Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-30
A l'ompeian Home.

quently in the upper part Of the house
that the ladies of the family had their
sleeping apartments, though these we're
sometimes arranged round the peristyle
or second of the two open courts on the
ground floor; the first and largest being
the atrium, large court with splendid
mosaic pavement, rich frescoes. and
many statues and columns. An open
space in the roof let in the air and light
and II shallow marble tank beneath col
lected the rain water, and was generally
also furnished with a small jet of spring
water, flowing from the beali of a bronze
goose held by a beautiful boy, or some
other similar statuette. This part of
the mansion and the rooms adjoining it
were more especially set apart
for the master, who, when
person of consequence and
wealth, as we may suppose the
husband Of our lady to be, received
every morning crowds of friends, clients,
The rooms allotted to the gentlemen of
the family were ranged on each side of
the atrium, small for the most part, and
only receiving light and air from the
doorway; the bed often rested on
niche built in the wall, or on a bedstead
of wood with bronze corners. But even
these small and comparatively dark
rooms were adorned with wall decora-
tious OF the most graceful description,
and in the most tasteful and brilliant
colors. Beyond the atrium, and between
it and the peristyle, was the reception
| room for state occasions; here were
kept the statues or busts of the an
cestors, and the family archives and
pompous inscriptions on the walls
often testified to the fame and glory
OF the house. Near this apart
| ment was the library, where con-
noisseurship and dilettantism in mat
| ters appertainlng to the fine arts were
| displayed; for the Pompeians expended
fabulous sums in the purchase of an
tiquities found in the early Greek
| graves and elsewhere, and in bronze
| figures and other works. No doubt some
traits Of the excessive luxury which
prevailed in Rome during the latter
days of the empire reached the distant
walls of commercial POmpeii; and, rs in
Rome the villas and palaces of the aris-
tocracy became the depository of col.
lections, so the houses of the wealthy
who choose Pompeii for their country
residence or seaside resort, also con.
tanned numbcrless precious artistic
works, and the love Of beauty displayed
even in the humblest dwelling proves
that an aesthetic taste was universally
spread among the inhabitants.
We must not forget that the ease and
luxury OF the wealthy classes rested on
the background of slavery, SO that our
Pompeian lady left all the more serious
work of the household to her women
slaves, many of whom were no doubt
confidential and trusted servants. Music
was favorite amusement among the
ladies; they were by no means ignorant
of literature, and took an interest in
public life, being emancipated from the
severe control OF the earlier Roman
period. But in the joyous life under
the southern sunny cline, even the
slaves shared in the ease and gaiety OF
their mistresses, playing and singing
before them, or in their leisure hours
playing the old, old game of chuck.
stones, or knucllle- e-bones, with the
actual knuckle- bones of tho sheer
they had probably consumed a
dinner, as we see them depicted
in drawing in red chalk in the mu
scum at Naples. Other diversions the,
found in household pets, among which
were quails, rock-pigeons (the coloret
varieties and fancy breeds were un
known, peacocks, parrots, guinea
over with pearls OF tears" swans. ant
geese, of all of which We find life-likt
representations among the fresct
paintings. But it is worthy OF remark
that cats were then unknown rs do
mestic animals, the figure of one mang
ling quail, introduced into the mura
decorations, being evidently the wilt
variety by its special characteristics
This explains the fact that no skeleton
Of these animals were exhumed from
the buried city.