New-York tribune., 1909-12-11
THE C4MP1GN1.
-4nOthcr Good BOok by Pro
fcssOr LdHcidni.
wANDFRINGs IN THE ROMAN CAM
PAGNA BY RodolfO Lancisni. Pro
fuseiv illustrated. Syo. pp. Nlii, as.
Houghton MirHin COMPANY.

wANDERINGs IN THE ROMAN CAM
PAGNA BY RodolfO I.ancisnl. Pro
fuselv illustrated Syo, pp. ALL, Sse.
Houghton Miftin cornpan,.
Every new book Of Professor Aanci-
anTs must revive in his faithful readers
an emotion OF something like envy.
once. remember" he says. in the
woodland OF Isola Farnese. where
laborer had Just struck with his plough
the left shoulder Of a bust. ! helped 70
disengage il from the earth. and shall
never forget the sight Of that lovely face
1.-The face OF Antinousl suddenly appear
ing amidst such desolate surroundings
and looking al MS two with a melancholy
expression as IL We had disturbed the
peace Of his grave" The authors long
experience has been full Of such episodes.
Who would not envy him? Could any
thing be more enchanting. or more thrill
ing. than 10 turn the soil and come for
the first time in our modern epoch upon
gloriousiy beautiful souvenirs OF the
ancient past? ArchsOlogists of Profess
sor Lancianis Opportunities-snd genius
live in a kind Of wonder world. We
marvel. sometimes. that men Of large
means and cultivated tastes do not give
themselves with sportsman's zest TO
eXcaN alton in classical lands. They
would do so If once they would surren-
der 10 the spell Of pages like these.
To the sympathetic but uninstructed
traveller in Rome the Campagna is lust
a wide, fat domain surrounding the city.
fair 10 look upon when il is sheeted with
glowing pOppies. and made impressive at
any season by the grand lines of the old
Roman viaducts and by the noble lines
of the hills upon its boundaries. He
knows il is saturated in historic men,
orics. but of the precise significance Of
these ne has little knowledge. Small
blame 10 him II his imagination fails
him. II is fairly stunned by the tre-
mendous atmosphere envelopins Rome
and her surroundings. But let him take
Professor Lanciani as his guide. This
distinguished scholar long since showed
as how archaeology may be brought
within the scope Of the general reader.
iie is rich in learning. but he never loses
sight OF the human interest in his sub
ject. In the present volume he has had
The happy idea Of traversing the Cam
pagna in the COMPANY SO 20 say. of this
or that renowned pcrsonalitv-Horace or
Hadr1an. Cicero OF Piiny the Younger
Thus while he talks Of memorable ruins
and recovered masterpieces OF Greek or
Roman sculpture. he endsavOrs 10 expose
the social conditions under which these
things had their origin. He treats al the
outset OF the iEmemorial question Of
fever in the Campagna. showing that II
was not always the deadly scourge which
we know II 10 have been through long
periods. He speaks Of DAYS under the
republic. and later. when. as lac saws
the Campagna must have looked like a
great park. studded with villages. farms
cottages. lOrdly residences. teupIes
fountains and tombs'
He points out. too that when the rich
Roman sought repose in summer he
could not go very far from the city. bur
had 10 build his villa on the slopes ~
those hills which rim the Campagna.
Travelling IN ancient times was 80 nm
comfortable and 50 dangerous" he saws.
'for want of mail service. of postal and
telegraphic arrangements. and of hotel
accommodation. from brigandage ana
from the steepness 81 mountain roads.
that private families. no matter how
wealthy and how much imbued with the
spirit of the tourist. shrank from under
taking long and tedious journeys unless
impclled by duty or on an official miz-
sion" Hence. tho social life which is
described ia this hook developed on the
fringe II the Campagna. somefimes
within rs naTrowest limits. anC slWsys
under itE atmosphere. NJ get vivid
Idea Of what IA Vas Ike in the chapter
in The author portrays the clever lady