The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-28
NAPLES.
BY G. G.. Brown.

historic interest, from DR.. c. c..
Brown, who is now in Europe, will be
read with interest in connection with
his recent letter to this paper from
switzerland, and which was written
just after this one here was printed.
The Item is indebted to the Baptist
Courier for this clipping.
1t cannot be denied that Baldeker's
Guide Books are highly valuable. full
of information. and almost indispen-
sable to the tourist; but he and his
coiiaborators are all Germans, with
strong leaning towards a sort of de-
structive criticism. Over many places
and things Of interest, whose historic
genuineness cannot be disproved.
Baideker casts a suspicion of doubt,
simply because the facts about the
place or thing cannot be proven to
demonstration. Stoddard in his lec-
lures and Burton Holmes in his Trav-
eiogues are not so sceptical, and day
by day / rejoice over the fact that 7
have read and made copious notes
from these books.
yesterday. after leaving Posilippo.
We drove on to Pozzuoli. If the apos-
tie Paul had not gone there 2OO0
years ago, 1t might never have occur
red to me to go there yesterday. The
town Of $4,000 inhabitants is situated
on the northern and eastern point of
the land at the mouth of the Bav of
Naples. and 1t is eight miles away.
Out in the sea, east or little south-
east from Pozzuoli. lie three islands
lschia, the largest, is a small noun
tain, rising precipitously from the
mediterranean; next is Procida. and
then Miseno. A little southwest OF
Posilippo lies a small, rocky island
known now as Nisida. The son of
Lucullus owned villa here, and here
brutus fled. In B. c. A. after he had
killed Caesar. Here also Cicero visit
ed him. and here he took leave of his
wife Portia on his departure for
Greece. Shakespeare has outlined
this pathetic parting, and 1 refer my
readers to that gentleman for further
instruction.
But Pozzuoli-that is the place ]
am now seeking. Luke says, in de-
scribing Paurs journey to Rome. "On
the second day, we came to Puteoli.
where we found brethren. and were
intreated to tarry with them seven
days. and so we came to Rome" Con-
ceiving of the Bay of Naples as a
horseshoe in shape, Pozzuoli is the
horthern or upper point. In PAUL.
day, 1t was the most important COM
merciai city in Italy, and the prin.
cipai depot of traffic with Egypt and
the East. At present, it is a town
OF about $4,000 inhabitants. Just he.
yond the suburbs is the crater of the
hait-extinct valcanO of Solfatara.
from numerous fissures in which va
pors and gases still ascend. Puteo,i
Juts out into the bay, and there is q
small quay on each side, Offering pro.
lection to ships: so that one who
walks along the edge of the bay could
not be far from the place of the amos
ties landing. Just ahead of him. on
an elevation Of rock. he saw the great
amphi-theatre for Roman games. In
us ruins today, 1t is magnificent and
inspiring. 1t is 472 feet long by asa
teet wide, while the arena proper is
Z36 by 1873 feet. 1t provided seats for
$4,000 spectators. We walked through
the subterranean passages and cham
bers, the prisons where captives were
held until sent into the arena to fight
ana die, the dens where wild beasts
were Kept. which opened into the are
ma above. A water conduit Is still
seen, by means of which the whole
OF the arena could be flooded. when
naval combats were to be presented
During the reign of Diocletian. many
CHRISTIANS were here thrown to the
wild beasts, and torn limb from limb
TO make Roman holiday" The
large cell or Jail in which they were
Kept until called out TO meet death in
| its most horrible form, Is marked nv
larse marble tablet. Many tradi-
ions concerning the martyrdom OF
Christians centre about this place
such as that we find about Januarius
whom the lions refused to tear, and
II was found necessary to kill him
with clubs.
Not far away from the amphithe
atre, Paul must have looked upon the
| temple of Scraps. This filled a
square court of ne-third of an acre
The court Is still surrounded bv the