THE POMPEIL OF TO-DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2466, 2 December 1886, Page 2

THE POMPEIL OF TO-DAY.

It flcemi odd to ipeak of a dead city as a growing ono. But that is exaotly the case with Pompeii. There are many cities in Italy that do' not grow half as fast as the ono buried by the ashei of Vesuvius 1800 yean ago, A person visiting it at intervals of a year notices a marked enlargement of its boundaries. The Italians, you know, arethooharapion diggers. They make the shovel fly when they attack the grave at Pompall. We saw a gang of them at work thin, A Government ovorseer watohea them like a hawk. He wanted to be sure that they pocketed no jowellety, coins, or objoota of art or utility yielded by the oxoavations, The only produce of their toil in that line as we stood by was a pioco of iron whioh the guide called a hinge, and the. fragment of a small marolo column. The spades busily plied wore gradually bringing to slight a beautiful house. The floors were Mosiao, with simple but: graceful designs in scroll pattoru—nearly as fresh in colour as if laid yesterday The walls bore froscoes of deeper tintsgrinning masks, fawns, oupids, birds, fish, and fruits, It had evidently been the home of a well-to-do citizen of Pompeii. Tho nervous movements of the, ■ workmen betrayed their anxiety. ' They' were hoping at every moment to make a valuable find. Porhapa they might hit upon a great iron chest, studded with round knobs like & boiler, full of gold, money, or ornaments, or thoy might striko another wonder in marble or bronze, or they might be startled by oomin? suddenly upon a skull or othor human remains, In tho latter event the work is suspended till a careful inspection ii made. The responsible and intelligent person in ohsrge proceeds to ascertain if the dead Pompeiian had left a mould of himself or herself in the plastio ashes, If so, he prepares a mixture of plaster of Pads, breaks a hole in the crust, and ilowfy poura in the liquid till the mould is fall When it has been hardoned the casting is tenderly removed. Lo I There is a, rough image, showing some poor creature in the agonies of doath, prom on the floor, face downwards, Thus, most usually were the iuhabitants of the doomed city caught by the destroying angel. The skull, or leg, or arm, or whatever other part of the skeleton has not relapsednnto its original dust, may attach itself to the plaster oast in the proper place, or may 'require to be joined'on by'a pardonable" restoration, I .' In either cast the effect is thrilling in its horrible jealtyy, . ■•. ', :.