The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-11
TOILET OF ALL NATIONS.
THE aRBcIANs.

the more elegant ana uSetul matters connected
with the arts of dress and the toilet. The
imaginary food and drink of the gods, which
were supposed to contribute TO their immor-
tality, and TO possess the power of imparting
youth, beauty, and vigor TO the body, and OF
keeping the mind in a state of continued
health and activity, were fgurative allusions
TO the benign influences which diet and drink
may be made to exercise on the human frame.
Like many other fables in the beautiful
mythology of the Greeks, this conveys a
lesson under the fascinating form of allegory,
which, in a different garb, would have been
less likely to be needed by the people for
whom it was intended. As early as the time
of Hippocrate we find that the "barbers"
had acquired position of considerable I'M
portance. Besides plying that portion of their
trade which may be strictly called their own,
they also performed several of the minor Ope-
rations OF surgery, as was the usage with
many succeeding nations until comparatively
recent period.
The Greeks. in the time of Homer, were ac-
0uainted with the use of warm baths, for men
ton is made of them in several passages OF
his immortal epics and more particularly IN
those in which he depicts the delicious life
led in the palace of Alcinous, and where he
relates the reception given to Ulysses by Gree
The Lacedamonians or Spartans were the lrst
who adopted the custom, borrowed from the
Asiatic nations, of appearing naked at the
siANAAAoNh'N9
and covering themselves with sand, prior to
the contest, and then plunging into hot baths.
The Lacedamonians were also the only people
among the Greeks whose gymnasla and baths
were common to both sexes With the
Greeks, unlike the Romans, the gymnasia
occupied almost the entire structure, the por-
ton devoted to the bath being of very limited
dimensions. twas not, however, until after
the time of Hippocrates, that the employment
of baths in private families became general;
for we find that the unfrequency of their eX-
istence prevented this ancient physician, justly
termed 'the father of medicine" from recon-
mending their use in many diseases which
called for their adoption.
THE ROMANS.
The rude and warlille habits of the Romans
during the first two centuries of their exist
ence, engaged as they continually were IN
scenes of blood and conquest allowed very
little time for the cultivation of the arts of
civilization and luxury. After the downfall
of the monarchy and during the purer days of
the republic a nearly similar Indifference to
dress and personal decoration continued; but
as the luxury and wealth of the patricians and
citizens increased, they successfully adopted
the habits and customs of their more refined
and voluptuous neighbors. According to
Varro, it was not until the fifth century from
the foundation of the city that these arts
began to be cultivated and practised as a sepa-
rate calling,
The first "barbers" were brought from Sicily
toRome by one Tcinius Mena, B. G. 3O3. II
the course of few years they had so multi
piled that the city was full OF them, Theil
shops (toRStr,hg), like those of many of tnt
fashionable drapers, jewellers, and tobacconist
in London and Paris, and the BARRIERS shop
of our small country towns and villages, sool
became the common resort OF loungers anC
idlers ofevery description, until at length they
served to furnish proverbs expressing noto
riety. There the gossiping and inquisive pOr
tiOn of the community sought for fashionable
news and information respecting affairs o
state there the reports Of the nights brou
and the last intrigue, found ready tongues t,
disseminate them, with all their attendan
ISLANDERS, to the remOtest corners of the city
there the afluent and the indolent consumed
their time in courtly chit-chat and there, too
the less opulent and the industrial classes me
for recreation, and discussed current politics
when the hours of toll and business were over
Even the poorer citizens, according to Horace
sought refuge from their ennui by making
round of the BARRIERS shops:-
Balnea, tonsores." .
The barber himself furnished an excellen
substitute for the modern newspaper. IL
was, indeed, walking gazette or periodical
of which the last number was always recent
and ready spread for perusal-an ever bus
reporter, who, guiltless Of short hand note
or letter-press, contented himself with thos
simpler media of receiving and conveying in
fOrmation-the tongue, eyes, and ears. TIL
shop of the higher class of these tradesme
formed good apology for the modern club
room; that of the humber professor for th
tavern or beer-house. Hence, the "tonstrin;e
constituted an important element in the socii
condition and progress of the Roman people
The attention of the Roman barber was tirs
and principally directed to the hair, in whic
department of the toilet he is said to hav
excelled, to a degree that might Justly eXcit
the envy of the modern 'driSte" in his lin
After the hair, the beard received the imm,
diate exercise Of his skill, and here he VIZ
equally at home, shaving it or trimming
with great eXpertness and taste. He ne.
operated on the hands, and trimmed an
polished the nails, at the same time removiu
any callosities that had formed on the palm
or Joints. Other like trihes which are no
commonly performed by each individual Il
himself were also attended to by the Roma
barber.
The taste of the Roman people, includl
even the poorer citizens, appears to have be-
as great in matters connected with the toll
as it was in sculpture, Oratory, and theat
Gals. AS much ridicule was excited by pC
son who was negligent in this respect, as
one who had committed himself in some me
important particular. The man whose II
was dressed or cut untastefully subjected hi
self to general remark, and his untortunj
Udlet became the object Of opprobnum VIII
ever he was alluded to. A "bunglng barb5
could scarcely ply his trade with profit in
Roman capital or in any of the larger prov