Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-02-16
Pictures ofeAncIent Hatrayagance.

'|''F EHf1 n lfhhA vi IVUJU tAblFF,
TO which all the citizens of Rome were
unfortunately invited. Cp.ar. 10 cele.
brate the funeral OF Il daughter, gave
one OF 1000 tables, with accom- nloda.
ton for three guests Of each. This en-.
tertatnment WAS repeated and exceeded
for his triumph. lie brought together
more gladators aud wild beasts thaH
were produced on any former occasion
IN AN amphitheatre, but his exhibitions
OF this kind were so completely outshone
that II were a waste of time TO dwell
upon them. In a document annexed
TO his testament, Augustus states as a
a title to public gratitude that he had
exhibited 5000 gladiatora and brought
more than $500 wild beasts TO be killed
in the circus. In the course Of the fes.
tiyities Instituted 10y Titus TO celebrate
the opening Of the Colosseum, 5000
wild beasts were let loose and killed by
Rladiators. The Emperor Probus col
lrcted for single show 100 lions, 100
lioncsses, 100 Llbyan and 100 Syrian leop.
ards, 300 bears aud COO gladiators. Hav-
ing caused the circus to be planted with
trees TO resemble iorest. he Jet loose
100 q ostrlches, J 900 stags. 1000 does
and 1000 bears, 10 be hunted by the
populace, who were to keep whatever
they could catch or kill. The ferccr
animals were encountered by the gladi.
htors. 1t does not appear how long this
show lasted.
Iiuerius, whose life at Capri va. "A
drgrace TO human nature, iondcr Of
saving money than OF spending II, left
an lmmense sum in the treasury, which
hls successor, Cnligula, managed to dis.
-paie in two years by e1tTAyagance Of
the most sensclcrs kind. Asli IN rIyal.
~ OF Cleopatra, he swallowed precious
stones Dissolved IN vinegar, and caused
his guests to be helped to gold (which
they carried away instead OF bread and
meat. orc Of his iayorIte amu,cmcnts
"'s showing money among the popu.
lace from the BasIl!i !ica Of julius Cm.ar.
H." tuiIt Falleys of cedar. covered with
jewellery. and large enough to contain
vines and fruit trees, And had canals
cut for them along tie coast The sta
bic Of he fayorile horse, which be talked
OF naming Consul. war of marble. the
trough OF ivory, the harness Of purple
aud the collar OF pearls. The set OF
"m"falds and pearls worn by one OF his
"Ne.. Lolita PAul,ua, was valued at
tiJDpUJ sterling.
The principal eGtravagance Of Claui..
Us was ia the public games. One Of the
shows organized for him was naval
combat on a lake. IN which the galleys
were manned 10y 1900 men lie Was
fond OF good cheer, aud was IN the hab.
It OF inviting himself 10 the tables OF the
rich. II" came on one oCcasIun with
bpi peTsous 10 hls train.
I' was TO Nero that Taciius applied
o." eSItcssIon w-rr8. .tfiBu rg1aar.
What lac not only desired bot achieved
~ the way Of cruelty and vice would be
declared incredible if Roman history
had not already shown what revolving
airOcIle, may be conceived hy a di.cAs
"d imagination sud executed ly ire
sponsibic power. After burning the
city he gratlied his taste. IN entire dls
regard oi the proprietors, ia rebuilding
~. lie at once appropriated a number
ol the sites and large portion OF the
public grounds for hIsnew palace. The
poriIcos, with their ranks OF columns.
were mile long. The vesiibuls wa
large enough TO contain the colossal
-'a'ur Of hIm ia silver aud gold. l2O feet
high, from which the Colosseum got It,
names. ! he interior VS. gIIded through.
out and adorned with ivory and moth.
er oipesrl. The ceilings oi the dining
rooms we're formed Of movable tables OF
ivory, which shcd flowers and per!umcs
on the company the principal saloon
had dome which. turning day and
night initiated the movements Of the
terrestrial bodies. When this place was
finished he exclaimed AT las, ! atm
lodged like man" lis diadem wAs
valued at bali a million. HIS dresses.
which be never wore twice. were suT
with mbroiiery and gold. He fshed
with purple lines and hooks Of gold.
lie never travelled with less than a
thousand carriages. The mules we're
shod with silver. and the. muleteers
clothed with the finest wool and the at
tendants wore bracelets aud necklaces
OF gold. Five hundred she asses fol.
lowed bis wife Popim in her progresses,
TO supply milk for her bath. lie was
fond OF figuring ia the circus as a char
oteer and IN the theatre as a singer and
actor.
lie prided himself on being an artist,
and when his possible deposition was
hinted TO him he said that an artist
could never be in want. There was not
avIce to which he was not given, nor a
crime which he did not commit. Yet
the world. exclaims Suetonius, endured
this monster for fourteen years aud he
was popular with the multitude, who
were dszzlcd by his magnifcence and
mistook his senseless profusion for lib.
erality. On the anniversary of bis death,
during many years, they crowded TO GOV.
er his tomb with flowers.
The utmost excess in gluttony was
reached by Vitellus, who gave feasts at
which 1000 fishes and Z. 900 birds were
served up. lie prided himself on his
culinary genius, and laid every quarter
of the empire under contribution to
supply materials for dish. which con.
tanned livers of mullet, brains Of pheas.
ants and peacocks, tongues OF Hamin.
goes, roe OF lampreys, etc. Tacitus states
that he spent what would be tanta-