Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-06

THE OLD AND THE NEw.-W hat is Stew
art, or Belmont, or the marquis of West
minister, to Ptoemy Phlladelphus, of
Egypt, who amassed little property of
$3.50, OO0, 900? And which of our extrava-
giant young ladies in these boosted times
ever gave her lever, as Cleopatra did, n
pearl dissolved in vinegar Tor undiSSolvedl,
worth 100000? Then there was Paulina,
one of the ton in Rome, who used to wear
jewels, when she returned her visits, worth
$500, 900. Well, they boast of Mr.. Stewards
"marble palace on thirly-iourth sireetand
Fifth avenue. We do not suppose this
house, which is about the best they have in
New York, cost more than half a million
dollars. Cicero, who was poor man, gave
Sl50,000 for his house, and Clodius paid
s650,000 for his establishment on the Pala-
tine, while Massala gave $4,000, 600 for the
house at Antium. Seneca, who was just a
plain philosopher like Mr.. Greeley, was
worth $3.50, 600, 900. Tiberius left property
of nearly sl2O, 100000 Why, they talk
about "A mans falling in New York for a
million, as II ii was "A big thing Caesar,
before he entered any oilice-when he was
young gentleman in private liie-owed
Jl4, OO0, 600, and he purchased the friend
ship of Quesor for 81, $780, 900. Mark Anto-
mp owed 81, 100000 ON the Ides OF March,
and he paid IL before the kaends OF March.
This was nothing; he squandered S72O, OOO,-
900 of the public money-Major Hodges
defalcation being for the contemplate sum
of $4,000. And these fellows lived well.
Esopus, who was play actor, paid $780,
600 Tor "A single DISH Caligula spent $780,
900 ON supper. Their wines were often
kept Tor two ages, and some oil them were
sold for go an ounce. Dishes were made
of gold and silver set with precious stones.
The beds of Heliogabaus were of solid sill
| yer, his table and plates were of pure gold,
| aud his mattresses, covered with carpets OF
| cloth of gold, wero stuffed with down from
under the wing Of the partridge. 1t took
SSO,OOO year to keep up the dignity of "A
| Roman senator, aud some of them spent
Sl,OOO,OOO year. Cicero and Pompey
dropped in" one day on Lucallus--nobody
| at home but the iamily-and that family
dinner cost $4,000. But we talk of popula-
| ton. We boast Of London and New York
| Rome had population OF between three
and four millions. The wooden theatre OF
| Scarurus contained $4,000 seats; The coils
| cum, built of stone, would seat -, 900 more.
| The circus maNimuS (thiuk of il, old John
RobinsonO would hold $4,000 spectators.
| There were in the city 5000 public baths,
| those Of DiOeletian alone accommodating,
5000 bathers. Even in the sixth century
after Rome had been sacked aud pluudered
| by the GOths aud Vandals, Zachariah, Il
| traveller, asserts that there were ISL spacious
streets, so golden statues of the gods, ID, 007
palaces, 1862 fountains, 37S5 bronze stat
ues of the emperors and generals, y great
| horses in bronze, two culossi, two spiral
columns, 81 theatres, IL amphitheatres,
9O26 baths, $500 shops of perfumes, 200l
| prisons. As set-oh TO MIR. Sprague'
monumental tombstone" we may mere
ly mention the mausoleum of Augustus
in the northern part OF the Campus Marti-
us, consisting of large tumulus OF earth
raised on lofty basement of white marble
and covered on the summit with ever
greens, as in the manner OF "A hanging gar
den, the whole surmounted by a bronze
figure of Augustus. At the entrance were
two Egyptian obelisks, iiny feet high, and
all around was an extensive grove, divided
into walks and terraces. - Richmond En-,
| lMlrer.