The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-11-14
The Old ana New.

What is Stewart, or Belmont, or the
MARQUIS Of Westnlinsters to Ptoieny
Philadelphus, OF Egypt who amassed
little property of $3.50, 600, ,000? And
which of our extrayagant Young la
dies in these beasted times ever gave
her lover as Cleopatra did, pearl dis
solved in Vinegar Cor undissolyed)
worth 100000. Then there was Pau
lima, one of the ton in Rome, who u.s.
ed to wear jewels when she returned
her visits worth $4,000. Well, they
boast of Mr.. Stewards marble pal
ace" on Thirty-fourth st. and Fifth
avenue. We do not suppose this
house, which is about the best they
have in New York, cost more than
half a million of dollars. Cicero, who
was a poor man, gave $l5Q 900 for his
house, and Clodius paid $3.50, 1000 for
his establishments on the palatine,
While Massala gave $2,000,000 for his
house at Antium. Seneca, who was
just plain philosopher, like Mr..
Greeley, was worth $l20,00Q 600.
Why they talk about a mans tall
ing in New York for million as it. it
entered any of6ce-when he was q
young gentleman in private life-ow-
ed Sl4, ,000, ,0O0, and he purchased the
friendship OF Qu@sor for $4,000, 900.
Mark Antony owed 81, 400, 900 on the
Ides of March, and he paid it before
the Kalends, of March. This was
nothing ;he squandered$ 720, ,000, 900 OF
che public myney % Major Hodges de-
talcation being. for the contemplating
sum of q$470, 900. And these fellows
lived we'll Esopus, who was o play
actor, paid $400, ,O00jf for p single dish.
Caligula spent $400000ioh a supper.
Their. wines were often kept for two
ages, and some ofthem sold for 500
an ounce. Dishes wereimade of gold
and silver, set with precious stones.
The beds of Heliogabnlus were of SOL
id silver, his tables and plates were Of
pure gold, and his mattresses, covered
with carpets9 of cloth, of gold, were
stuffed with down from under the
wing of the partridge. IT, took $780,
600 a year to keep Plthe dignity OF a,
Roman Senator, and some, cof them
spent 81 .000,O coo a. year. Cicero and
Pompey tsdropped inp one day on Lu
cullus--nobodyr at home but the fami-
ly77and that family dinner cost $4,000
But we talk ofpopulatiop. We boast
of London and New York. Rome
had population of between three and
four, millions.I The wooden theater
of Scarrurus contained, $4,000 seats !;
the Coliseum, built of stOnes,Would,
seat 22,O00 more. The circus lnaximus
(think of it,, old John Robinson y
would hold $50. 600 spectators. There
were in the city 5000, public baths,
those of lDiocletian, alone accommoda-
ting 1900, bathers. Even in the SIXTH
after, Rome had, been sacked
and plundered by the Goths and Van
dals, Zacharia, q traveller asserts that
there were 3S4 spacious streets. 80 gol
den statues fthe gods, 49, ,097 palaces,
1902 fountains, 1876 bronze statues
of the, Emperors and Generals, %
great horses in bronze, colossi, 2 spi-
raj columns, 81 theaters, IL amphithe-
atres, 9,026 baths, $500 shops of per-
fumes, 2,09l prisons. AS a set-off to
Mr., lSpragpe's "monumental tomb
stone," we may merely mention the
mansoleum of Augustus, in the north
ern part of the Campus, Martius, con-
sistipg efsa large atumulus of earth
raised on q lofty basement OF white
marble, and covered on the summit
with evergreens, as in the manner OF
a hanging garden, and the whole sur
mounted by bronze figure of Au-
gustus. At the entrance were two |
obelisks, fifty feet high, and
all around was an extensive grove, di-
Vided into walks and terraces,