Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-29
Historical Erract-and .abbrcat;ou.

Historical ETfract-and Publication.
The Roman Republicans were plain men and
women, accustomed to daily labor, and quite un
accustomed to finery of apparel, or luxury of
living; Roman, of even noble blood, TILED his
little held With his own hands and was proud of
tilling it with superior industry and skill whilst
ms lady, II lady she might be called, made it her
chief ambition to be an excellent house wife =
Whiie TINS state of things lasted, and very long
time IL did last, the Romans were eager enough
TO get themselves wives. They married general.
iy, and they married young; for they thought.
and well they might, that who so found wife,
found good thing--a real help-mate, as well as
a dear and faithful companion. And what is sin.
guiarly remarkable, if true, it is recorded by :,
Roman historian, that there had not been known,
IN the CITY OF Rome, single instance of divorce
ment during the whole space of 500 wears tho
the law had put it in the power of the husband
to repudiale his wife almost at pleasure
Unfortunately for the Roman republic, and
more especially for the female part oft, prea,
and splendid event quiie changed the moral
the taste, the habits, and the whole ofthe countr,
One hundred and ninety years before tn
Christian era, the Romans for the first time. en-.
Tered INTO Asa with an army, which under Sci
pio, defeated and cnnG'is ed Antochus he C,reo.
King of Syria, and from thence thew broncht
home sucn a taste for the luxuries of the Eas,
as promoted and FASTENED the ruin of the,g
commonwealth and IN no way more directly
than by practical forbddance of MARRIAGE.
Inc Roman woman once so plain, frugal and
industrious, became enamoured of the costI,,
finery that was brought from the East One OF
them named Lullia Paulina, when dressed in ALI
her jewels, IS said to have worn to the value of
three hundred and thirty.two thousand pounds.
sterling. And though this was the most extra.
ordinary instance ofthe kind, vet il is reasonable
TO suppose that, of the rest of the ladies'. every
one strove to get as near to the top of the
fashion as she could and that, with all the f.
males who thought any thing of themselves. the
rage was to be fine and fashionable.
This new order of things, while it precipitated
the republic into the abyss of ruin, brought mar
rlage almost into disuse; nsomuch that Aupus.
tus, the first Roman Emperor, finding among the
men general dissemination to marry, was in
duced TO pass severe penal laws, to force tb. mas
it were into the bonds of matrimoay. -Rut -
was all to little purr ose. Despot and tyrant as
he was, he found it impossible to compel the
bachelors to marry, as Peter the first, long since
did, to compel the Russians to shave of their
boards.
Was it owing to the RIGHTEOUSNESS ofthemen ?
Considerably so it was, no doubt but not altope.
Their. 1t was partly owing TO their prudence A
Roman bachelor naturally enough would com.
mune with himself thus these extravaoant
tiirts, of whose attire single article costs more
than one OF them would earn in her whole life.
time, are fit only for show. / like mighty well
to be in their company at routs and assemblies .
but the Gods save me from an union with anv of
them If marry, unless she bring me fortune
with her, she will quickly devour mine. Where
fore, will look out for one only, in spite of the
edicts Of the Emperor"
Consider, ye AMERICAN FAIR, that, in all times
and countries the like causes will produce the
like efiects.-[ Best. En- Gaz.
THE SEASON.
We copy the following from the Boston Daiig
AdverRser. In estimating the data thug nro.o..