The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-12
ROME, once The
WORLDS MISTRESS
Rev. J. w. Potter of Trinity Church
Tells Of sojourn Through Italy
and Writes With
Interest.
AND WICKED PoMpEII
Writer Says If Ever City Was De
stroyed for its Vast Shining
That Was The
One.

Rev. j. w. Potter's letters, which
have appeared from time to time in
the Muscatine Journal and have
proved of no little interest locally, tell
of the extensive travels of the Keo-
kuk minister In recent issue of
the upriyer uaper, Doctor Potter's
visit to Rome is told in the following
manner:
Landing at Brindisi. Italy, we took
train for Naples. 1t is an all days
run, and as they provide no dining car,
we took lunches on the train and
made ourselves comfortable We
were to spend ten days in this sum
kissed land and knew beforehand that
they would Of necessity be strenuous
days IL we caught even glimpse of
the historic ruins and present beauty.
While at Naples we visited Pompei
and walked through those streets,
only recently uncovered, where once
Roman pomp and pleasure held high
carnival. They are still excavating
and each day brings to light some
thing which hasn't seen the sun for
nearly 1000 years. Old Pompei--
wicked, sensual, pleasure mad. If a
city was ever destroyed because of its
sin-that city was Pompei. Some of
the party climbed Old Vesuyius-it' 8
a hard proposition, since the eruption
four years ago destroyed the cog-road.
The bay of Naples is beautiful and
when her waters are Illuminated by
light from ship and shore, the scene
can never be forgotten. | do not
sympathize in any degree with the
gentleman who said See Naples and
die as though there were nothing
worth while after that. No, no. See
Naples, but see her quick and then
go on to Rome that's my advice.
Historic, masterful interesting
Rome. There is only one other city
in the world that has the same or
equal historic interest to me, and
that is Jerusalem. Rome was once
the mistress of the world. for julius
Caesar brought to pass the only uni
yersal empire the world has ever
known.
We visited the old Forum 1t is
now sunken square and has little
beauty or charm save for its historic
interest.
The traveller is held by a strange
fascination when he remembers that
here were presented some Of the
worlds most stupendous dramas; gen.
erals, consuls and emperors were the
actors, while all the world made III
the audience
Here the Romans were framing
laws and working out the problems
of political government, while say
ages still roamed over the present
site OF Paris, France.
Nearby is the place where the
golden milepost stood, from which
distance was reckoned to all parts Of
the empire.
Running east from the Forum liei
the Sacred Way. This was the mos
fashionable street of the ancient cit,
and was to Rome what Broadway Ii
to New York. Passing down this
ancient way you come to the Arch
of Titus, which, after the lapse Of
18 centuries ranks as one of the
grandest ruins of imperial Rome. L
was erected to commemorate the
taking of Jerusalem by Titus.
At the east end of the Sacred Wa,
stands the Coliseum, the creates
ruins of the city. It was commenc
ed by Vespasian and completed BY
Titus and so has stood the shock O
time for near 1000 years. 1t would
seat $1,000 people and at is dedi
cation, which lasted 100 DAYS 5000
wild beasts were killed for the amuse
nmet of the people.
Near the Coliseum stands tn,
Arch of Constantine, built $50 A. d
or just fifteen years before the empero
whose name it bears, moved his cap
ital and Official residence from Rom,
to the city by the Bosporus on tn,
Golden Horn.
There are % public fountains ii
the city beside 300 watering troughs
The system of waterworks furnishe
the population 10 gallons per capiti
daily, thus making Rome the bes
watered capital city in the world
The most famous and popular foun
tain is "Trevi." 1t was brought t,
the city by Marcus Agrippa, 20 year
B. G.
When Rome was swept by the bar
barians in the 5th century this con
duit was broken and its flow stoppe,
for nearly thousand years. But il