Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-03
s ssE vol. 10, NO. 20.
Ancient Rome.

I ~NSNA iHtAtftN "a i+StctNi II lthtalCSs
when We read teral enumeration
Of the splendors which crowned An
cient Rome.
II anything more were wanted &c
give US an idea Of Roman magnifi-
cence, We would turn our eyes from
public monuments, demorahzing
games and grand professions: we
would forget the statues in brass and
marble, which outuumbered The liv-
ing inhabitants, 80 numerous the
one hundred thousand have been T :
covered and still embellish Italy, and
would descend into the lower sphere
OF material life-to those things
which attest luxury and taste-to
ornaments, dresses. samptuous liy-
ing and rich furniture. The art of
using metals and cutting precious
stones surpasses anything known nj
the present day. In the decoration
Of houses, in social entertainments, ia
cookery the Romans were remarka>
bic. The mosaics, signet rings, cam
cos, bracelets, bronzes, chains, vases,
couches, banqueting tables, lamps,
chariots, colored glass gildings, mir
fOrs, mattresses, cosmetics, perfumes,
hair dyes, silk robes, potteries, all at
test great elegance and beauty. The
tables ofthuga root and Delian bronze
were as expensive rs the side boards
OF Spanish walnut 50 much admired
in the great exhibition ut London.
Wood and ivory were carved rs eX~
quisitely as in. Japan aud China
Mirrors were made Of polished silver
Glass cutters could initiate oolors Of
precious stones 50 we'll that the Port
land vace, Fl lie tomb Of Alex
andor Severus, was long considered
as genuine sardoniX. Brass could
be hardened so as TO cut stone The
palace Of Nero glittcred with gold
and Jewels Perfumes and flowers
were showercd from ivory ceilings
The halls OF Heliogabalus were hung
with cloth ofgold, enriched with Jew
els. His beds were silver and his
tables Of gold Tiborius gave midi
ion Of sesterces fer a picture for his
bed room. A banquet dish of Daesil.
lus weighed five hundred pounds of
silver. The cups u Drusus wcre of
gold TUNES were embroidered
with the figures otvarious animals
Sandals were garnished with pre-
cious stones. Paulina wore jewels,
when she paid visits valued at $780,
600 DrinSing>cups were engraved
with scenes from the poets. Libra
ries were adorned with busts and
presses of rare woods. Sofas were
inlaid with tortoise shell and covered
with gorgeous purple. The Roman
grandees rode in gilded chariots,
bathed in marble baths, dined from
golden plate, drank from crystal
cups, slept on bed Of down, reelined
on luxurious oouohes, wore embroi-
dcred robes, and were adorned with
precious stones. They ransacked the
earth aud the seas for rare dishes for
their banquets, and oramented their
houses with carpets from Babylon,
onyx cups from Bythinia, marbles
from Numidia, bronzes from Corinth,
statues from Athens-whatever, in
short, was precious or rare or curious
in the most distant countries. The
luXuries OF the bath almost exceed
belief, and on the walls were magnifi
cent frescocs and paintings, exhibit
ing an iuexhaustiblo productivenoss
IN landscape and neurological scenes.
nea- Senator Sherman is at work on
d financial measure, but il is not per-
fected, and he also desires 60 delay till
the information contained in the an
nual reports is before Congress lie
recommends that, instead OF passing
o single resolution taking away thc
authorityssto contract from the Score,
tary, it would be better for the Ways
and Means Committee Of the House
aud Finance Committee q the Senate
20 call jointly on Mr. McCulloch and
request HIM to give public notice that
be will make no further contraction
until Congress can mature q cons
plet3 set Of financial measures. To
this request he seems to think the
Secretary would accedc. It's also
known that Mr.. McCulloch is very
anxious that Congress shall take no
action until his own reports, togoth
er with those Of Messrs. Rollins and
Wells, are before them. He will pre-
set his own views in an argument Of
considerable length, and whatever
course Congress may adopt, he deems
it important that action should be
bad upon the financial question q a
whole, and not consist ola series Of
patchwork.