The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-11

attHntlOnR
the operations Of the former would become
more numerous and complicated. In many
cases, these would have for their object in
crease of the personal attractions, as well as
mere comfort and cleanliness. In this way,
in all probability, gradually arose the first
cosmetic processes properly SO called. In
some form or other they appear to have been
practised among all nations whose minor
archaeology has descended to modern times.
... THE JEWS
appear to have been early characterized by a
prediction for snowy dress, for cosmetics
jewery, and perfumes, and for the care which
they bestowed on various operations of the
toilet, particularly those connected with the
hair. According to Moses, the art of work
ing IN silver, gold, and precious stones very
early reached state of considerable facility
and excellence, as these substances were then
commonly manufactured into ornaments to
decorate the person. Abraham, we are told
was very rich in cattle, in silver and in
gold" so much so, indeed, that he paid "four
hundred shekels of silver, current money!"
for ''burying-place' for his family. The
description given us of his chief man-servant
presenting "a golden earring of half shekel
weight, and two bracelets for the hand, of ten
shekels weight of gold," to the beautiful
Rebekah, as she tripped with her pitcher from
the fountain, may serve to illustrate the
| usages, tastes, and progress of this period; as
may also the text which relates to the same
| Servant subsequently drought forth Jewels
of silver, and Jewels of gold, and raiment.
and gave them to Rebekah;' and "gave also
| to her brother and to her mother precious
| things"
When the Israelites begged Aaron to make
! them ''gods" which should ''go before them"
he replied Break off the golden earrings
which are i'll the ears of your wives, of your
sons, and ofyour daughters, and bring them
! unto me-"
The magnifcence and luxury of the reign
| of Solomon were so remarkable that they have
| since formed the burden of a proverb. Per-
fumes and spices, always highly priced and
| expensive articles among the Jews, came into
almost general use during his reign. ''Oint
ment (pommGde) and perfume rejoice the
| heart, =" he sung while, in another passage
he informs us that ''myrrh, aloes, and CHINA.
mon" were used as scents by the courtesans
| of his day. These substances are also men
toned by the Psalmist-"All thy garments
smell of myrrh, and aloes and cassa." The
singular fate of Absalom, another son of
David, was occasioned, according to popular
belief, by the tineness and extreme luxuri-
| ance of his hair.
The transit of another century in the his
tory of the Israehtes places before us dis
tinct notice of the use of skin cosmetics. We
are told that the ''proud Jezebel," when pre-
pairing to meet King Jehu, painted her facet
Gin the original, put her eyes in painting }
and 'tired her head"
Many other notions of an equally singular
character are to be found in the books of the
| Old Testament.
In later periods of the history of the Jews,
as may be cleaned from both sacred and pro.
fame writer's, the prediction for dress and
jewelry and the arts of the toilet continued
uhabated, and surviving the vicissitudes OF
time aud change, continues still to charac
terize this strange and scattered race. .
THE EGYPTIANS.
The researches of Champollion, Lepsius,
Layard, and Others in Egypt and Assyria
and the discovery of the key to the mystical
inscriptions found on the wonderful remains
of these mighty empires, have added a new
era to the page of history.
On examining the vast mausoleums and the
other remains of ancient Egypt, the mind il
almost paralyzed with wonder at the immense
progress which all the arts of life and civil
zation had made in the Abrahamic age
OF the world. These tOmbs are real museum
e of antiquity-utensils, toilet-tables, ink
= stands, pens, books, the incense-bearer, an,
= smellng-bottle are found among them. TIL
0 scenes sculptured and painted on the temple
+ or in the sepulchres furnish every detail con
+ nected with the social life of this ancien
K people
> Inc luxury vi lAe Egyptldn court ana peO
g pie knew no bounds; and the magnifcence an
!, costliness of their dress, and the elaboratenes
Il OF their toilet were only equalled by their ow
= peculiar mode of sepulture. 1t is asserted tina
= the expense OF the embalming and burial of
r single member of her vast community was, i
It many cases, equal to modern fortune; yt
e the practice of mummfcation was preserve
t in Egypt for upwards of thousand years
II Some of the most beautiful designs on Ou
X shawls, dresses, and other textile fabrics, an
r on our pottery-the very character, figure
and applications of numerous articles of ou
Is toilet and domestic use--were common anon
Q, the Egyptians prior to the age of Abraham
ID The wedding ring is of Egyptian origin anc
T. through the ancient Jews, has descended
4 modern times. There is strong reason fC
5, supposing that even the daguerreotype, PHI
Is known to the Egyptian hierarchy; while
ID means of rapid transit, resembling the moder
re railway, was undoubtedly used by the san
Or body in their long subterranean passages an
es galleries.
In The date at which the warm bath was fir
ry | known, and its progress, among the ear
Id | Egyptians, are now matters of conectur
From an incident related in the sacred tex
it has been inferred by some persons thu
1d neither public nor private baths existed
al | Egypt until after the birth of Moses, since v
~ are told that "the daughter of Pharaoh, wit
$. her maidens, came down to the river side
sp | wash herself (properly, "lave her person,
il | /. e., bathe); but to draw such an inferen
d. from this passage appears absurd
er Such was Egypt under many successi'
nd dynasties and vicissitudes, extending over
- nariod nj upVardg Of two t,Oucoyd ,yaorr