of the flames and the crash of
failing houses, had called their attention,
thither terrified at every incident, they
turned their thoughts, faces and eyes as
If placed by fortune to be spectators of
their falling country and as if left as pro-
tectors of no other of their effects except
their own persons, so much more to be
commiserated than any others who were
ever besieged because, shut out from
their country, they were beseged, behold
ing all their effects in the power of the
enemy"
And when these disasters had passed and
Camil.us returned to Rome, he first of
all" as Livy notes, proposed matters an
pertaining TO the immortal gods: for he
was most scrupulous observer of ren-
gious duties" Here, in The opinion Of
Signor Boni, at this tomb of Romulus, The
founder Of the city one OF the greatest sac
D0Ig
was enacted, and during the progress the
people-men, women and chiidren-cast
INTO the flames the tiny objects thev held
dear. Hence, the little gods of the house
mold, archaric in style, with that simDer,ng
smile on their faces so distinctively tracea
on the archaic statues Of the first period
OF Greek art. Hence the'ltte earthen pots
with the clay pinched at the sides to form
handles for them, which were evidently
childrens toys revealed 10 our eyes from
this mass of ashes after the twenty-foul
centuries that they have lain buried here
several feet below the level of the Forum
and unheededly trodden over by millions
of feet during the long ages that have
elapsed since they were lost TO sight
Here, indeed, you feel that the curtain of
time is folded back. and that the historical
imagination, stimulated la presence OF such
Senutne aids, freely range with Ivy amid
the ruins of Rome after the Gaullsh in
Nasion, or stands beside Camlllus as he
makes this huge sacrifice in order to pro-
pitlate the immortal gods who were 10
guide the destlnies Of eternal Rome.
This strange discovery has another as
pect that is worth considering. II tends
TO support the conjecture put forward
last January by signor Boni that thfs
pavement of black marble Iapis niger
marks the site Of the tomb Of Rornt,iue
That attribution Of the discovery has been
very much questioned, and, indeed con
tradcted, by the learned archaeologistg
of Germany, who, as a rule. insist that
Romuus was like the famous Mrs. Ear-
rs, and say, in the spirit Of the renowned
Betsy Prig: Il don't believe there's ma
SIGH person. Perhaps the newly dis
covered inscription. with the strangely
shaped letters, will throw some Light On
the memories OF the site on which 3,
stands. II that should be the case. Boni
will have to rejoice, for he has recently
been treated as an evil-doer, and the walls
of archaeological wrath have been poured
out upon his devoted head.
A well-informed journal Of Rome do
cares that from what has bscn Gathered
concerning the new excavation OF tbs Ro-
man Forum, IL Is a discovery OF mo ms.
order, confirming the Inference and fv.
poiheses made recently by some archseol.
ogists regarding the so-called "Tgrob ~
Romulus." II was known that 81 ~
sides OF the place sacred 10 Romuiiis
whether he is 10 be considered MYTH
or merely as name. but who was deem.