Evening star., 1934-12-16

"Tyche" or Fortune" OF Sabratha claspfng
hands with the goddess Roma in the presence
Of Roman legionnaires. The scene represents
peace pact between the mighty Italian capital
and the African city. Its significance of friend
ship is perhaps even keener today than wheRz
the relief was sculptured. Today it occupies o
place Of honor in the governor generals palace.
Setting this before his audience with the
fullest detail, Prof. Scott emphasized the prac-
tical values archaeology has had more than once
in italian history, citing the dramatic moment,
when, 'in the darkest depths of the Middle
Ages, Cola di Rienzo for a breathless moment
resuscitated the HfeleSs corpse Of Rome with
his magic appeal to the glorious past of the city
on the Tiber' through revealing to the people
the ancient bronze tablet inscribed with the
Lex Imperio VeSpaSano. He showed his audi
ence that the power to appoint emperors had
rested with the Senate and the Roman people
Then archaeology had a ringing message, and
today 1t brings again the same challenge" with
the monuments and other evidences of Rome's
African past as inspiration and stimulus to Q
revived Italy in the guiding of the new Italian
State. 1t is fortunate that in Gen. Balbo the
Duce has lieutenant who is most enthusiast
tic Latinist, a firm believer in the destiny OF
modern Rome and man of boundleSs enthusi-
asms who is administering his tremendous
province in spirit of liberalism which accords
the scientist place of high honor For Balbo
has made an astonishing practical use of the
treasures the archeologistS have found.
The palace of the governor general of Trip
olitania and Cyrenaica, the sprawling, irregular
fortress castle Of ancient times guarding the
city of Tripoli juts boldly out into the clear
emerald Of the sea. 1t could hardly be bettered
as an epitome of both the purpose and the
execution of Balbo's remarkable plan The
palace is familiar to every schoolboy because
of the depredations of the Barbary corsairs
who were severely mauled in 1915 by an Amer
ican squadron which blockaded the pirate den.
The city of Trpoli, perhaps the most pic
turesque and attractive on the whole north
African Coast, lies between the vast orange
hued sand dunes All along the water front
wave the ostrich-feather plumes of tufted
palms beneath which bloom incredible banks
of brilliant flowers. AS setting for the official
headquarters of the new government, nothing
could be loveler. Under the Roman eagles of
1000 years ago, Libya was a rich land Of
waving grain fields fat vineyards and vast
olive groves. Mussolini saw that what had
been could again be, and he ordered modern
science and art to perform the miracle Of
the transformation.
IA WASHINGTON knows the dashing young
w Balbo well, remembering his tremendous
feat of flying here from Italy, so it was highly
intriguing to the very people who had well
coined his literal eagles of the air, to learn
that he has again scared high, and with equal
success in an entirely different medium: The
realm of practical craftsmanship. One of his
first tasks in adapting the old castle to the
purposes of an up-to-date administrative office.
was to make adroit use of the ancient works
of art throughout the province as a series Of
symbolic links connecting ancient Roman rule
in Libya with the modern Fascist domination.
Thus the castle has been completely trans
formed and is today a museum of priceless
relics of the past, well the focus of tAak
Continued on Fourteenth Page