The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-25
Our 0ha.
PERFUMES.

The history of perfamery is the history
of the yoluptuousness and extravaganza Of
former ages. Their use is, however, so
ancient that any attempt to trace them to
their origin as a distinct branch Of manu-
facture, or a separate item Of civilization,
must fall
3 They were probably used first in relig-
ious worship, and were brought for this
purpose from Persia or countries still fur
ther East In the history of Egypt we
have the first authentic notice Of them.
The caravans to which Joseph was sold
were engaged in the perfumery trade, and
were carrying into Egypt the spices and
perfumes used not in the worship of the
gods only, but also in the embalming of
the dead Nor was this the only use to
which the children of the Nile put the
fragrance Of the East, the Egyptian women
carried about their person small bags con-
tanning sweet smelling gums, and also wore
beads made from scented woods. Sir John
Bowring says that in the jars found near
the Pyramids few years ago there were
perfumes and cosmetics made probably
nearly four thousand years ago
In the religious ceremonies of the He
brews, perfumes held u very high place of
honor. There was always a special altar
for the burning Of incense, and nearly the
whole Both chapter Of Exodus is taken up
with directions about the various perfumes
and gums to be used in the service Of the
temple. The holy amounting oil was per-
fumed with cassia cinnamon, and sweet
calamus, and it was unlawful to use this
perfume for any private or personal pur-
pose.
1t was while standing in his ministry at
the altar Of incense that Zacharias received
the promise of John the Baptist's birth,
and both at the birth, during the ministry,
aud In the burial Of the Saviour, perfumes
play very prominent and remarkable
part.
Consecrated anew to burial purposes, by
their use in the sepulchre Of Christ, they
were used in this case to great extent by
the early Christian church, The Litany
was always chanted with incense, and St
Paulinus, writer Of the fifth century says
that the wax tapers were made to "shed
fragrance as well as light"
Until very recently ii was customary for
the rcigning monarch of England to offer
spices on the altar on Twelfth Day. Lat
terly, however, the ceremony has been done
BY proxy. All over the world, however,
the Roman Catholics preserve the conse-
Grated use of perfumes. They use them
in all solemn litanies, and in the burial Of
dignitaries Of the church
From the Egyptians the Greek learned
the use ofperfumery. Homer only alludes
twice to Il, but Solon, in his code of laws
forbids the Athenians to use them. His
Introduction did not last long, for Apollo
MUS wrote on this subject very interest
ing treatise, He says that the great per
fumers procured the best iris from Els
and Cyzicus, the best roses from Naples
and Capua, and the best crocuses from
Soil and Rhodes ,
The passion Of the Athenians for the
violet is wen known, and such was The
abundance Of this exquisite flower id The
neighborbood, that they may be bought IN
the market place Of Athens as freely to
day, as they were 1000 years ago; while
at Paesturn,
~ ssfRe iris Sweet, with yiolets running Wild
Midbrakes sepulchres, and fallen capitals.
Anacreon's poems arefall Of illusions tt
Greek perfamery, and there was a common
Athcnian proverb which ran thus "A
cook from Ellis, wine from Rhines, tapestry
from Corinth, perfumery from Athens"
The Romans carried the use Of perfumes
to excess. Every part efi the body had IL
peculiar perfume Musk for tho arms
palm oil for the jaws and breast, narjcfsnn
forthe eyebrows and hair, ground ivy for The