The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-05-21

broken fragments still retain the rich
|coloring and the delicate designs that
satisfied the taste Of the Roman own
ers. Grouped along the narrow streets
that ran from the Thames to the varl-
GUS gateways, the homes OF the Latin
race probably surpassed in elegance
and grace the ruder, though more ex-
tensiye palaces that were built for Tu-
ldors and Plantagcnets. They were
provided with baths and heating-rooms,
were covered with tiled roofs, and were
evidently furnished with all the luxu-
rious comfort of Pompeiian dwelling.
Great numbers of vases OF red Samlan
ware have been discovered that must
have been imported from the factories
| Of Eturia. and glass jars Of graceful
| forms enameled, and colored with the
richest hues. The ruder kinds OF earth
Ienware were manufactured in large
quantities in Britain. The houses were
decorated with costly bronzes and count
less statues. A profusion OF domestic
utensils, of knives, spoons and scls-
sors, weights and measures-the com.
mon conveniences of the kitchen and
the laundry-indicate the usual habits
Of civilization. And it is not difficult
to conceive that the homes of the Ro-
man provincial nobility, from the age
of Hadrian to the victorious rule OF
Theodosius, grew in splendor along the
narrow streets within the Roman walls,
that London had its Forum lined with
Corinthian or Doric columns, its fair
temples to Juno and 10 Jupitir, to Yes.
ia and Minerva, and that it presented
to the Briton and Saxon an example OF
Southern civilization whose image could
never lave been wholly lost.
The Roman city evidently extended
on both sides of the river. Beyond the
walls remains of villas and country
houses have been found that show an
extensive suburb. Long lines Of tombs
radiatcd on all sides, and have covered
portions of the environs with the SOL
emn traces of an Appian Way. 1t is
evident that the capital was constantly
charging; that trade and manufac-
lures gave it at last sure supremacy
over York or Colchester, its early RI
walls; that it became the seat of the
mint and the place of government;
that it probably shared in the liberaliiy
of Hadrian and the favors Of Constan-
tine the Great. Large numbers OF
coins and money of different ages have
been found in its sandy basin, armor
and implements Of war, and huge
bronze head of Hadrian that may have
crowned votive statue to the popular
decorator Of the provincial cities.
OF The graceful people who trod the
we'll paved trects aud filled the Lon
don Forum some suggestive traces yet
remain. One Of the most touching is
that Of the bones of woman's arm
cncircled by seven rich bracelets. An
other, woman's skeleton laden with
ornaments of gold and gems. Both
may have persisted unnoticed when the
fierce Saxons burnt into the city, or in
some mad scene of sack and carnage
A great variety Of rings and bracelets,
of turquoise and garnets, of carriage
and breastpins, clasps and armle.s
wrought with great taste, and proving
the skill of the London jewelers., are
found in the collections, and countless
works of art that mark the extrava-
gancc Of high civilization. Several
sandals for women, OF small size and
delicate form, show that small feet
were priced by the Roman fair; nor is
it likely that the beauty of the provin-
cial ladies' was passed by the modern
throng that drive over their ashes
through Rotten Rowe. In Britain, too,
the Romans had diffused their schools
and colleges, their literature as well as
their more perishable arts. Large
numbers Of styli for writing have been
discovered, and fragments Of inkstands
The shops of the London Sosias may
have been found not far from st. Paul's
Churchyard, and the new poems of
Horace and Virgil, Martial and Tibul-
lus, were perhaps transcribed and read
by an eager public where now the
idyls of Tennyson and the graceful
strains of Longfellow delight their
countless readers. Livy probably taught
the intelligent citizens the conception
of republican virtue with more than
Macaulav's vivid pictorial skill ar Tao