The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-03-02
The Ancient Grceks.

The furniture of the Greeks, especially
that used in private dwellings, can be
| only known tn Us through the objects
found in graves and pictured representa-.
tions which still exist. they had seats of
various kinds; one like our camp-stool,
which was conveniently carried. Other
seats without backs had four perpendicu-
lar legs, and some were of height to re-
quire footstool for mounting and for
comfort in sitting. Other seats had curv.
ing, comfortable backs: and others still
both backs and arms. These latter were
seats of honor, and in temples the thrones
Of the gods. In public places they were
generally of marble, and in private houses
of wood-being ernamented with sculp-
ture.
The enlargement of the stool-like seat
became the bed, both Of folding and q
permanent shape, and more or less
adorned with carving, turning and inlay
ing. The bedding Of the luxurious Pc
RODS consisted Of mattresses and pillows
Of wool ana feathers, wooden blankets
and sheets of linen.
There were also couches for day-use,
where people could read, write or take
their meals. Tables were small and con-
veniently low, and were, like the beds and
couches, of wood, especially maple, and
OF bronze, Of ivory, and the precious
| metals.
Clothing and ornaments, documents
and any small thing of value were kept in
| drawers and in boxes like chests.
The custom of the Greeks of placing the
utensils of daily life in the graves of their
dead, has preserved to us much beautiful
Grecian pottery. In Greece itself, scier-
fSfsu hon rr%h al IN
| complish much; but in Italy and in Sic.
lily abundant specimens Of pottery have
been obtained, and are still being ex.
humed. From the paintings on these YES
sells we ''raw much of our knowledge of
Greek customs. The more common are
of red clay, painted with figures in black,
and are of varied and often most elegant
shapes. Vessels we're used for b tn dry
and fluid stores, but only the latter are
now found.
There were wine and oil-skins, made OF
the hides of animals; and kitchen utensils
in abundance, such as are familiar to us
from the descriptions of Pompciian exca-
vations. There were large stone tubs for
bathing, and metal vessels supported on a
tripod, under which fire could be built
for heating water.
There were fire basins for heating rooms,
in which were burned dry wood; torches,
supported, sometimes, in the hands of
statues; candelabra, small, cup-shaped
oil lamps with handles; and, for the
street, beside torches, lanterns of horn,
containing lamp with oil. Flame was
produced by the friction OF two pieces OF
wood, and Goals we're carefully preserved
beneath The ashes.
The Greeks possessed numerous and
beautiful vessels Of metal, of glass and
of costly stones, used to hold ointments,
and as drinking vessels, and few of
these still exist. Baskets of plated
rushes were much in use, and were of
every shape.
The ordinary Greek woman was essen
TALLY the housewife, and the mother of the
family; living a secluded, and even a
guarded life, but being absolute mistress
Of her domestic domain. Her labors
were cooking, spinning and weaving
though, in every home, even of moderate
means, the heavy labor was all per-
formed by female slaves, leaving the
ladies of the house much time for en-
broidering, for the bath and for careful
dressing. Their ornaments were many
and elegantly manufactured; and they
had sunshades and hand mirrors, like
any modern beauty.
Swinging was q favOrite amusement
with women, and little girls are said to
have liked, in that innocent day, the
game of jackstOnes, which amuses our
children still.
The Greeks had the beautiful custom of
browning the head with flowers or lie ives
on almost all occasions, grave or gay;
and the flower market at Athens was al
ways supplied with garlands and crowns
of the favorite violet, Of roses, of myrtle,
of ivy, and of silver-poplar; some for the
reveler, some for the victor, and some for
the dead