Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-24

enthusiastic genius in archaeology The
work Is done under the direction of the
minister of public instruction of. the Italian
government and the parliament approprf-
penses. AUS
The Forum today 1s-a level rectangle of
ABOUT Twenty-Five acres surrounded by high
grounds on three sides. Much of this
ground is covered With buildings, some of
them ancient, some of them modern; some
are In ruins and some have been restored.
tney represent twenty centuries OF archi-
in ancient days Roman executioners pushed
over the cliff those who had been sentenced
TO death, has been largely broken up and
USED Tor building material; much of 1T has
1alien and partly filled the valley below,
and more has been Ieyeled off to receive
the foundations Of the houses that now oc-
cupy it. Gt0
The Forum Surroundings.
At one corner of the Forum is the Manner
tine prison. where Peter and Paul were con-
fined and where the angel came and deliv-
ered them. The prison a hole in rock, 10
now covered by church, which is largely
supported by professional criminals, and
the altar Is covered with a curious cOllec-
uon OF Votve offerings in the form OF
weapons and burglars tools. Across mar
row street. through which electric car
me runs. and overlooking the Rostra, where
the body of julius Caesar was exposed by
-AaiS <AHtoHy aItef the aSSaES1Hdtlon, dllu
where antony made that powerful speech.
IS another church, covering the former site
OF the senate house of imperial Rome. On
the west side and spanning one end Of the
forum Is Captoline Hill, lofty, rugged
-oundat ton, upon which stands the city hall
CT Rome. building used by Rienzi. 1.-The
last of the tribunes," for his palace, and
which has been the scene of much interest
ing history. Next comes the Tarpeian
ROCK, covered with a group of tall tene-
ment houses, painted yellow and made pic
turesque by bright-colored garments which
the Washwomen have hung out to dry from
their windows These tenement houses in
circle the Forum as far as Palatine Hill.
where the ruins of the palaces Of the
Caesars rise in stupendous arches three
hundred feet or more. The fourth side OF
the Forum is almost entirely open ard
of Constantine and Titus.
The pavement of the Forum has been al
most entirely exposed and is kept clean and
clear with the exception of piles of broken
columns and pedimentS, statues, remains
OF walls and arches carved blocks of mar
tle that were formerly in The temples;
empty peCeStals and other remains, all col
lected and classified by the archaeoiogists
who are able to identify almost everything
they discover, and engage in tie most eX-
citing controversies over that which is
doubtful. Large holes and piles of e3rsh
show where excavations are still going on,
some of them being covered with sheds of
wood and corrugated iron. Groups of work
men are engaged in different places, some
setting up the remains of walls and arches,
others collecting the pieces that have been
thrown out by the diggers. AMI wander
ing around upon this historic soil are par
ties of students listening eagerly to the
explanations of their professors, ana ;ouI-
lists of all nations each with a red guide
book under his arm.