The sun., 1890-01-05


tombs contemporary with the earliest dy.
through the various museums OF Europe euch
as small mummies and mummy cases, minia-
even little crocodiles whose Jaws can be oI ened
or shut as You, like; Among our own finds y
inside. which. on being shaken sound like % a
stsbun. They were used, together with tho
sist,o, by nurses to amuse and luiet their young 2
charRea. accompanyinR the rattlinR with their
own SLOW and monotonous singing, the Eatd-
ban kdtesis OF the Greek, the nenide OF the Lat:
these objects have been disco> cred in Pompei-
an nurseries. whereas the bra sistra abound
sSDHid sSSD9eidl"by r IN me bed q the TiGeT WhS they
OF the Tiber ts one OF the many mysteries con-
nected with the history and nature Of that re-
=, 1t was customary among the ancients to load
the new born child with gifts of every descrip-
servants conRreRated around the cradle, ad-
mtrinE, caressing, and embracing the baby.
while the venerable grandmother blessed and
might snrlng up along his path, and that
rich domains, might become his portion.
When child was abandoned and deserted,
the crepundld were eithor hung TO his neck or
were put In basket by his side. practice
unde the RSo bad
the same tate and that, ike this. little, god;
1t n was , hoped that b he would he tended and ID
the Vatican Museum there is a graceful statu-
cite Of a child, with many creD'ndia around his
be identified In progress OF time. In scene
fourth; act fourth, of the, =" Rudens PIautus
describes miputely the, objects concealed In
i,dtpstrd'S basket which belp the father to
Identity the, long lost daughter. Aristophanes
and Terentius are very fond OF constructing
ognized III due time by their parents with the
help OF gnnriSndtd
The custom OF modelling or moulding little
fRu es in wax or clay was also q great dyer
sion for Greek and Roman children. Lucinfus
refers to this practice both In T" Alkyon" and In
a ri NNnf h0f tlu hn I'M
merabe changes witch nature 'undergoes by
the hands OF God TO the thousand forms which
children. Artists Of great value have conde-
ecended sometimes to- model excessively
smS sn ell %0rbs elegant and eos,y nnGhipgs
speaks Of kaIlistratos having carved in ivory.
nnts and other insects, SO tiny and minute that
preciate their exact share and proportions.
Myrmekides is said to have cut first in ivory
ho ses which could I Be ] screened and nd conesaIed nc
under the wings OF fly; and also man Of
WAL Val or quqdrremis: not larger than bee.
figures which have discovered Is only nine
tenths Of an inch high. i, represents lady
rieht hand It il exhibited IN the new Museum
OF the orto Botanico. near the Coliseum.
O Of H' Ss S Se the have psssS sssn n
pagan as we'll as in Christian. tombs. shows
been used. These dolls are OF every kind and
description, OF wood, Of clay, of ivory. OF wax.
the fascination of flowers OF gems, Of money.
Of CSkesi P0sarch wrtnE
their sweet Timossena. dwells upon the charm
ing disposition OF the child. and relates among
her milk not only to other children. but also
toys ether inside sG or above @ tombs f' is too well
known to need further illustration. To 1t re-
lei iers the graceful story told by vitruyius
tomb the nurse had placed round basket |
her former play!hings. A plant Of
It's delicate tendrils and leaves, suggested to |
kallimakos the Corinthian capital
, The Museo Cristiano annexed to the Vatican |
Library is perhaps the richest In this modest |
but interesting claes Of antiques. especially In |
dolls and marionettes carved in bone and ar
late by means OF threads or wires.
Al that have said on the subject may seem
who 10 be- to heve
6er dss5h; A paSSsase which We ana II re
asseied q the tss Se TerP S9 e S So ar
bined action Of age and water has, given the
hardness Of metal. Although not, different In
zg Hnd shape ~ ta ANOTHER rs her doll
nenti irastuii del Cambini" ours is modelled
with far more, perfect imitation of the
md Castelani the finest Of its kind yet found
n Roman excavations. The. hands and feet
ire carved with the utmost skill. The arrange
nent of the hair Is characteristic OF the age Of
he Antonines. and differs but little from the
style Of Fausiiua the elder. The doll was proba-
we're inserted two, gold key rings; in imitation
" those worn by housewives The figure. the
Of which at the hips. knees shoul-
lers. and elbows are etill in good condition. is
hirty centimetres high.
The verse OF Persius above referred to.
Nempe hoc, 0uod Venert dondtae a vtroine puppde,
ignifes that dolls and playthings are not
Iry Tor young ladies to offer their dolls to Venus
'r Diana on their wedding day. But this was
lot the end reserved for Crepereas doll. She
vas doomed TO share the sad fate OF her young
mistress, and lie down by her corpse before the
marriage ceremony could be accomplished.
RoDoLFo LANCIANL.