The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-28
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Modern and Anciep { DIV flszatisn.
II is unuuestionable that, ina host OF things,
we have the advantage of the ancients, contem.
plating them even at their palmiest day. That
We live in the Christian era is OF itself momen-
tons argument on Our ode, never to be forgot
ten. But nevertheless there were very many
points in art, in elegance, and sometimes even IN
science, where they surpassed u.s. 70 -. G.
Il is impossible not to be convinced OF this in
reading that most erudite and entertaining work
inst issued from the Scribner press, entitled
1.-The Old Roman World" by John Lord, L. L.
n. A, the authors title page Informs us, both
the grandeur and the failure of the antique
civilization are portrayed in his book, and while
We are lost in gazing at the splendor OF the one
We CLEAN the most instructive hints from study
ing the causes he assigns for the other Let us
extract paragraph from that portion OF Mr..
Lords valuable book, which possesses peculiar
mercantile and industrial interest while de-
pieting the Roman acme of pomp and power. q,
"If anything more were wanted to give US an
idea of Roman magnifcence, we would turn our
ewes from public monuments, demoraiizing games
and grand professions we would forget the stat
ues in brass and marble which outnumbered the
living inhabitants, 80 numerous that one hum
dred thousand have been recovered and still en-
bellish Italy, and would descend into the lower
sphere of material life-to those things which
attest luxury and taste-tc ornaments, dresses,
sumptuous living and rich furniture The art
of working metals and outing precious 5stopss
surpassed anything known at the present day.
In the decoration of houses, in social entertain
ments in cookery, the Romans were remarkable.
The mosaics, signet rings, canoes, bracelets,
bronzes, chains, vases, ,oouches banqueting ia
bles, chariots, colored glass, gildings, mirrors,
mattresses, cosmetics, perfumes, hair dyes, silk
robes, potteries, all attest great elegance and
beauty. The tables of thuga root and Delian
bronze were as expensive as the sideboards OF
Spanish walnut, SO much admired in the great
exhibition at London. Wood and ivory were
carved as e1quisitely as in Japan and China.
Mirrors were made of polished silver. Glass cut
tiers could initiate the colors Of precious stones
well that the Portland vase from the tomb of
Alexander Severus was long considered genu-
inc sardonyx Brass could be hardened 30 as to
cut stone. The palace Of Nero glittered with
gold and, jewels His beds were silver and his
tables of gold. Tiberius gave q million of ses-
terces for picture for his bed room. A banquet
dish of Drusillns weighed five hundred pounds
of silver. The cups Of Drusus were Of gold.
TUNES were embroidered with the fguers of va
rious animals Sandals were garnished with pre-
cious stones, Paulina wore jewels when she
paid visits, valued at &800,OOO Drinking cups
WeTc cuRTtNeu WIFI hCcucb IrOlu inc pOeUb la.
braries were adorned with busts and presses of
rare woods Sofas were inlaid with tortoise shell
and covered with gorgeous purple. Roman
grandees rode in gilded chariots bathed in mar
bic baths, dined from crystal cups, slept on beds
Of down, reelined on luxurious couches, wore
embroidered robes and were adorned with pref
cious stones. They ransacked the earth and the
seas for rare dishes for their banquets, and orna
nented their houses with carpets from Babylon,
Nyx cups from Bythinia, marble from Numidia,
BONES from Coripth, statues from Athens
Whatever in short was precious or rare or Curl
ouA in the most distant countries. The lux uries
q tae bath almost exceeded belief. and on the
walk were magnificent frescoes and paintings
exhibiting an inexhsustiblec produotiveness ii
landscape and Psychological scAnes, executed il
lively colors
s'but these wers not all The most amazing
N3alth and the loftiest taste went hand in hand
Hill; vsa FUR .osh call ] 'wSsi.s Sle55
~ own. Rich senators, in some cases, were thu
Hbprietors of $4,000 Tslavses +, Their incomet
N,owh To Iv $o,0 00 par d~y when gold and siivse
3Sre w02thdpur tinF spmnfh y they3syY now
IBID the exquisite coloys and designs Of the freq
dnes on the ruined walls Of the baths of Titus
With admiratipps and Michael Angelo found IL
tie rubbish Of the Pantheon, q model for thai
Masterpiece which he suspended In the sky-thb
dome of 81. Peters! Before the day of highesE
Alendor, in the 9th century of the Republict
growth, whom the free State shone brightest, OK.
}mples were presented which are YET We trust
the emulation of our own rising men. Of that
teriod Mr.. Lord thus writes: II
I"Military cheftaips do not transcend their
tnsts; the aristocracy are equally distinguished
tf exploits and virtues; the magistrates main-
tin simplicity Of manners and prdtsct the rixAts
~ citizens are selfsacriGcing aud ever ready 4,
{bey the call to arms laying aside great com
bands and retiring poor 70 pFivste stationSs
Marcus Vslerius Corvus after filing twonty-on
furule Offices, returns to agricultural life Mar.
Pms GURUS Dentatus retains no part Of the rich
tpoils Of the Sadness Fabricss rejects the gold II
the Samnites, and the presents Of Pyrrhus., Th
most trustworthy are elevated to places of digni.
~ and power. Senator's mingle in the ranks 81
81 Cstin.e. *7e.' - -, $50.
Faith is kept with enemies, and Rsgulus return,
Involuntary prisoner, to his deadly foes" i3
Great foreign oonquests, followed by Empirs
md Mxuryt civil contests. kept up BY aspirinS
Femagogues and ambitious rival Generals great
material triumphs, at the cost Of ruined liber-
~, and ovsrtaxed, impoverished masses, LEADING
~ last tow ide-spread corruption and proetrste
morality-such were the elements that wrought
the utter downfall Of that grandest of Repubiics
md mightiest of Empires. N
Who win adopt the inor~l,t--N n JournaS
LA Plea for Mean Men. nv II
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