The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-24
IN THE ROMAN FORUM.
There Are beautiful Monuments
Which the Italian Government
Desires to Preserve.

In the course of the recent visit paid
by the king of Italy to the Roman
Forum, Sig. Boni, director of the ex-
cavations, pointed out to his males.
ty the lncongruity of leaving the site
of the Roman Senate covered up by
q comparatively modern Spanish con-
vent, says the London Post, The view
of Sig. Boni has commended itself to
a number of Italian public men, who
have drawn up motion calling on the
minister of public instruction to pro-
vide means for the demolition of the
convent and the excavation of the site.
The motion will be discussed by the
chamber during the examination of
the estimates for public instruction
At least hundred signatures had
been affixed to the motion, and it is
practically certain that Sig. Nasi, min
lister of public instruction, will make
no objection to its adoption. Thus,
within the next year it may be hoped
that the remains of the old Roman
senate will be brought to light after
having been buried for so many cen
turies.
This is not the only proof of the new
interest which the Italian government
and, In particular, the fine arts and an
tfquities department of the ministry
of public instruction are taking in the
preservation of ancient Italian monu-
ments. Efforts are being made, and,
as a rule, successfully, to prevent
recurrence of the blind demolition of
venerable remains that went on in
Italy 20 years ago. The director gen
eral of fine arts and antiquities con-
stantly sends to the various regional
offices of his department the strictest
and most precise instructions as to
the treatment of archa Biological re-
mains, and in the majority of cases the
local officials show great zeal in ex-
ecuting the orders received. But in
Italy the greatest obstacle to any
efffcacious control and preservation of
ancient monuments is the perverse be-
lief that the desire to preserve them
is due exclusively to archa Biological
mania. By degrees the advance of ed
ucation is removing this prejudice and
is insuring more general respect for
the claims of history and civilization,
and it is satisfactory to note that near,
ly every battle undertaken for the
preservation of some historical frag
ments terminates nowadays in the
defeat of the vandals.
One illustration of this is the action
,,f ba
behalf of the old walls of Bologna. 1t
was proposed to destroy the ancient
structure almost entirely as a result
of the growth of the city. The ministry
has succeeded in obtaining the suspen-,
sion of the demolition, which had be-
gun at three points, and has made sure
that any partial demolition that may
be rendered necessary by the growth
of traffic and the need for more di-
rect communication shall in no way
harm the monumental value of the old !,
walls. :
AT Genoa the ministry of public in
struction has averted the danger that
threatened the beautiful cloister of
SAINT Andrae. The Genoese munich
pality wished to buy the cloister from
the prisons administration, to which it
belongs, in order to sell the area to
private spectators. The ministry of
the interior, at the request of the min
istry of public instruction, has, by its
intervention, prevented such misfor-
tune. Similar Intervention at Novara
has saved the Sforza castle from being
sold to the municipality and damaged
AT Verona regular campaign has
been necessary to prevent the distor-
tion of the famous Piazza dele Erbe,
where local vandals wished to erect
large modern theater. The Piazza
Civica at Pistoja is still threatened by
the promoters of a monument to Carl
baldi, who wish it to be placed along
side the statue to Cardinal Forte
guerri. Here, again, the department
of antiquities is gradually persuading
the local enthusiasts for GaribaIdi not
to spoil the symmetry of the piazza
with modern monument, but to place
their statue elsewhere.
1t seems strange that in a country
like Italy, which draws such a consid-
cradle part of its prosperity from for
eign tourists and visitors, who are at
tracted to the country by its ancient
monuments, there should be so little
respect for the records of the past.
The only explanation is that ignorant
familiarity breeds contempt. The
hope of students must be that with the
gradual disappearance of ignorance
familiarity may yet breed reverence.