Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-11-30
On the Antiquity and use OF Beds

ages, io' WdnAihu W sieep upon eklNS VI oodStS.
|, was originally The custom of the Greeks and
Romans. Ii was particularly the custom of the
ancien, Billions before the Roman invasion; and
these skins were spread on; the floor Of their
apartments. Afterwards they were changed
for loose rushes and heather, as the Welsh a
few years ago lay on the former, and the High
landers Of Scotland sleep on the latter to this
present moment. In process of time the Ro-
maus suggested TO the interior Britons the use,
and the introduction of agriculture supplied
Them with the means, of the nealer convenen.
CIV of straw beds. The beds of the Roman gen.
try al this period were generally filled with
feathers, and those of the inn with sof, down
of reeds. But for many ages the beds Of the
Italians had been constantly composed of straw;
II sill formed those of the soldiers and officers
at the conquest of Lancashire aud from both
our couutfyIneh learnt their use. But i, appears
10 have been taken up only by the gentlemen,
as the common Welsh had their beds .hinly
stuffed with roshes as late as the conclusion of
The twelfth century; and with The gentlemen il,
continued many ages aflerward. Straw was
used even in the royal chambers of England as
late as The close of The thirteenth. Most Of the
peasants about Manch lie on chaf at pres
en,, as do likewise the common people all over
ScotIand; in the Highlands, heath also is very
generally used as bedding even by The gentry;
and The repose on heath bed has been cele-
braed by travellers as peculiar luxury. supe-
rior to that yielded by down; in France and
Italy straw beds remain general TO this day
But after the above period, beds were no Ion
ger suffered TO rest upon the ground. The bet
ter mode that had ancien,ly prevailed in The
east, and long before been introduced Into Italy
was adopted 10 Brian, and they were now
mounted on pedeslals. This, however was
equally confined TO the gentlemen. The. bed
suII continued on the floor among the common
people. :. And the gross custom tia, had pre-
vailed from the beginning was retained by the
lower Bri,ons TO ,he last. aud these ground
bed. were laid along the wall of their houses,
aud formed one common dormitory for all the
members of the family. The fashion continued
universally among the inferior ranks of the
Welsh within these four or FIVE ages, and with
the more uncivilized part of The Highlanders
down 10 our own times. And even al no great
distance from Manchester. in the neghboring
Buxon. and within these fifty OF seventy years,
the persons that repaired TO the bath are all
said 10 have slept in one long chamber together;
the upper part being alolted TO the ladies, and
the lower 10 The gentlemen, and only parll-
TONED from each other by curtain. ;,
The dining or dlscubilory beds. on which The
ancIrn,s lay al meals. were four or five feet
high Three of lhese beds were ordinarily
bo, III
br aud The room where they cal were called
tnclinIum, in such manner that one of the
sides OF the table remained open and acccssi.
Bile TO the walters Each bed would hold three
or four, rarely five, persons. These beds were
unknown before the second Punc war the
Romans. ill then, set down i0 eat on plain
wooden benches, in imitation of the heroes ot
Homer, or. as Varro expresses il, afer the
manner of the Lacedermonians and Cretans.--
SclpIO Africanus first made an innovation. He
had brought from Carthage .ome of these little
beds called punlcani, OF archaci being of a
wood common enough. very low, stuffed only
with straw or hay, and covered with goa, OF
sheepskins. bedinis strait. ln reality. there
was no grea, difference, as 10 delcacy, between
these new beds ard the ancient benches; but
the custom OF frequent baihIng, which began
then TO obtain, by sofening and relaxing the
body, put men on trying TO rest themselves
more commodiously by lying along than by SIT
ting down. For the ladies il did not seem a,
first consisen, with their modss,y TO adop. The
mode of lying; accordingly they kept 10 the
old custom all the time of The commonwealth
but, from the frs, Cesars, they ca. on their
beds. For The youth, who had not We, pu, on
The ioga vriIi.. they were long KEEP, 10 the an
cient discipline. When they were admitted TO
table they only sa, on the edge Of the beds OF
their nearest relations. Never, says Sue,onius
did The young Caesars, Caius and Lucius, eat
at the table of Augustus but they were sci
IN imo loco or. as Taci,us expresses j., ad lect'
fulcrd. From the greatest simplicity, the Ro-
mans by degrees carried their dining beds 10
The most surprising magnifcence. PIlny as
sures US i. was 40 new thing to see them coy
cred over with plates Of silver, adorned with
the sofes, mates and The riches. coon,espanes.
Lampridus, speaking Of Heliogabulus. says he
had beds of solid siIver---solida argento habait
lectos and tr,elniares, and cubiculare. We
may add that Pompey. in his third triumph,
brought ia beds of gold The Romans had also
beds whereon they studied. and beds. wheteon
- ~ ,ha fsuayai nifa