The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-09
ANCIENT BEDS AND BEDDING.

The ancient Egyptians had bedsteads
and mattresses, or spring-beds wove Of
bmboo or plam- 1.-The Egyp-
tian bedstead,' says a learned writer,
although there seems to have been con-
siderable diversity in the shape of the
canopy and the means by which it was
decked with hangings, and, although it
sometimes resembled tour poster was
generally similar in form to our couch.
1t manifested considerable amount Of
taste. One end was raised, and receded
in graceful curve; the legs were some
times straight, sometimes curved, and
the feet were often fashioned to resemble
the claws OF animals. The fittings tor
the dav seem to have been different from
those used at night. in the daytime
there were spread over with coverings,
on the gorgeous decorations of which
those who were able were lavish in ex-
penditure; they then answered much the
same purpose as our sofa. Thus we are
told that, when the murderers, bent on
their deadly work, went to Ishbosheth,
the son OF Saul, they found him lying on
his bed. When, too, the deputa ion
waited on David to thank him for confer
ring his crown on Solomon, he must have
been reclining on his bed, tor it is said
that. in token OF his pleasure, he raised
himself thereupon. 1t is also related of
Jacob that '.he laid himself on the head
of his bed"
The prophet, Amos, speaking Of the
lie upon beds of ivory. and stretch them
selves upon their touches, and eat the
lambs ont of the flock. and the calves out
OF the midst of the STALL and in pro-
verbs. the poet declares: Il have deck
ed my bed with tapestry, with carved
works, with fine linen Of Egypt. In
the palace of King Ahasuerus, 1.-The
beds were made of gold and silver, upon
a pavement OF red, and blue. and white,
and black marble =. and the rooms in
which they were placed. had ''hangings,
fastened with cords of fine linen and pur
pie, to silver rings and pillars of mar
Bile.
The ancient Greeks had an elegant
kind of beds in the form of open touches,
which rested on 4 framework with posts.
and were furnished with mattresses.
stuffed with wool or feathers. and with
with coverings OF q various nature. In
wealthy|houses those beds were composed
OF the most costly materials. The frame
work gave oppurtinity for the display OF
gold. silver. amber, carving, and rich
inlay and vencering with the precious
metals and ivory The touches of the
Romans were of the same magnificent
character. There wasthe lectus triclinar.
IS, or couch for reclining at meals, and
! the istus cubiculaiaris. or bed, for sleep
ing in during the night. The beds OF
the commonalty were placed on wooden
| frames. bottomed with planks or leath-
ern thongs. In some instances, the
romans used canopies over their beds to
protect the faces of the sleepcrs from
dust
| Tht Anglo-Saxons had straw beds
pillow coverings. and curtains. The
bedsteads were wooden boxes, with post:
to support a canopy. The peasantry
made their beds Of sack OF straw. And
it they had bedsteads, these were rude
boxes of wood, with an inclined frame
to support pillow. Some of the min
iatures embellishing old manuscripts, If
lord hints Of the styles of pens in fashion
in the early centuries of English history
In the Norman period there was mot mncl
/ improvement in bed-gear. There j