Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31
are mules. Our guide told us that the
horse cost about the equivalent of $45,
American money.

are mules. Our guide told us that the
horse cost about the equivalent of $45,
American money.
An Ancient City.
Pompeii is the ancient city that was
buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in
the year 20, A. D., and has since been
partly eXcavated. Perhaps one of the
most interesting excavations is the
site of the old theatre. This theatre
had a seating capacity of 10000 and
was built largely on the same plan that
our modern theatres are built. We
went down into the old building
through solid bed of lava and enter
ed by the original arch. The inside of
the building has been entirely cleared
out with the exception of some huge
pillars left to support the covering OF
lava, which is, | should think. about
forty feet thick. Guided by the un-
certain light Of tallow candles, which
each one of us carried, we went
through the whole building, theatre,
corridors, stage, dressing rooms, and
all. judging from the material used in
construction and the workmanship, l
am inclined to think that the people
of those Gays were equally if not bet
ter versed in the art of building than
we are at the present time. After we
had finished our visit here we saw
some of tie old palaces that have been
completely uncovered. There are no
roofs over these but the walls and in
some instances the floors are intact.
The latter was made of little blocks
of granite about one-half inch square,
nj a;f, Nf
Pompeii is built on top of the bed of
lava covering the old city. When we
had spent all the time We had TO spare.
here, we returned to Naples and went
to what is known as the Arcade. This
place in extent is about the size of
a square and a half in Ottumwa and
is built up with marble buildings oc,
cupied by all kinds of stores. The
streets running through the place are
also paved with marble and the whole
covered with an immense glass roof.
Under ground is what is supposed to
be nearly an exact counterpart of the
buried theatre of Pompeii.
An Italian Funeral.
eve We're just coming out of this
place when We saw funeral process
sion marching down the street. The
coffin was carried on the shoulders Of
four men and the friends of the de.
ceased, appareled in white masks and
long robes, marched on either side
Our guide explained the custom OF
burial. He said that the body was be
ing taken to the church, where ii
would remain until the next day. 1t
would then be placed in the ground fol-
eighteen months and if, at the end Of
that time the relatives of the deceased
were able to pay the fee, 125 lira
($25) the body, on being exhumed
would be placed in a vault. Other
wise the bones would be thrown in g
: pile along with tons of others in the
5 public burying ground.
, The Kings Palace.
We next visited the kings palace
1t is an immense building of marble
and granite. On the same site are the
royal theatre, the royal church and ths
built on the model of the palace ant
are of the same construction. In the
open court in the center is very large
fountain and bronz statue of King
Charles III. This is the king who is Civ
, en- the credit of beginning the excava
, tons of Pompeii. We then went tt
!, the Temple Of Neptune and heard {
, Jesuit priest preach. We also visited
the Venus Temple and Jesuit Temple
I All these temples are immense struc
= lures and their walls are adorned will
! some OF the finest works of art.
I'VE stayed over night at hotel ant
returned to the Dixie at z o'clock thi
morning. We will leave tomorrow
morning for Smyrna, from which plac
you may expect to hear from me. S
goodbye for this time, with best wish
. es to all. Your son,
: Ralph Mahon.