The Penn's Grove record., 1882-12-30
Ancient Toilets.

WI ne bath prevailed among thu
wehg women Of a very remote perioc
At { tmagnificent court Of Ahasuer
US, il the seventh year of his reign
the allowing elaborate processes Of
"pul3 sation" were prescribed for the
maid pa destined for the Kings ha-
rem Being gathered together into
Shus hn the palace .........to the custody
of Hdsi, keeper OF the women" they
abOdeIn the "women's house" and
$50 Yse the days of their publication
accomplished, to wit /: six months
withbil of myrrh, and six months
withlsweet odors, and with other
thinA for the purifying of women"
(Estlsr Ii. l2). The Song of Songs
Is ric4f IN figuratlve illusions to these
''swst odors," its lass rapturous note
echcig tom 1.-THE mountains of spi,
ces, fhyfrh and frankincense, with
all tiers of the merchant" "cam-
phirs with spikenard and saff ron !;
calarps and cinnamon, with ali trees
of frhkincense ; myrrh and sloes,
witbpl the chief spices !" my hands
dronkd niyrrh, and my fingers sweet
smeiug my1rh !" ''his cheeks are as
a beq5f spices. as sweet flowers; his
lips e lilies. dropping sweet smell
lingf URN )" the "mandrakes" and
the pleasant fruits"
Ir most interesting to learn, in
connection with another couplet of
tbieqaisite song, my beloved is un.
to 4 = a cluster of campfire in the
vin,srds of En- -gedi," that En- &c di lie
III ne only place in all Palestine
whe eamphor still grows. This
plan ] better known by its Arabian
nan, Jenna 1t Is a tall shrub, whose
whis knd yellow flowers grow in
clus ii like our familiar lilac. The
Eastrl women are still fond of wear
ing ME fragrant blossoms in their
hair CHER bosoms; but it is a an
snciendye that the plant has come
into sicial notice. The dried leaves
of theenna were crushed aud made
INTO aaste with water, and applied to
the pms of the hands, to the nails of
fingeA and toes, and to the hair, il the
diseosfy of gray threads should be
unw ome. 1t was used by the pen
to d +, Il e hair and beard, and even
appel sometimes to color the name
andati ofa favorjte horse. The an
tioty OF this custom is demonstrated
byts frequent mention by writers OF
Wy early period, and even more con-
clsively by the fact that the nails Of
she Egyptian mummies Especially
tose Of women) still retain the stain
Painting the eyebrows and eyelids
nth. kqal was another Eastern fash
on (aoAvet extinct) of equal popular.
y. 41Se Iafge ianguIsnIng UIScK eye
haded with long dsrk lashes, has
oubtless always been the distinguish
ng feature of beauty in the dusky
daughters of the East; and it is not
urt rising that they have tenaciouslY
etained q practice supposed to en-
lance its size and brightness. The
lack powder called kohl was made of
everal substances; stibium, or anti
nony, with zinc and oil or burnt
lmond shells, mixed with libau, a
ort of frankincense, also burnt an
ther sort was made of powder of lead
re, and WAS considered not only or
lamental, but beneficial, by reason OF
rtain medicinal properties. This
iohl was kept in boxes or walls of
food, stone or pottery, having several
smpartments, and often highly orna-
1t was applied with q small stick of
sood, ivory or silver, which was first
net III rose water dipped into the
back powder, and drawn carefully
.opg the edges Of the eyelids, both
upper and under. In the same way
lie arch OF the eyebrow was darkened
aid elongated. This practice of eye
must have been IN great pop
lArity as early as the time of Job for
Keren-happuch, the name of the
ydlngest OF his three beautiful
daughters, signifies "a horn for
psnt :" that liz, "a bottle for kohl"
1t was esteemed a great mark of
bauty that the eyebrows should meet
over the nose in the form of a bow
and it was common to initiate nature
Inthis respect by the use of kohl but
tbs had to be removed in seasons of
mourning, and, If the hair actually
grew there it must be rlucked out.
10 the toilet OF that rare Jewish
Of the apocryphal story, Judith,
the widow of Mansses, which WAS
made in the highest interest of re-
and patriotism, rs expounded
ia ghe day of that historical felton,
there is so full q recapitclation OF the
customs in connection with
wohen's dress. that it seems appro
pirate 10 introduce the description in
the subject. The narrative
reads thus: "She put off the garment
her widowhood, and washed her
body all over with water. and an.
herself with precious oint-
III her garmeiAsd the hair OF her
COX sandals upon her feet, and nm
aVe-st her her bracelets and her chair,
atd her rings and her esrrin0,
Nn all her ornaments, and deeked
h$self bravely.'