Catoctin clarion., 1900-08-30

the we'll known inscription in mosaic on the
the dogs) are among the interesting features.
The villa of Domede just outside the walls
judging fiom the runs eft, must have been
splendid establishment. On the night of
the eruption the owner of this splendid man
sion appears to have lost the love of kindred
in the eagerness to save life, for his skeleton
was found with that of an attendant, near
the garden gate. the one still holding in his
bony grasp, the key of the villa. the other
carrying purse containing gold and other
valuablcs. While he was thus cndcav0ring
to escape to the seashore, the members of his
family whom he had abandoned to their fate
took refuge in the wine cellar where II of
their skeletons were found. From the gold
bracelets on the necks and arms it would
appear that they were mostly females. One
cast of a young girl in the museum possessed
exceeding elegance OF form, especially the
neck, which was model Of female beauty.
GLOW sadly echong to the strangers
tread
These walls respond like voices from
the dead"
AT another spot the skeletons of a mother
and three children were found, all closely
folded in each others arms. The ruins OF a
tavern are quite interesting. 1t has numcr
GUS apartments in the rear which served
probably as drinking rooms as one of the
walls contained announcements Of the public
festivals of the day. The house Of the sur
geon was found well supplied with surgical
instruments. The Forum 10 spacious and
imposing spot surrounded by the temple of
Jupiter, the temple of Venus and the Senate
Chamber. 1t was ornamented on three sides
by broad colonade of Grecian Doric archi-
lecture. The Senate Chamber, or Baslica,
was 220 feet in length and so feet IN width,
ana in vault under its stairway, used for
prisoners during the progress Of trial, were
found two skeletons with the ankles mana
cled The Pantheon had evidently been
most elegant structure, it having been used
as residence for the Augus,ales, as well as
for religious services. In the museum, which
is built on the ruins which we first entered,
are the fOssiized remains of four victims Of
Pompci just as they fell in their struggle
with death. There are two, supposed to be
mother and daughter, both lying on their
faces, the daughters head resting on the
mothers arm. That which, perhaps, attracts
the most attention is the famous Temple of
Isis, the Egyptian goddess, watch shows
broken and overturned columns and mosaic
pavcmcnts in various designs. The marble
basin where the priests washed their hands
is seen in the temple. The stone sides of the
drinking fountains are worn away by the
hands of the thirsty wayfarer, who stopped
to refresh himself 1900 years ago. The court
presents all the arrangements for that wor.
ship In the one end IS the sacred well of
lustral publication, to which there was
descent by steps. Near it is the altar on
which were found the burnt bones of human
victims who had just been sacrificed. In
niche in the wall was figure of IIarpocratcs
with his finger to his lips tG cnjoin silence
upon the worshipers in regard to the myster-
lCS luty llleHt W NuCSSs Al hHotHti paw ""o
the figure Of Isis in purple drapery partly
gilt, holding bronze sstrum and key. In
one of the rooms was found II skeleton hold
ing the sacriiiciul axe with which he had cut
escape destruction, but pcrished before he
had penetrated the third.
We have not the time to carry you further
through these interesting ruins which abound
everywhere IN evidence Oft the highest interest
in architecture, art and painting. As we
stand here in this wonderful place, We rctracc
with sort Of fascination all their habits and
customs, looking with double interest on
such as ass,lniIatc with those Of our own day,
thus in idea connecting ourselves with them,
and dwell upon the varied objects presented
to our view, all OF which are curious and
many are beautiful; With sensations SO lively
80 real, that we feel as if the people all lived
still among us. As we tore ourselves rcluc.
tantly away and returned to the present
again, we were hcset at every turn hy an
mror:unatc crowd of beggars, who want to
brush you, sell something, carry you in n
chair, bring you water and induce you in
every conceivable way to part from what
spare cash the crxtortonatc demands ofguidcs
etc, may have left you.
The better class of Italians are exceedingly
well bred and polite, and at the stores Of the
reliable merchants one meets courtesy and
honesty, though no doubt the "Amcricanocs'
pay for their reputation Of wealth,
Our next letter will be from Florence and
Venice.