Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-05-25
ROWAN HOUSES IN LONDON.

sryaefiaus Ruins Of Civilization. In nri,.
ain Nearly Two Thousand yeahs Ola.
Tho houses Of the better class can be
reconstructed from tho Roman villas
whose foundations have been laid bare
IN various parts Of tho country. A
very great number have been found
and partially examined by excavations
Some Of them are Of a sire aud splen.
dor which denote great wealth ms well
as feeling Of profound security. They
have been found for the most part In
the southern counties. Many are In
Kcnt--a county which, 20 long ns the
count Of the Saxon shore protected its
coasts, was the faiost part Of Britain.
But many of these villas have been
found In Lincolnshire, and there arc
probably hundreds awaiting discovery.
II l. not fair IN considering the traders
house Of London 20 take the magnif.
cent ruins 81 such villa ~ that which
has been laid bare AZ Woodchcstcr IN
Gloucosienhire. Here we find sitting
rooms atty feet square ranged about
courts or gardens n hundred and hun.
dred aud ility feet square; hero arc
splendid tossollatod pavemcnts, fresco
paintings, fragments Of statues and
groups, Samlan ware, and every indlca.
ton OF art and luxury. We need not
suppose that London merchants lived
IN palaces Into tho lofty. brilliant.
well heated apartments Of the finer
houses there was thrown confused
mass Of furniture not unworthy OF tho
richest palaces Of modern days. Cush.
Ions and lounges Of crimson silk and
Babylonian tapestry surrounded tho
banqucting tables and walls; mirrors
Of metal or glars shone on all sides.
Glass windows let In the inconstant
sunlight, and candles, lamps and can.
delabm In tho winter evenings scattered
over the rooms on tripods, tables.
inches, and perhaps hung aloft on tho
ceiling, threw down sufficient light
The infinite number and varied forms
of their lamps show the caro- the Ro-
mans gave TO lighting their rooms and
their taste for nocturnal amusement.
Carpets, rugs and mating wcrc thrown
upon tho mosaic fioor Statues Of real
merit stood around In artistic ncgll.
gcncc. Tables OF ciyun wood, or mar.
bio tripods, book shelves md stands,
glass vases Of all forms and modes. rich
with green, red or purple dyes, shono
on tho Roman sideboard. Goblcts,
pitchers and vases OF the delicnt. red
Samian wcrc added TO tho glow o!
color; they were 40 fragile that only
fragments Of the finer kind have been
preserved. In the midst Of hls luxuri.
Gus home sat tho London curial. or al.
derman Of tho Roman tin. D, on his
curulo chair, surrounded by wife and
children, clothed IN the richest fabrics
OF the day, and all glittorIng with rings.
Jewels, armlots, bracelets, some Of
which have boon left behind to tell
their tale. On the bones OF womnns /
arm In Mr.. Roach Smiths collection
hrc seen three bracelets Of gold, with |
gems and rnre chasings.
To complete tho picture OF the home
OF tho Roman period wo must add a |
great number OF articles of convenience
or comfort that would seem 10 us al. |
most exclusively modern. Chairs,
lounges, sofas, bcdsteads, chests, clos.
cts drawers, curtains, glass vessels,
mirrors and vases, punches OF keys,
and great variety OF kitchen utensils,
gold and silver ornaments, baskets and
urns for money, great ainphorp oiled
with wine, and tho well stored kitchens
of the wealthy mado up the require
monts Of Roman life These tho bar.
barous SaHons plundered or destroyed,
chiefly from u fear that magic lay In all
objects Of art. A garden IN tho front
OF tho villa, filled with roses from Pcs.
tum and lilies and violets, was never
forgotten by a pcoploso fond Of flowers;
baths, hot and cold, were attached TO
every large house. Fourteen centuries
aud tho rayagcs Of Saxon and Dane
have covered Roman London with a
cloud Of mystery that no one has been
able to inoye.-Eugeno Lawrence In
HarperS.