Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-03
BELLIES OF ANCIENT DAYS,
Whas Was Worn 6v Women During tbs
Last C@ntnrr.

" 2Nx " as WoTR OH Women H9tT100 ms
Last CentMrr.
Undoubtedly there is much idle talk
about the wonderful eztrayagance of ladies
Of the present day, their pursuit of con-
stantly changing styles, and the luxuries
demanded by those who can. or think they
can afford the expense. One would be led
to suppose, in the absence of knowledge to
the contrary, that these were things of
modern growth. But jast look at the
"style" they used to put on in early ages,
and their enormous extravaganza:
We are told that the ladies of Lesbos
slept on roses whose perfume had been ar
officially heightened. And in those times
court maidsus powdered their hair with
gold.
Marc Antony's daughter did not change
her dress half dozen times day, as do
the Saratoga graces, but she made the
lampreys in her fish pond wear ear rings.
The dresses of Lolita Paulina, the rival
of Aggripina, were valued at $2,664,4S0.
This did not include her jewels. She wore
at one supper 81 Sc, 500 worth of jewels,
and it was plain citizens supper. The
luxury of Poppaa, beloved by Nero, was
equal to that of Lolita.
The women of the Roman empire in
obliged in all sorts of luxuries and excuses,
and these were revived under Napoleon
the First in France. Nine. Tallien bathed
herself in a wash Of strawberries and rasp-
berries and had herself rubbed down with
sponges dipped in milk and perfumes.
Ovid says that in his days girls were
taught to smile gracefully.
The beauties of ancient times were just
as vain as modern bellies, and spent the
greater part of the day at their toilet. The
use OF cosmetics was universal amongst
them. Aspasia and Cleopatra, (models of
female beauty, it is said), both used an
| abundance of paint and each wrote a treat
| ise on cosmetics. Cleopatra used bears
grease to keep her hair from falling out,
| Roman ladies were so careful Of their COM
| plexions that to protect them they wore
masks. The Athenian women of antiquity
! were very studiouS of their attitudes and
| actions, and thought hurried and sudden
| step sign of rusticity.
We have certain styles of beauty nova
days; so had the Greeks. They went wild
over the Ideal chin" neither sharp nor
blunt, but gently undulating in its outline,
ana losing itself gradually and almost in
senSib!y IN the fullness of the neck. The
union of the two eyebrows was esteemed by
the Romans as beauty. 1t is said they
admired the air of dignity it gives to the
face.
| An Albanian belle of to-day presents a
rather striking appearance. She is, as
rule, coifed with seed pearls and coins, and
enveioped IN black serge pelisse. She
uses paint on her face profusely, and her
taste runs to cherry lips and cheeks and
Jet black eyebrows strongly drawn. An
l Albanian belle discards paint fer while
and II wealthy, wears suit something like
this: Rose colored under robes, with an
over robe of dark green velvet, the idea
being taken from rose bud opened in its
leaves. Thus arrayed, the girl Of hand
some features is said to look really be-
witching.
| The Tarta-s despise prominent nasal ap-
pendages, and the woman who has the
smallest nose is esteemed the most charm
ing, but to outside barbarians she is a per-
feet fright.
The women of Spit, in India, wear tu-
mics, and trousers of wooden stuff, with
large boots partly Of leather, partly of
blanket, which come up to the knee and
which they are fond of taking off at any
time. In order to get greater warmth they
often put quantity of -four into these boots
beside their legs. Their taste in regard to
ornaments runs much to all sorts of rings,
including nose rings.
A typical woman in the interior of At
RIGA is thus described: 'Her naked negro
skin was leathery, coarse and wrinkled;
her figure was lettering and knock-kneed
her thin hair hung in greasy locks; on her
wrists and ankles she had almost an arse
nal of metal links Of iron, brass and cop
per strong enough to bind prisoner IL
his cell. About her neck she wore chains
of iron, strips Of leather, strings of wooden
balls and heaven knows what lumber
more"