Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-06

catastrophe 1885 years ago. Had Pom
peii merely fallen into decay and been
buried under the natural detritus of
centuries it would not be nearly as
interesting as 1t is today, the relic OF
an appalling visitation of nature, which
IN n few hours transformed 1t from
busy, pleaSure-seeking community into
vast tomb. Thus we went up
pleasantly shaded and f1ower-bordered
path from the entrance, with the sense
of approaching the scene of tragedy.
The pathway turns to the right ana
a high archway opens before us. with
road solidly paved with large stones
leading through the center steepy up
hill a side approach by means OF steps
passes under the tunnel-like arch. TO
Join the narrow road above we cl1mp
the incline ignoring the museum winch
occupies one side of the entrance pas
sage, for later inspection. and In an,
other minute are in the light again, still
ascending in an easterly direction.
we mark we'll this old. old street.
leading to the Porta Marina, OF , sec
cate OF Pompeii, for 1t was down TINS
way and one other. soon to be reached,
that most of the people fled in panic
when the ashes began to fall and the
sky became dark as night on the 24th OF
August 70 A. D. There were; as IA, Iat
as excavations have revealed. eight
points Of exit Three of these led IN
the direction of Vesuvius, and were
therefore impossible. two to the east and
of questionable safety in the great emef-
rency. two to the south and one to tne
vest and in the direction OF the sea.
How Streets Were Built.
/ It is possible to picture the scene en-
acted on this steep Via Marina as the ter
ror-stricken Pompeiians rushed when they
xu-t1f oh
few years previously partly wrecked their
city. was at last reaching out to make an
end of it. The way is narrow. as are all
the pompeiian streets, with room for but
one chariot, and with frequent great step
ping stones that impede rapid DRIVING.
The sidewalks were mere tedgeS alohssius
the walls No wonder that scores OF
bodies were found in this street and me e
Strada Stabiana Carlo, crossing at right
angles its continuation beyond the forum
The congestion must have been fr1gnt1ui.
Walls were falling as the earth shook.
The air was filled with ashes ana SUMO
eating gases. Hot stones were dropping
furiously, and fires were starting In many
places. ITO the sea-" was the cry, ana
through the forum the fear-crazeo peopie
ran, along the only way toward the pay.
then, it is related. much nearer the CITY
than at present.
Descriptive guidebooks tell the uses OF
of Justice. the triangular forum. the great
and small theaters, the amphitheater, Inc
baths the temples and the d1Hefent sHopo;
Antiauarians have identified runs ana
remains and fragments, so tnae the cry
can be reconstructed almost on scare. win
all its fittings and Furnishings. friVate
dwellings, with their atria and cuplcies,
their kitchens. dining rooms. fountains
and gardens, are In some cases ainost
intact save that the roofs are gone IN a,
0r
decorations are still in place here ana
there. though many of the best have 6een
removed to the museum at Naples r1he
white marbles CLEAN in the sunlight; door
stills. affairs. pedestals and shelves. But
it is all dead. all mockery OF HE
Peasants Visit Scene.
AS we moved about. following the map
we passed groups Of brightly clad peas
ants taking advantage Of the free day to
study the ruins They showed keen in
terest in them and listened attentively to
their guides. who were obviously delight
ed in displaying their knowledge. Only
q few tourists were present. and so IN Tue
course Of an hour we had the scene near
ly to ourselves. After viewing the inca
| tiers and the quarters Of the glad1afors
we moved up the wheel-rutted Straos
Stabiana, past the shops with which al
most all the private dwellings, were sur
rounded, and found some OF the inter
esting buildings closed.
At the Stabian baths. which are re-
| markedly we'll preserved. we tried the
experiment of jingling a few coppers In
| the hearing Of a guard and pointing sug
gestively to the gate. The charm worked
With a quick look up and down the street
to see that no superior was watching, HI
unlocked the portal and showed US
through the richly decorated swimming
pools. gymnasium. shower and hot baths
and dressing rooms.
| Later we tried the same method at the
| so-called ''house of the tragic poet.
used by Bulwer-Lytton as the house o.
| Glaucus'' in the Last DAYS of Pompei,
and once more for a trifiing tip We saw
| all there was to be seen and were richi!
decorated with wild flowers in addition.
By the time We had inspected the
| house of Pansa," the most typical dwell
| ing of Pompeii. and looked at a score
| of wonderfully preserved frescoes ane
| seen the bake ovens from which the
| black carboniZed loaves were taken b!
| the excavators, centuries after the bak-
ers had fed or fallen in their shops
| and climbed deeply worn steps to gair
| heights to view the general scene Of
| desolation, and had made the round OF
the little museum with its pitiful plaster
casts of bodies found in the ashes, We
were weary and sought the exit, no,
at all disturbed by the knowledge thai
we had not seen quarter OF Inc
| sights