Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04

Projected excavations to reveal the
treasures of Herculaneum appeal to
Americans as promising results of
great interest and Importance. While
the story of Pompeii has been told, the
sister victim of volcanic violence has
remained a mystery and the subject of
worldwide curiosity. Mussolini has
now undertaken the task of disclosing
the facts and Italy's national re-
sources will be available for the pur-
pose.
Expectations run high" says the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, re
garding the treasures that may be
found in the luxurious seaside hcmes
and villas of Roman patricians, as
contrasted with the comparatively
meager art and literary possessions
of the commercial Pompeiians. The
lost books of Livy's history and
poems and dramas that are known
only by name are among the literary
finds that would enrich scholarship
IL a we'll appointed library were dis
covered in a good state Of preserva-
tion."
Believing that what the pick and
shovel may bring to light will be of
untold value to scientists and stu
DENTS" the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch
predicts that the present enterprise
will attract the attention Of every one,
and remarks that "it is not surprising
that Italy made a gala day of the
official beginning of excavations and
that the King himself was present"
Several attempts to eXcavate Hercu-
laneum are cited by the Fargo Forum,
which mentions the finding in the
eighteenth century of "a wealth of
sculpture in marble and bronze, some
of the best mural paintings of the CEN
fury and a library containing 1903
papyri." Coming down to the present
century. the Forum recalls that "the
last attempt was in 1904 and lack of
funds brought about quick failure"
and continues: "Since that time, i'm
Elements of excavation have been
greatly improved. The project still
presents many difficulties, but they
can be overcome, especially with the
government directing the work. 1t Is
to be hoped that it will be carried
through successfully, for the oppor-
tunity to unearth an ancient civiliza-
ton virtually as 1t stood centuries ago
is not to be overlooked" -.
X X X u ri f4asys -
"Herculaneum may bring &more
wonders before us than the tomb of
Tut.ankh- Amen" suggests the Worces-
ter Evening Gazette. ut may bring
us in spirit to where we can really
walk the streets and join in the daily
life of the ancient Romans, meet 10
man citizens in the market place, read
the lost volumes of their libraries and
dine at their homes. There are no
more new continents for a Left or a
Columbus to discover, but through the
door of Herculaneum we may enter
further than we can now go into an
other and as yet imperfectly known
world"
AS a result Of the sporadic work
since the eighteenth century, the
Ruffalo Evening News explains that
.'venturesome tourists now may see,
far underground, the theater OF the
city and some other buildings" The
News believes that with Hercu-
laneum opened to view, Italy will have
an added attraction for tourists, ana
that this is a consideration which
probably was weighed by Premier
Mussolini when the proposal to un.
cover Herculaneum. was put before
him"
The Butte Miner suggests parallel
between the personalities of Musso-
lini Of the present and the traditional
qualities of Hercules, whose name the
city bears, and who, in the highly col
ored narratives of the ancients." stran-
gled the Nemean lion. slaughtered the
Hydra, captured the NEUROLOGICAL boar
and the stag Of golden antlers and
brazen hoofs, destroyed the Stympha-
liam birds, overthrow the Cretan bull,
removed the fiesh-eating Thracian
horses, captured the girdle of the
queen of the Amazons, cleaned the
Augean stables" and gave himself to
other difficult tasks.
While the New York World ex-
presses the opinion that "Mussolini's
motives in connecting his regime with
the gloriss Of imperial Rome are fairly