The Worthington advance., 1882-09-07
C,lriOsities Of Luxury.

THE Roman fortunes" says the Quar-
terly Review, in an interesting article
on Luxury, "would not be thought ex-
traordinary ut London, Paris or New
York" But the methods by which
some of those old Romans made for.
tunes would be thought extraordinary,
even by modern ':Tweed ring"
A patrician demagogue, knowing that
popularity led to power, and power to
wealth, began by spending l. fortune.
tic borrowed from whoever would lend,
or ran in debt to all whom he could per-
smde to trust him. .-
Cesar owed one million five hundred
thousand dollars before he filled any
public Office. Cicero borrowed 50 much
money that his debts frightened him
II would be willing to couspire, if any
one would accept me-" he wrote to
friend. One Of his modern defenders
argues that he did not owe more than q
Roman Of rank ought to owe.
liza Roman gained popularity so as to
be appointed pro-consu( off conquered
kingdom, then he began to "realize."
His opportunities were good. and he
made instant use of them. One Roman
consul made display Of honesty by
despatching an enormous sum of gold
and silver with nn escort. Then ho
caused the :cort to he murdered, and
the money found its way into his strong
box
Tho rich Roman knew that to save
lived on his capital. "Ah, woe is mew
exclaimed q citizen, as he saw his name
posted among the list of the prescribed.
1T is my Alban villa that is my death.'
Conquest, the insecure tenure of prop
erty, and the precariousness OF invest.
ments, begat the habit of luxurious pro-
disality. "Easy come, easy co." was rs
true in Roman days as it is in modern
times.
Luxurious banquets were given, at
which were served up rare birds
brought from distant countries, and fish
whose extraordinary size made them
cost two hundred dollars each. One Of
L.lcullus' private snppers cost seven
thousand dollars, and once, when his
cook had taken less pains Oh account Of
the absence Of guests, he said, 'did yon
know that Lucun.ls snpped this evening
with Lucullus?"
Some years ago Il banquet WAS given
ut Delmonico's, New York, TO Sir Nor
ton Peto, at which were laid one hund-
red plates ut two hundred and fifty dol
lars plate. The same caterer presided
over famous feast known rs the grand
swan dinner, because in the centre Of
the table was a miniature lake ll which
swans were swimming
The late Baron james lie Rotllschild
had an establishment ut Paris, in which
were separate departments for soups,
sauces, roasting, frying, vegetables,
sweets, etc. Seventy-twO persons were
employed in the kitchens and the wine
cellars.
The baron once gave :. feast ut his
conntry-seat to Louis Napoleon The
quantity Of ga'.e provided for
the guests shooting WAS enormous. A
story asserts that a parrot, disguised as a
partridge, fell before the imperial cry
ing, "Vive + Empereur!w
Prince Nicholas Ester!lazy, who died
owing nine million dollars, was even
more of grand seigneur in his enter
or OF Austria, being a guest ut his rich
subjects chateau, 4 hunt on magnifi-
cent scale was organized in his honor.
Esterhazy's grand huntsman stood just
behind the emperor and specified the
game as it fell before the royal gun.
Hare, Your Majesty" Pheasant,
your majesty" And without the change
OF a muscle or a tone, "Lord High
Chamberlain. Your Majesty"
Louis XIV. of France held that the
more money was spent III any way the
better, az it gave employment and pro-
lnOted trade. But u French writer, who
saw clearer than the money-spending
king, defines luxury to be that which
destroys the product Of many days of Ia
Dor, without bringing any reasonable
satisfaction.
THAT qneen Of the ball." he writes,
rs destroying i'll the Whirls of the waltz
fiounce of lace worth 1900; there goes
the equivalent Of fifty thousand hours
| of toll and destructive eyesiglt; and
what advantage has been: drawn from
! it,"