The sun., 1905-01-04
TREASURES OF HERCULANEUM
PROF. HALDSTEIN TELLS Art
LOVERS NOW TO GET THEM.

Cambridge EXcaSator's Plan for an Inter-
national Movement to Renew Work
in Buried city Which Promises Re-
suits Far Richer Than Did PompelI.
Charles Waldsten, Sade professor of
fine art in Cambridge University, England.
lectured yesterday in the old Anson Phelps
Stokes mansion at go Madison avenue.
now tho property of j. Pierpont Morgan,
in support of the efforts that are being made
TO have the United States and the nations
OF Europe cooperate in the excavation
OF ancient Herculaneum. In spite of the
storm distinguished audience gathered
in the library of the house to hear Prof
Waldstein. Among those present were
Mr. Mrs. and Miss Morgan, Bishop Potter,
John Bigelow, William NJ. Laffan, Nikola
Tesla, Frederick w Whitridge. Prof f. r.
A, Sehgman OF Columbia University, De
Witt Seligman. Mr., and Mrs. William Bar
clay Parsons, Mrs Cooper Hewitt Mrs
Henry T.. Rowland, Mrs f. H. Hartman
and Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney.
Prof Waldstein said that II was unfortu-
nate that personalities should have any
part in great cause like the excavation Of
the art and literary treasures OF Hercu-
laneum. yet the newspaper dispatches from
Italy declaring that his plan had not been
submitted 10 the International Society OF
ArchRologists and that II failed to meet the
approval of the Italian Government must
be answered. The inaccuracy of these
dispatches was partly proven, he said, by
the fact that there is no such society az
that mentioned.
only an hour ago. he continued. i re-
ceived q telegram from the Italian Ambas-
sador at Washington which SAYS that the
Italian Government still retains its freedom
Of action in the matter and that no final
plans Of any kind have been adopted
My plan is merely one to carry out the
work in the most efficient manner The
excavations are not TO he my eIca vations.
No foreigner. as such, should ever do the
work In Italy. The whole world should
cooperate in the excavations. The treas
ures OF Herculaneum must be brought to
light; the question is how. The Italian Gov
eminent Is not poor, but no one nation can
afford TO do the work. because the city of
kesina is built upon the old city.
There have been no excavations since
1875 on account Of the modern city being
there. The whole world must do the Work
and pay of the debt that the youngest of
civilizations owes to the Oldest What Is
found there will be placed IN a museum on
the ground. for there 10 no thought OF de-
spelling Italy. The nations Of to-day Will
not despoil Italy IS did the northern bar
harians of the Middle Ages. They will
restore.
Prof Waldstein's plan Is to form national
committees in each country the honorary
head being the ruler Of the country. An
international committee. which the King of
IL. L.
funds and an international staf il To be
appointed to consult with and help the
Italian specialists on the ground.
Prof. Waldstein has secured the approval
Of King Edward VII, President loubet,
Emperor William and President Roose-
consented to act as honorary chair1nen
Of their national committees. Prof Nald-
stein recently lectured before President
Roosevelt at the White House.
No money has yet been raised for the
project. As regards Italy Prof Waldsten
read letter from Sgnor Orlando, Minister
Of Public Instruction, who has charge Of
such matters, showing great interest in tho
Il wish TO begin my talk said Prof.
Waldstein, -by thanking Mr.. Morgan for
his hospitality, extended AZ it Is TO a great
cause My interest in this work is not merely
archaeological. such a step as this would
10 significant in the history Of the world.
II we can bring the nations together TO
restore tho relics OF the civilization upon
which ours IL based we will do much TO
bring about cordial relations between
the nations.
Peace treaties, common interests and
sectarian religion can never permanently
bind the nations, Treaties do not last.
interests change, religion causes trouble.
Race doesn't accomplish much. But the
common civilization upon which our civil
cations arc based is a ground we can all
stand upon. From that point Of view |
beg you to look ~ the subject.
lie pointed out that herculaneum is
covered TO a depth Of eighty feet with what
was fluid mud A popular idea that the
place is covered with a hard lava he de-
rded The mud. he said has acted as an
excellent preserYGtiye Of wood. Fapyr,
statuary and other objects, whereas the
ashes that covered Pompeii we're destructive.
Beides, many Of the residents Of Pompeii
went uack after the eruption and recovered
their property. while tho depth 10 which
Herculaneum was buried prevented that.
Pompei, he said, was provincial town,
while Herculaneum contained the villas
OF many Of the greatest Romans. Hercu-
laneum too. was Greek town and up 10
the time Of its destruction retained its
Hellenic character and attracted Greek
artists and writers.
Here we will find life arrested at It's
highest point, said Prof. Waldstein. In
one house alone slIty-ilYe copies OF one
work on epicurean philosophy were dis
covered Compared with Heroulaneum.
Pompeii was an illiterate town. May We
not hnd In Herculaneum the lost books Of
Livy, the great lost dramatists and new
light on the early history Of Christianity"
Stereopticon pictures OF the objects
found in one villa prior to the cessation OF
work in 1875 vera shown. They included
bronze heads OF dancing maidens and OF
philosophers, marble heads, heads OF
Homer, repousse work vases and house
hold scales. Prof Waldstein pointed out
that even the scales were unusually artistic.
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CnnnseI GaNa the Present Mrs. TeMkS kShnrYis