Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-29
DIG UP HERCULANEUM
PROF. wALDsTEIN INTERESTS
THE PRESIDENT IN PROJECT.
Much More Valuable Treasures to Be
Found Than We're Discovered in
the Ruins of Pompeii.

Prof. Charles Waldstein of Cambridge,
England, Slade professor of fine arts in the
university, and formerly director of the
American school at Athens, lectured at the
White House last night on the interna-
tional exploration and excavation of the
ancient city of Elerculaneum. President
Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, Secretary Hay.
Senator and Mrs. Lodge, Clifford Pinchot
and James r. Garfield were among the
guests.
Professor Waldstein has plan for max
ing this undertaking international. The
Italian government cannot afford to do it
alone, although it will warmly cooperate,
and would naturally expect substantial
representa- ton on the working committees.
II Is proposed to have Psychologists, en-
glneers and students from all countries
work with those of Italy, and to have
national committee in each of the great
countries, with its sovereign or ruler as
the honorary president Then, there is to
pc an international COMMITTEES, which the
King of Italy will head, with representa-
ives OF every nation as his associates.
This committee will be the trustee of the
funds, and will also appoint the working
stan. in consultation with the different ma
tional committees.
Royal Approval Obtained
Prof. Waldstein early obtained the APP
prevail of King Edward and then went to
Italy to get the consent of Victor Eman-
uel and his government to the scheme.
This has been secured, in writing Mr..
Waldstein then communicated with Secre-
tary Hay, from WI m he received much
encouragement and an Introduction to the
President. =
MI. Roosevelt not only allowed the use of
MS name as honorary president Of the
american committee, but issued invitations
70 lecture at the White House by Prof.
Of ,fc owl
Whlie the adhesion was obtained of Presi-
oent Loubet and the French government,
ana also OF Count Won Buelow, the chancel-
iorLot the German empire, and of the kaiser
hlfisel1' VINO personally promised to be an
honorary president and to make one of
theA royal princes an acting president In
Aus@ria, Sweden and other countries SINH
lar progress has been made, until effective
international cooperation now seems as
sured. Inc great task now is to raise the
money. Certain governments will probably
make grants from the state treasury, but
not those of Great Britain and the limited
States, where from long-established cus-
tom such funds must be raised by private
SUBSCRIPTION. Prof Waldstein's hope is to
impress the patrons of art in this country
with the Importance of this project to the
scholarship of the world.
Herculaneum and Pompeii.
Pompeii and Herculaneum are no more
ankle. although only eight miles apart than
OOAiNS AS'shio Newport, SAID Prof.
Waldstein, who went on to explain that
Pompeii was covered to a depth of only
about fifteen feet by the outflow of the
great Vcsuvius while Herculaneum was
buried to a depth of eighty feet in many
places.
THE difference between the cities" Prof
Waldstein continued, rs that Pompeii
though much Influenced by Hellenic culture
Was MAS never real center of Greek civiliza-
tlon, whereas Herculaneum distinctIv
Hellenic foundation ever was renresenta
i've nome Of Greek art and literature as
the spasmodic excavations already made
nave shown Pompeii was a purely COM
merclaI town; not single manuscript has
been found there, while at Herculaneum the
unsystematic excavations of the past have
yielded from one villa alone 1850 papyri
Nearly all the perfect specimens of ART
notably the bronzes, have come down TO
US in most beautiful state of preservation
from Herculaneum, and not from Pompeii,
Besides this intrinsic difference be-
tween the two places, the eruption of 10
AID. affected them very differently Pom
pen, standing on an eminence, was de-
stroyed, but not completely covered by
not ashes, clnders and pumice stone. The
objects of art as a result have either
been modified, damaged or DESTROYED AS
the tops of the houses were visible after
eruption the inhabitants of the surround
ing country returned to dig after treas
ureS.
AACoSu1CS 3IGSCTVGO.
Herculaneum on the other hand was
covered by torrent of liquid mud a mix
ture of ashes and cinders with water
Almost 1nstantaneously it was completely
buried, and to depth so great that its
ancient works remained untouched. 1t is
a widespread misrepresentation wholly
without foundation, that Herculaneum is
covered by solid lava. Biologists and
archaeologists are now agreed that the
so-called lava fangosa is a friabIe ma
terial which can be worked by the ex-
cavater, and something that preserves
exceptionally well the objects buried in
it. The marble is not calcined. the wood
not burned, the glass not melted and the
manuscripts not destroyed. The wonder
iul state OF preservation of the bronzes
in the Naples Museum gives evidence Of
TINS fact. Moreover, as Herculaneum was
a faVorite summer resort of rich Romans
one or whose villas, supposed to be that
OF PlSO the rival of