Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-09-08
AAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA
Il An ~
Archaeological.
He Looks For Antique Treasures
and Finds Man
By ]. L. Careno
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1oii. X

BY J. L. Careno

~ ' y : = Y - :" ~ Z" = ' y
Some ten miles from the Eternal
City, Rome, across the Campagna, are
hills on which the Romans for cen
turtles have been, accustomed TO spend
their summers Tie sides Of these
hills are dotted with villages, villas and
the ruins of villas. In one of these
small towns, Frascati, / was born.
There is or was In Italy very little
opportunity for young man to make
his way, and at the age of eighteen, the
only field open to me being the army,
chose rather to go to America.
Chance led me to become telegraph
operator, and yet possible scientific
tastes may have had something to do
with the matter. At any rate, fan
cied the work partly because 1t was a
science. saved money, and when the
telephone was discovered | subscribed
for some shares In the company then
organizing. These shares made me
wealthy. and within ten years after
leaving my native land | returned to 1t
and my home.
Archaeology became passion with
me. devoted myself to digging for
those treasures In art which lie buried
in such pr0fusion In and about Rome.
My field lay at my very door, since the
range of hills on which | lived were
favorite location for the villas Of
the ancient Romans when the wealth
OF conquered world was flowing in
upon them.
In my Investigations went about
wherever | suspected an archaeol0g-
ical treasure might lie hidden. The
lower grade of italian people in that
region are dangerous class A few
miles back of my native village there
Is small town in which there are
about 400 people, all belonging to the
criminal class. On this account In my
tours through the country invariably
went armed The wisdom of doing so
was apparent from the fact that
heard one day that an American gen
tleman who had come out from Rome
to visit Frascati had disappeared. He
had climbed the hill back Of the town,
visited the villa OF the Aldo Brandini
family, one of whom was pope, then
wandered farther along the road lead
ing toward the village Of criminals Of
which have spoken. He did not re-
turn.
One day | started out to visit some
graves Of which I had heard among
the Alban hills. In one of them
found relics dating back to period
beyond the foundation of Rome. I
was so delighted with my find and
buoyed by hopes OF discovering more
such treasures that | pursued my in
vestigatlons till 1t was dark. Then l
started to find some place in which to
spend the night. The region was not
thickly settled, and l was obliged to
go some distance before coming to
house. Seeing a dim light ahead,
pushed on and came to a large stone
building that bore evidence OF having
been some gentleman's villa. II was
now ruin and only partly occupied.
knocked at the door. | could hear
plainly a quick moving about Of per
sons inside, and II was some time be.
fore my summons was answered. Then
woman appeared. one OF the lowest
class and, although she stood with her
back TO the light, could see enough Of
her face to assure me that this was
no good stopping place for me- How
ever, told her what I was looking
for. and she asked me to come In.
There were two men there OF the same
grade as the woman.
was puzzled what to do. II went
elsewhere these persons might follow
me to rob me; II stayed In the house
might be murdered In my sleep. In
either event ! must rely on my arms.
which | had not on this occasion neg
lected TO bring with me.
Having had nothing to eat since
morning. sat down at a table and
ate some luncheon | had with me
would have called for n glass of wine,
but knew these people would have
only the worst, and fearing poison,
refrained While | ate | considered
determined to ask for a room, and
II found II capable Of being held In
case of an attack I would stay there;
II not, would go on. TO my surprise,
when asked for place to sleep one
Of the men spoke up and said grufIiy:
"There IL no room for the gentle
man"
This looked as If he would like TO
force me out so concluded TO stay
every we'll" said. II will remain in
this room. will sleep in chair.
shall be of by daylight anyway"
The two men consulted In low voices,
and one Of them, taking up light.
told me to follow him. did 80 and
was led to dingy room with one win.
dow In II. threw up the sash and
saw that was about thirty feet from
the ground The lock on the door was
on the inside. Altogether | consider.
ed the position favorable for defense.
concluded TO stay in the room. even
II did not sleep, till dawn about 3
O'clock. So I told the man I was sat
ished and said good night TO him, and
he set down the light and went AWAY.
was too tired TO keep awake, but
did not dare even to lie on the bed
with my clothes on for fear OF falling
asleep. ! sat In n chair, but even
there ! found myself Dodding II was
II O'Clock when I heard tapping BE.
Ing at the time half asleep, I was not
fully conscious Of IT, Presently the