MUCH AS TO-DAY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 558, 12 April 1913, Page 6

MUCH AS TO-DAY.

The investigations which Professor Antonio Soghano, who occupies the Chair of Pompeian Archaeology at the University of Naples, has made recently amid the ruins of longburied Pompeii have disclosed the existence in of a social and political atmosphere in the old Roman pleasure city very much akin to that which exists in modern times. Pompeii was overwelmed on the ev<3 of an election. The campaign was in full swing, and fortunately for the archaeoloigsts the "publicity methods" of the Roman politicians were placed on record in a permanent and imperishable form. Newspapers and printing not having been invented the candidates' advertisements were inscribed on the walls of public buildings by the sculotors, the walls being first neatly whitewashed.. There are evidences that it was all part of the game to obliterate a candidate's notices and place another candidate's claims to support upon the space thus made available. There are proofs in the Pompeii inscriptions, which have been carefully revealed, layer by layer, that women took a very active part in municipal politics. They even marched in the streets, foreshadowing the suffragette processions of to-day. The arts, crafts and industries were wellorganised in guilds and corporations, and espoused the cause of certain candidates with great vigour and bitterness. Pompeii numbered amongst its citizens many accomplished artists, and some of the more recently discovered mural painting? are of great beauty. Bit either he artists were irreligious or the priests were grudging patrons, for according to Professor Soghano "while on secular subjects the most insignificant mural painting is always a work of art, mediocrity of technique and execution is a characteristic of most of the religious pictures found in' this buried Roman "town." The professor hopes to make many further interesting and valuable discoveries, and in order that the work of excavation may be carried on with proper deliberation he has induced the Italian Government to surround the scene of his labours with a cordon of sentinels.