The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-05-13
BEAUTIFUL NAPLES
KISSED BY VESUVIUS
And It Almost Made the Fair
Maiden Quake When He
Reached for Her.
Uncovering Of the Ruins Of
Pompeii and Herculaneum
Reveal Works Of Art.

Naples, Italy, April IA, 1909.-Land-
ing at Naples was slow work. It was
more than two hours before our gang
plank was out and we could step on
land. Confusion reigned supreme,
hotel runners. guides, porters and their
helpers and hawkers, all talking glib
berish. We had to tip one set of men
to get our baggage off the ship; another
to take it to the custom house a few
rods away; another to the omnibus and
another to the hotel and then the man
who managed it all. The custom house
men took our word for the fact that
we were bringing in nothing but wear
ing apparel-and very little of that
and let US off easy.
Naples is built on a semi-circular hill
around the bay of Naples, and the
traveller who is looking for a beautiful
spot can pause here for he has certainly
found one of the best the earth can
afford Our hotel is we'll up on the hill
and our quarters front on the bay.
The city, the bay and Mount Vesuvius
all spread before us painted by the
glorious sunshine like a magnificent
panorama. In the forenoons Vesuvius
is covered by mists and clouds, but the
MONDAY sun melts them away, and the
outline of the mountain and the smoke
from the crater are laid bare, standing
in the air 1000 feet above sea level.
In ancient times Vesuvius was in
action so long, that It's bad reputation
was forgotten, but the year 63 A. D. it
woke up and surprised the country
round with an earthquake and practic-
ally destroyed Pompsii, several miles
away. Pompeii was hardly rebuilt in
70 A. D., when an appalling eruption
of Vesuvius buried it and Herculaneum
with ashes and lava. Since that time
more than sixty eruptlons have been
recorded, the worst in 1872 when an
immense stream three miles long of
red hot lava was belched forth, and
, only two years ago Naples was alarmed
by q shower of hot ashes hurled across
the bay. as gentle reminder that old
vesuvius was still there. The scenery
is very beautiful and inspiring, the
summer skies glorious, the history alb
sorbing, but I have no confidence in
Vesuvius and I prefer mountain with
better record for steady habits and
good behavior.
Pompeii is two hours from Naples by
steam or electric car. The route is
around the bay and along the foot hills
Of Mount vesuvius through beautiful
irrigated country titled like flower gar
dens. The fields were swarming with
men, women, mules and oxen, all busy
working in the soil, which is very rich.
Much of the country is covered with
small vineyards in prime condition.
When Pompeii was buried it was
a city of 10000 to $4,000 people, most
Of whom escaped probably 400 being
killed, q small number compared to
some catastrophes of modern times.
It is thought the people returned and
secured many of their Jewels and
much treasures and then the city was
deserted and unknown for nearly
one thousand seven hundred years and
it is only the last fifty years that ex-
cavations have been undertaken in
systematic manner by the Italian gov
ernment and the narrow streets paved
with stone, with deep ruts worn by the
wheels of vehicles are laid bare, and
the concrete walls and floors of the
houses exposed. Many of the inner
walls and ceilings are decorated with
paintings which have stood the wear of
more than one thousand eight hundred
years. The museum at Pompeii and
the national museum at Naples are
loaded with thousands Of works Of art
in marble and stucco. gold, silver and
q. - ! -TT .--.--5-' ) y