Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-04-20
Beauty among the Ancients.


| ------.
Beauty among the Ancients.
Among the novel thoughts which we
meet IN Miss Brcmcr's last volumes for
the first time, the following is curious,
and will somewhat surprise those who
have exalted notions of Grecian and
Roman beauty:
"Thc idea of beauty was high among
the Greeks and Romans; but their ac-
tual humanity, at least what we see of
it, as represented in their historical
characters, is far below the idea, and
even below the standard Of beauty
which is general among us at the pres
cnt day. The heroes OF antiquity, the
wise men and cmpcrors, are most fire.
qucntly very ugly men, often extreme
y rcpulsivc. The women, the Julias,
Faustnas. &C., are, with few exceptions,
in the highest degree of an ordinary
character, from simple beauty to pure
uylincss. Among the wise men of the
Greek, Plato is the only one who has
IL noble head, Il fine forehead; among
the warriors, Alcibiades-but even this
head is deficient in the higher noblcr
character; among the rulers, Alexander
the Great. Among the Romans, the
eye rests gladly on the handsome and
mild conntcnancc of Augustus, and
that of Antonius Plus might belong to
Il noble Christian ascrtic; in the features
of Marcus Aurclius we observe calm
beauty, but the forehead is broad rath-
cr than lofty, and the expression lacks
depth and elevation. These, and two
other great men among the Romans,
are exceptions in the multitude of heads
of cmpcrors and military commanders,
many of which arc actually caricatures
of humanity, although evidently excel
lent portraits. Such arc Marius, Sylla,
Claudias, Caracalla, &c. From all this
it is clear to me that the human race,
ut least the Christian portion of it, has
not, since that time, dctcrioratcd; but,
on the contrary. considerably increased
in the beauty of harmonious structure
of the human frame. The form of the
head has especially undergone a change;
for, in the people of antiquity, the fore
head and upper portion of the head
was low, in particular among the Ko-
mans, with whom the head has Il square
build, broad rather than high. Among
the modern cultivated nations. the arch
of the skull is considerably higher, so
likewise the forehead; tho opening Of
the eye is also larger, and the counten-
ancc has Il beautiful rounding, and
lovcicr proportions, especially among
the women.
GIBRALrAR.-A British soldier now
stationed in the world-rcnowncd for
trcss of Gibraltar, thus writes to friends
in Buffalo, y. ", where he formerly
resided:
For months I have scarcely seen any
thing but death, cotlins and graves.
Considering my position in life, | am
literally in cavern of death, rather
than British garrisoncd tower.
Gibraltar has rather II promising as
poet, with its gray, majestic rocks tow
cring high above the elements of the
Mediterranean. Within these solid
rocks arc cut vast galleries, whose re-
ccsscs arc stored with implements of war
and Observation-Disclosures and ramparts
whose SUBMITS arc crowned with innu-
merablc guns and mountains of shells,
sufficient to sweep thousand battle
ships beneath its surrounding waters.
Notwithstanding the stern appearance
of this place, it is not without its beau
ties. There are large gardens always
in full bloom, with fine climate, clear
skies, splendid scenery, and views over
sea- and land-thc Mediterranean roll
ing in the distance, and perpetual
summer; all things are lit up in II
brig ght halo of light and beauty. But
ut this time, all these beauties arc wear
ing an aspect of fading day and dying
glory. Life, human lite, is cbbing fast
flowers are fading beneath the chill
ling sway of death.
1t is now nearly two years since our
regiment came here; then we were very
strong, but are now considerably re-
duced in numbers. You will no doubt
think it strange, when I tell you there
is some hidden mystery that binds me
to America.
BE- When you kiss willy and beau-
<sf,l oocuo<to VAn SS,,,,t an onomV f0