Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-03-23

As We snuggle between the sheets and
lay our heads en- soft pillow some cold
winters hight, it sometimes reems ~ il
nothing but luxurious couch Of this sort
ou'd be worth calling bed. Yet . large
part OF the world enjoy no such arrange
ment for sleeping, aud could not enjoy il
II they had 1t. Our own ANCESTOR repOsed
IN much loss luxurious fashion. In eastern
countries people commonly spraad net on
the nat roof Of their house, and make that
their bed: In Russia the top Of the stove
u tho bedatead- In both oases the Sleep
ers do not undress themselves.
In ancient Egypt-as still in China and
Sapsn-Wooden pillows were in vogue, hol.
lowed out to ut the shape OF tho head. But
| tho anclent Egyptians, while on account OF
the heat and vermin, they preferred hard
pillows, are said to have cOueideretl thar
comfort At night in the invention OF spring
mattresses. They were made of sliDs NJ
bamboo crossed over each other, and must
nave been - cool. II not quits ~ soft and
yielding, ~ tho webbing OF twins stretched
over frame, on which the natives OF Indis
resk
The Israelitss used sheep and goat akin,
stuffed for pillows, and In early times tbe
same for bedding, but their bedsteais. At Z
later period, 1t least, must have been very
costly. Tho prophet Amos speaks Of couch
81 Of ivory.
Among the Assyrians. and Afterwards
among the Romans, oouches OF gold and
silver were possessed by tho rich. The
reason for this spaendor was partly that the
peas were not kept In separate rooms, but
IN the sAAe roon occupied by day, and were
oaea Tor sitang on and reclining on at
meAle. At Roman feAsts the guests ali re-
clined, and sometimes each person sccupie.i
. separate couch.
Our An8lo-HAxon ancestors were not ~
81 renned in their sleeping Arrangements.
rneir beds consisted OF wooden boxes.
niiod with bag Of straw. In an old IL
,ustrsted manuscript there Ii picture OF y
KING going to bed. He has q crown on his
mead q very uncomfortable night-can hut
has no night-drees.
Aing Henry VIII, Of England, 10 ssfJ 10
nave slept upon straw bed, while his ser
wants IAy upon rushes strewn on tl,a floor
OF the royal kitchen. Tho kings bed vss
not what we would call luxurious but 10
much ceremony WAS used in going to It
that seven Chamberlain we're employed in
undressing tho royal parsonage, turning
Gown the bedclothes, etc., etc. Ono indjs.
pensable practice was to thrust q sword in
70 the straw to see that no person was CON-
ceAled In 1t.
vuon ieAtnofpa44 came into use in Eng
iand they were regarded - articles of great
valae' AND y ssesns comioal to IN t0 find
tnem 10 often mentioned in Wills. The
person to whom . featherbed was be-.
queathed did not usually receive anything
else his comfort BY night was provided
Tor. If not his welfare by day.
IL may b mentioned in conclusion viii,
Deds, that . strange superstition was once
common In the south Of England, in : be-
Aef thae person cannot die while lying on,
pigeon feathers. A dying person has often
neeh removed from . feather bed to tho
osIe moor, under the notion that the death
struggle was prolonged, owing to the pres-
ence in the bed Of Z pigeon feather. In,
ENGLAND 1t is still customary to surround
tho bed with curtAina. Americans baya
ADOPTED the more sensible French fashion
o. allowing free circulation OF air sbopk
tho sleeper.-Bahin,ors SUNDAY Ieleoras..