The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-25
MnrnlileenOe Of Ancient Rome.

The following vi'id pen.picture is
from The Old Roman World, " by John
Ford: II anything more were wanted
10 give us an idea Of Roman mAgnih-
cence, We would turn our eyes from pub
lie monuments, demoraliEing games and
grand processions; We would forget the
statues in brass aud marble which out
numbered the living inhabitants, 30
numerous that one hundred thousand
have been recovered and still em0ellish
Italy, and would descend into the lower
sphere Of material life-to those things
which attest luxury and tAste-t0 orna-
ments, dresses, sumptuous living and
rich furniture. The art of working
metals and cutting precious stones sur
passed anything known at the present
day. In the decoration Of houses, III
social entertainments, in crockery, the
Romans were remarkable. The mOsaics,
signet rings, canoes, bracelets, 6T1nZes,
chains, vases, cOnehes, banqueting ta-
bles, ehariots, oolored glass, gildini,
mirrors, mattresses, cosmetics, perfumes,
hair dyes, silk robes, lotteries, all at
test great elegance and beauty. The
tables Of thugA root and Deiian bronze
we're AS expensive as the sidebdards Of
Spanish walnut, 80 much admired in re-
cent great exhibitions. Wood and ivory
were carved AS eIquisitely as in japan
ani China. Mirrors we're made Of pol
ished silver. Glass cutters could imi.
tate the cOlors Of precious stones 80 well
that the Portland vase from the tomb Of
Alexander Severus was long considered
geuine Sardony1. Brass could be
hardened no as 20 cut stone. The pal
ace OF Nero glittered with gold and jew
els. His beds were of silver and his
tables Of gold. Iiberius gave q million
Of sesterces for picture for his bed
room. A banquet diEh Of Druslllus
weighted five hundred pounds Of silver.
The cups Of Drusus we're Of gold Tun-
les were embroidered with the figures Of
nished with precious stones. PaulinA
wore jewels, when she paid visits, val
ued at $500. 900. Drinking cups were
engraved with scenes from the poets.
Libraries were adorned with busts and
presses Of rare woods. Sofas were in
laid with tortoise shell and coyered.with
gorgeous purple. The Roman grandees
rode IN gilded chAriols, bAthed IN mar
ble baths, dined from crystal cups, slept
on beds Of down, reclined on luxurious
couches, wore embroidered robes and
were adorned with precious stones.
They rAnsacked the earth and the seas
for rare dishes for their hanquets, and or
namented their houses with carpets
from Babylon, onyx cups from Bythinia,
marble from Sumidia, bronEes from
Corinth, statues from Athens-whAtever,
in short, was precious or rare or curious
in the most distant countries. The lux
uries Of the bath almost exceed belief,
and on the walls were magnificent fres-
Goes and painting, exhibiting an ineI-
haustible produciiyeness IN landscape
and NEUROLOGICAL scenes. executed. IN
lively colors.
But these were not all The most
amazing wealth and the loftiest taste
went hand in hand. There were "citi-
zen mobiles who ownel whole provinces;
even Paula could call a whole city her
own. Rich senators, in some cases, were
proprietors Of 200, 900 slaves. Their H.
comes were known 90 be- SC, 900 per day
when gold and silver were worth four
times aa much AZ they are now.