The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
spe,as Correspondence. TO THE SIS.

ROME. Jan. 20.-L!vys warning that
whatever tradition reports regarding the
origin o. Rome Is 70 be taken rather as
n poetical legend than rs true history
was no. overlooked by many archsolo-
gists who regarded the foundation or
Rome as a myth and denied every event
in Roman history previous to the Second
P',nic war.
Until comparatively recent times these
archaologists OF the old school scorned
the idea that over seven centuries and
half before the birth Of Christ man
named Romuus built a city named Rome
on n hill near the T!ber. When. however.
so-called monumental evidence and philo-
logical researches seemed TO confirm some
OF the details Of the mythical period OF
Romc's history the value OF traditional
sources was gradually Increased the
question OF the cred!bi!ity of carly Roman
history then began TO be discussed Some
legends were converted into facts and
some traditions into events. Obscure ref
crcnces IN classical writer's were explained
and understood and lingering doubts re-
moved. A reaction then get in and scep-
tic!sm gave place TO credulity. When
Prof Boni announced thar he had dis
covered the "mundus' around which the
furrow driven by Romulus marked the
limits OF the first primitive city on the
Palat!ne everybody believed him.
So far Prof. Bonl has not explained
his discovery. He is man OF few words
and recently his humor has not been good
German archeologists irritate him. he
says. They dispute everything. deny In
ductlons and refuse TO believe In inspira-
lions. They are scientifically ignorant
And yet they are curious and want 10 see
and examine every stone brought out OF
the shaft. sunk under the atrium or court
yard OF Domitian's palace, and at the bot
tom OF which Prof. Boni says he found
the "mundus."
The curiosity OF German archaologist,
as well az that OF everybody else has no
been satisfied. Prot Bon points to th'
mouth OF the shaft and says THE mundu!
Is down there" The shaft is about three
| feet wide. A ladder goes down to tn
bottom. One looks IN and sees nothin'
but darkness. Prof. Boni Will then poin
TO another shaft close By and Just la!t
bare and say:
1.-The Romans themselves had lost tn
site OF the 'mundus' toward the end o
the republican period. The Empero
Augustus. who wanted 10 purify Roman
religion and revive ancient rites. made un
successful efforts 10 find It again. II
sunk that shaft for the purpose. but fa!le'
! TO find tho 'mundus.' although he wa
very near Il. The shaft Is fllled wit
fragments of ancient pottery of tn
! Augustan era.
The Summit Of the Palatine.
81 am convinced" adds Prof. Bon
that this Is the summit OF the Palatin'
I explored all the portions round thi
spot and found republican houses built o
the slopes of the hill. Tho foundations O
these houses were laid on the rock. tufs
which was levelled for the purpose. TIL
sides Of the hill were terraced, as 1t wer'
Then the imperial buildings covere
the republican houses and spread out a
over the hill. materially altering It's ar
pearance. Tho foundations OF these pa
aces were laid over existing structure
which wcre cut of In several parts. Soil
walls were erected against small house
which were completely covered. ! ~
plored oil these houses. examined III
geological structure OF the hin and do
termined It's original confederation.
Is said that the summit OF the hill Wa
split by a valley. I oxcavatsd the are
which thought must have been tn
summit Of tho hill and found virgin Sol
clay.
Hero ! discovered tho spot Of the a,
called Romulean 'pagus.' or village. OIL
of tho first settlements on the Palatin
The clay WAS beaten hard to serve q
floor for the huts. There are holes whiC
) served for the branches OF trees or pole
that propped the huts Other holes wei
made to light fires. Some. larger. WEI
tombs, Here the Latin shepherds VII
fled from the Alban hills either becaus
the pasture lands were insufficient for II
support OF their increased tocks or b.
cause they were driven away by volcan
eruptions. settled and built their v!llag
large sheepfold. They named tho hi
Palatium or hill sacred 20 Pales. II
goddess of shepherds.
Gradually these shepherds BEGAN
farmers and cultivated tho land. The
} they built a city. and az the communi'
depended on agriculture they stored u
wealth Of the community, corn, In a pi
Their leader. Romulus. the man of Rom
J scent for men out of Tuscany. Etruri
who directed him by sacred usages ar
! written rules In MI the ceremonies to
, observed. as in religious rite In bull
ing the city.
; THESE mon. as Plutarch says, dug
round trench about tho place used for n
: semblies. and into 1t soennly threw Il
first fruits Of all things either good
custom or necessary BY nature: ths