The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-05

intact. and the rooms. although they
are broken in places. can be easily
traced. There are thirty-five of them
running about grand hall forty feet
wide and seventy-five feet long, where
the men went through their gymnastics
or rested and loafed after bathing.
There We're many hot chambers for
steam and vapor baths. and several
cold plunges with large swimming
pools The hot rooms had mosaic floors,
with underground flues and fires. The
ruins of the heating arrangements are
such that even now they could be re-
paired and the baths used as in the
past. In the southern part of the city
are other baths. and in many OF the
houses so far eXcavated there are re-
mains of private bathrooms
A Theatre Seating Four Thousand
Timgad had a theatre which seated
more than four thousand people. I
wonder how many towns OF fifty thou
sand in our country have amusement
halls that size This theatre was In
the upper part of the city at the edge
of the hills. + went through 1t this
morning and sat for a time in one
of the boxes which faced the marble
rostrum forming the stage. The aud
fence came in through a covered pas
sagcway made OF stone. and there IS
covered passageway for exit. The
aCtOFS mad Luelr OWN winch
led directly to the stage. There was
no roof over this theatre; the audience
sat out In the open, with a magnifi-
cent view of the valley and mountains
ever before them The seats are of
stone, and they run around the arena
in the shape OF half-moon, rising
tier above tier The orchestra played
in the crescent below.
1 was also much interested in the
library, or public lecture room. of this
ancient town. I do not suppose that
ancient Thaumgadi had an Andrew
Carnegie, but its ruins show that this
building would have been worthy
monument to any corn king Of old
Rome. 1t has the shape OF a half
circle. with steps running round it,
and shelves in the walls, where the
scrolls Of manuscript were stored. An
other curious structure was building
devoted to the selling Of flowers With
fountains to keep tho flowers fresh.
The Forum.
Tho Forum of Timgad has been en-
tirely unearthed. and 1t bears evidence
OF having been far larger and moro
beautiful than that of Pompeii. It's
many OF the tall marble columns
| which surrounded it are still here. 1t
bears every evidence of having been
! n magnificent place. 1t is reached by
| stone steps. About 1t on every side
were covered passageways upheld by
! pillars of marble AT che end. behind
| marble columns, was a great stone
! rostrum, I suppose for the speakers,
| and there was an extensive lobby and
/ retiring rooms somewhat as In our
! Capitol at Washington.
| Adjoining the Forum was a cham
! Der of commerce built Of marble and
| limestone. This building is supposed
! 20 have served as a sort OF stock en-
! change and tribunal of justice COM
! bincd. 1t had a statue of Justice in it,
apart Of which still exists.
The Temples of the City.
There are several ruined temples In
| Timgad. One was devoted to Victory
| and another to the Jupiter of the
/ Capitol. The walls of the latter arc six
/ feet In thickness. and are made of
I great blocks three and four feet In
| length. Some of the enormous columns
/ which formed the back OF this struct-
! ure stlll stand. They are on high
/ platform which overlooks the whole
| city. Each column is fifty feet nigh
I 1t Is nut6d and carved, and It's capital
/ Is OF wonderful beauty,
+ ! climbed up to the base or lhese
great column and took birds-eye
View Of the ruins, With the broken
marble pillars here and there amone
them, the half-broken houses looked
/ more like n palafal cattle yard OF
/ brick and stone than a city. This
! however, is only at first, The ruins
| of tho famous old city spring at once
into view. and the wealth of the p pas,
J everywhere strikes your eye, Iht
i houses are now little more than wnllee
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