The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-02-16
PART 8.
POInpeii.

POmpe1i.
September 13 was intensely WARN
sn Pomneii and no rain had fallen
for weeks.
Pompeii as it appears to travellers
has been described by writers whose
command III English has given then
lasting regulations and \ snail ~
attempt to rival them Someone mas
Hkened it to our Coney Island ano
there il marked resemblance
though Pompeii ig smaller than Con
ey.
visited, there were beggars there 10
great variety and large numbers
Pompeii was one of the great clt-
len or antiquity. One hnds mcntlon
Of II in manuscripts that date back
to B. C. $40. The city had suffered
from many earthquakes prior to An
I'D. 6S, due to the volcanic formation
On which II was built, but IL mad re-
yiyed and been rebuilt.
August "A, A.. d. 70, it was over
thrown by an eruption OF Mount
Veguvius. Showers of ashes and not
lava covered the city to depth Oh
seven or eight feet. During later
wears there were further eruptons
~ that at the time of our visit W.
found 1n section about the excava-
tons about 20 feet OF ashes and
lava.
For centuries after the city's de-
struction 1T lived only in tradition
and history.
III 1748 the discovery of some fine
statues and bronze utensils in the
ruins by a peasant attracted the at
tention OF Charles M, who began IN
uncover the ruins.
Most Of the moveaDle objects have
been removed to Naples where they
are kept in museums, vases, rain
spouts. terra Gotta, vessels in bronze,
carbonized articles Of foods, skulls
and skeletons remain In Pompeii, to
gether with many interesting casts
of bronze.
OF the bodies Of men and animals
the soft parts had decayed, during
the centuries, but their forms re-
manned in the ashes, which harden
ed in time
lin 1863 the experiment was at
tempted or removing the bones and
filling the cavities with plaster paris.
The experiment was success and IN
this way there have been preserved
to IT, figures OF the deceased after
their death struggles
We saw the figure Of a girl with
a ring on her finger, two of women,
one of man lying on his face, an
other of man lying Ga hi left side
and still another of dog in extrem-
il.
In the city, the excayated area
consists of from three-fourths of
mile to one mile square. It in said
that only about two-thirds OF the
work has been done.
In the excavated area are most Of
the public buildings and the theatres,
with large colOnnades, stores,
streets, bordered by sidewalks The
streets are straight and narrow, paw
ed with large blocks of lava at pla-
ces and at the street crossings and
other places there are large stepping
stones, such a. we're common i'm Bal
timore a few years ago. These were
for the accommodation of pedestrians
in rainy weather.
The wheels Of the ancient charl-
OTIS that moved over the streets in
the long ago have worn deep ruts in
the stones in the streets where most
of the business was done
There are public drinking foun-
tains at street corners, decorated
with the heads Of gods, masts Of
ships or similar ornaments. These
fountains are supplied by water car
ried in lead pipes at the public
watering troughs, il front Of the
fountains, there are stones. In one
instance we observed a place where
thousands of men leaning over to
drink the cool waters from the pipe,
had worn away the stone for fully
six inches
The buildings are constructed of
marble and brick and a substance
resembling cement
The Pompeiian bricks have been
initiated by enterprising American
manufacturers, but have never be-.
come popular in this country. They
are about one inch thick, four inches
wide and ~ inches long. The walls
are ornamented with cement, or
stucco.
The interiors of the dwellings are
painted in bright colors Many or
the paintings on the walls are stir
visible.
Luxury and Vice.
Everywhere one sees evidences OF
luxury and vice. There are num-
erous rooms in these buildings to
which the ornamentations attest the
moral depravity of the inhabitants
OF the once proud city, . rival in ev-
cry respect for SodOm and Gomorrah,
spoken OF in the Bible.
Most of the houses of the wealthy
were entered Hy narrow passages,
surrounded by covered passages lead
Ing TO the courts, with reservoirs for
rain water in the centre. Every
house has its own reservoir.
The living apartments i'm the
houses are very small and III appears
that the families spent most OF their
time in the light airy courts. The
walls, where they are undecorated,
are painted with bright and glaring
colors, red and yellow.
The theatre W. visited was in an
open court. Stones were raised in
steps rs feet high, making accommo-
dations for 1000 spectators.
Leaving Pompeii, w. started On al
16 mile carriage drive along the
mountain side, over beautiful ma
cadam road, cut out all along the bay
to Sorrento, a delightful town of
from 5000 to 5000 inhabitants.
Sorrento.
Sorrento is famous, for its water.
The town itself has from 5000 to
5000 inhabitants. we stopped at
nice hotel and il the evening went