The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-07-12
THE OLD AND NEW.

What is Stewart, or Belmont, or the
Marquis Of Westminster, to Ptolemy Phil
delphus, of Egypt, who amassed little
property of $780, 600? And which of
our extravaganza young ladies in these boast
ed times ever gave to her lover, as Cleopa-
ira did, a pearl dissolved in vinegar Tor
undissolved) worth $500, 1000? Then there
was Paulina, one of the ton of Rome, who
used to wear jewels when she returned her
visits worth 100000. Well, they boast of
Mr.. Stewards "marble palace" on Thirty
fourth street and Fifth Avenue. We do
not suppose this house, which is about the
best they have in New York, cost more
than half million dollars. Cicero, who
was poor man, gave $155, 900 for his house
and Clodius paid $3.50, 900 for his estab-
lishment on the Palatine, while Massala
gave 81, 900, 002 for the house at Antium.
Seneca, who was just plain philosopher
like Mr.. Greeley, was worth $3.50, 000 900.
They talk about mans failing in New
York for million as if it was big thing.
Caesar before he entered any ofice-when
he was a young gentleman in private life
owed $14,0Oo,0Oo and he purchased the
friendship of Questor for So, 500, 000.-
Mark Anthony owed 81, 400, 900 on the Ides
of March, and he paid it before the Kalsnds
of March. This was nothing; he squand-
cred $720, 10000 of the public money
Maj. Hodges defalcation being for the con-
temptible sum of $40, 900. All these fell
lows lived we'll. Esopus who was play
actor, paid $780, 900 for supper. Their
wines were often kept for two ages, and
some of them sold for $50 per ounce
Dishes were made of gold and silver, set
with precious stones. The beds of Hello
gabalus were of solid silver, his tables and
plates were of pure gold, were stuffed
with down from under the wings of par
tridges. 1t took $4,000 year. Cicero
and Pompey dropped in" one day on
Lucullus-noboddy at home but the family
and that family dinner cost 1000. But
we talk of population. We boast of Lon
don and New York. Rome had popula-
ton of between three and four Millions
The wooden theatre of Scarurus contained
80, 900 seats; the Coliseum, built of stone,
would seat q, 900 more. The circus maxi
mus think of it, old John RobinsenD would
hold 1856, 060 spectators. There we're in the
city 5000 public baths, those of Diecletian
alone accommodating 5000 bathers. Even
in the sixth century, after Rome had been
sacked and plundered by the Goths and
Vandals, Zacharia, traveller, asserts that
there were 1874 spacious streets, so golden
statutes of the gods, 46,097 palaces, 1909
fountains, 3,7S5 bronze statutes of the
emperors and generals % great horses in
bronze, 2 colossi, 2 spiral columns, 81 the
aires, II amphitheaters, 9,O26 baths, 1000
shops of perfumes, 2,091 prisons. AS
set off to Mr.. Sprague's monumental
tombstone" we may merely mention the
mausoleum of Augustus, in the northern
part of the Campus Martius, consisting Of
large tumulus of earth raised on a lofty
basement of white marble, and covered on
the summit with evergreens, as in the man.
ner of hanging garden, and the whole
surmounted by bronze figure of Angus
tus. At the entrance were two Egyptian
obelisks, fifty feet high, and all around was
an extensive grove, divided into walks and
terraces.