Scenes in Pompeii.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 February 1885, Page 5

Scenes in Pompeii.

Think of it, indeed ! Who can see Pompeii and say truly what he thinks of it? And who, with any sense in him, can entertain reflection on a matter such as this amid the hubbub of a dinner-parfcy? I wonder how Childe Harold, after rolling forth his rhymes upon "the Niobe of nations," contrived to answer the young ladies who asked what he thought of Italy and Rome I fancy one of my first thoughts, after pass ing through the gateway, was that the museum was betittingly well placed. Being just within the entrance to the city, it forms a sort of prelude to the march one has to make. The sight of thos-e black bodies, of Nature's own embalming, lying there as they lay living, and alive were slowly buried eighteen centuries ago, may set the mind a-thinking ere yet a step is set upon the silent streets. Here they lie, just as they died, uncoffined, and un shrouded, choked suddenly to death. This seems clear from their position ; for the faces are turned downward, and the arms are folded under them, as though to keep a little breathing-space, while the stifling shower of ashes was fast suffocating alt who came within its fatal reach. There aro here seen but two exceptions ; a woman who was found with upturned face, and a dog that was discovered lying on its side with open gaping jaws, and limb;? distorted and convulsed. It a m«n have any heait more human than the one which is contained within a cabbage, he may hardly see un moved such mournful sights as these. Nor can one fail to feel deep interest as one glances at the articles of ancient use or ornament discovered near the bodies which have lately been unearthed. Pots and pars, hammers and nails, needles and pins, scissoi-B and knives, pincers and paws, brushes and combs, bracelets and rings -hero are all the usual goods and chattels of a household, as profuse in their variety as in any common I modern auction catalogue of sale. Here : are instruments of surgery, which show that old practiiionera were skil ed in their profession ; and implements of cookery, of highly appalling structure and mot-t artistic shape. I noticed specially a sieve, or perforated aopper vessel, doubtless used for making forcemeat and other dainty dishes, and I observed that all tho holes wore drilled to form a strictly symmetrical design. In another the pattern of a peacock was displayed, possibly to gratify the taste of some classical aesthete. Indeed, the whole Pompeian household «eemed pervaded by high art, from the frescoes' in the bedrooms to the crockery in the kitchens and the statues in the hall. Nor was «irt adapted only to the uses of the rich. Even the butcher used a steelyard with a handsome head of bronze to serve by wuy of weight, and the vinter poured his wine into a drinking cup adorned with a bas-relief of Bacchus. Verily, there is nothing new under the sun. The bread baked yesterday at Naples is of precisely the same shape a<* the loave3 found at Pompeii, which were put into the oven nearly 2,000 years ago. The coinage of that period differs little from our own, except that it surpass ours in quality of workmanship. A gaming tablo was furnished with a pair of dico, and a lady's toilette table with a mirror and a rjuge-pot. Small hoys scribbled on the walls, and played with balls, and knuckle-bones, and whipping tops, and marbles in the streets of old Pompeii, as they do in modern Paris. Naples, London, or Berlin. The printing press had not then been invented, it is true, and newspapers were wanting for thepurpose ofadveitisement Butelectorswereappeuled to very much as they are now, as is proved by many mural inscriptions in the next place. By these, they were adjured to "Vote for Blobbius, the True Friend of the People," or to go and hear Bugginsius, the famous platform orator, who was noted for his pluck in pitching into the patricians, as speakers may be nowadays who abuse the Uou«e of Lords. Excepting books and newspapers, who«e presence some may fancy a not wholly unmixed blessing, there are traces at Pompeii of ail sorts of London shop things, and ways and means of living. Theie even are the pass checks which were current at the theatre, where the people were assembl. d at the time of the eiuption, and the figs and other fruit which 'vere prepared for their refreshment upon that fatal afternoon. One other exception, however, must be made Among the myriad of articles preserved in tho museum, I vainly strained mv eyes to see a classic corks-crew. But a moment's thought explained the absence of this interesting instrument. There were no cork* u-ed when Horace, that delightful diner out. begged his host to let him taste that famous four year old Falernian, the savour of which still sweetly lingered in his memory, whilo to keep the wintry cold out, a few more logs were heaped upon the hospitable hearth.— [From "A Last Day ot Pompeii," in "All the Year Round" for October.]