The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-16
REV. Mr.. STRONG'S LETTER.

Continued from Page Seventeen.
here were 1,500 seats cut out of the
tufa rock in such a way that the feet
OF the spectator did not inconvenience
the person sitting below him. For dra-
matte performances they could go to
the Teatro Scaperton; here were 5000
seats in three tiers, in form of cir
cle-for Quality, Medium Quality, and
Best. OF course the theaters were open
to the air of heaven. They had not
learned in those days to cover over
big openings; only a veil-velarium-
was drawn over the privileged specta-
tors in rainy weather For the rest they
had beautiful view of the surround
ing country during the intermissfons
OF the play. Instead of retiring to
the ante-room, or going outside ito see
a man. the Pompeians gazed at the
plain of the Sarno or the Appenine
hills-perhaps ait Vesuvius so quietly
smoking his pipe This theater rested
on a hill so that some of its walls were
preserved from the fate which befell
the rest OF the city. But every one has
seen ruins-or pictures of ruins of old
Roman theaters, so we need not be
prolix In our description. Perhaps we
have not a good idea of the stage part
Of the building. Well, the magistrates
tctAlC III anu OCCupueu tne part We
would call the parquette, correspond
ing with our boxes were raised seats
for the person who gave the entertain
ment. In inches under the stage were
stationed the musicians-very much
like the holes in the S stage wall through
which our orchestra disappears when it
wants to give the audience rest.
Then there is the stage proper, a long
and narrow platform out of all propor-
< fh<a
the scenes we're very simple, and Gil
ralfry brothers were unborn. Around
the stage were statues; the curtain
went down into the ground, instead
of up into the ceiling, for there was
no ceiling TO go up into; three doors
in the back of the stage opened into
the actors apartments. This constitut-
ed the whole seine, and the
rest depended on the ability of the ac-
tors and the good nature of the audi
ence. 1t is no wonder that they pre-
ferred the far more exciting scenes of
the amphitheater, for while the thea
ter of Pompeii seated 5000, the am
phitheater held 10000 people.
round circle arena, with no stage;
an entrance for the chariots; adjoin-
ing rooms for the gladiat tors; prisons
underneath for the victims, and dens
for the lions constituted the whole APP
paratus and out of these elements
came the feast which made a Roman
holyday-4a feast of blood and butch
cry! In the abolition of this one thing,
Christianity has done an untold bless
ing TO the world it stopped the train
ing of whole populations. young and
old, women and men, in cruelty. Moth
ing could be more heartless than the
scenes Of the amphitheater; gladiators
contending with sword and net, the
unsuccessful one caught In a net and
butchered with a three-pronged fork
to please the audience, which once
having tasted of blood demanded fresh
victims every moment; or the unfor-
tunate violators OF law and unrecant-
ing Christians thrown to the lion or
tiger whose brutal hunger had been
starved into madness by the denial of
food for several days preceding the
FEAST Thank God! such things are done
with forever One of the most touch
ing discoveries was made On the gladfa-
tors barracks. A large area was un-
covered probably used for athletic
training; II was surrounded by a col
onnade of Ionic columns, into which
opened the gladiators' rooms. filed
with implements OF their trade. swords,
helmets, greaves and strigils. A sec
ond storylheld the apartments Of their
famiIies-here were found eighteen
skeletons OF men, women. children and
dogs, as ~ the whole group OF friends
had come together and so met DEATH
at the entrance, thirty-four badly
wounded gladiatorB had attempted 20
escape, but their wounds held them
back. Sizty-three human beings had
perfshed In this one place.
II Is the revelation made By these
exca yatiOns OF the private life Of the
people-their homes, their decoration
Nth sculpture, paintings, and fres-
coes-which is the most fascinating.
IA Il like opening the door into the
homes Of people who lived IN the year