Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-06
Tbe Totret Table.

/ From the jewish Messengcr'l
We very often complain about our in
creasing luxury. We are amazed at the
sight Of all possible inventions ana I'M
po,tations to satisfy the claims OF vanity,
ostentation, or under whatever name
snch pretensions are made. We are very
often inclined to laud the past and re-
commend its example for imitation by
he present age; but il we submit the
toilet tables of the ancient Egyptian and
Hebrew ladies TO closer examination
we will become more indulgentat the
foibles of our fair sex Of the present day.
The museums of London, Paris and
Rerlin unfold before our eyes beautiful
concentration of life on the Nile four
thousand years ago. They bring us into
the midst of boudoir of an Egyptian
lady of high position. Before investl-
eating the toilet table our eye will adj
mire the splendid painting which covers
the walls. A nuphal procession passes
by. Inadvertently, our whole attention
is fixed at the wonderful expression OF
the facts. We soon observe that the
eyes are not only too large, but alscthat
the outlines are too thick, too weil-de-
fined. These eyes are-painted The
toilet table betrays the tubular box,
filled with greasy powder. This pow
der is still in use, that black paint,
used especially to color the eye
brows, snlphuric antimony stibium.
The young lady, into whose boudoir we
have intruded, seizes a circular metallic
mirror of polished bottles, among the
rest a finch-greenish one, of genuine
Chinese porcelain, and paints her hands
red with henna; which is alcanna used
at present with petroleum benzine for
the fabrication of a red color. The
genuine henna comes from shrub to be
found in Africa and Southern Asa,
whose leaves give forth a yellow powder
The genuine henna is also used for
shrinking the hair. The toilet is at last
by a wig, which distinctly proves
that hair dressing dates back to the year
1000 before Christ. The head is then
covered by peculiar network. Micro
investigations of the mummies
have shown that the SyndonbySSos men
toned by Herodotus was very hne
tissue, hardly differing from our modern
shifting.
Less pageantry than in the boudoir of
the Egyptian lady do we meet IN the
toilet chamber of the Hebrew lady,
less profusion of colors. Brown cedar
covers the walls, but they are decorated
in gold, silver and bronze. Rose colored
and yellow silk predominates. Upon a
chair, upheld by lions, sits the Jewess,
surrounded bv an enormous quantity OF
perfumes. We understand that the fra
of Arabia had to be imported in
great bulk to the capital of Solomon:
What abundance of boxes, vases and
bottlesl But the Hebrews had no combs,
while the Egyptians were provided with |
them. We do not find combs men
toned in any part Of the Hebrew htera-
ture In its place they used dry tntt
Of grass-the hySsopus OffcindleS. This
was used by the Hebrews for all pur-
poses of publication.
To mention some more of the require
ments of the Hebrew ladies toilet, we
wodld speak OF the neat cases filed with
dry henna leaves, and will remark that
lunches of henna blossoms, on account
Of their beauty of form and their scent,
we're worn on the breast (Solomon's
Songs, j. l3). Henna as paint was
used to cover the hair. The Al-hinna of
he Arabs was nothing else than the
caves Of henna. Besides the henna, we
also meet with the stiJium (Ezekel,
xiii; 4O-4l; 2 Kings, tx. 30; Jer. w. 3O),
nothing less than anthony, which had
TO travel great distance to Palestine.
We do not find with the Hebrews paints
proper in white or red Among the bot
lies used we find them in silver, gold and
bronco mostly, however, of alabaster,
and considered the best material for the
of oils, and of onyx, by
which kind Of marble is understood,
now used in Italy for the SAME purpose.
Ia these bottles they preserved spike
lard, which was highly esteemed (Solo-
mons Songs, l. II; iv. IL, l4). Spike
nard is not from Nardus stricta, or from
any other kind of grass, but from vale
Ran, whose native country was Ophir
East Indies). 1t grows on the noun
aims of Nepal as a perennial plant.
The root gives the spikenard the finest
aroma. 1t is used as an additament to
vine. A bottle of this oil is valued at
fifty dollars.