Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-04
WEALTH In GOLD PLATE.
HOW THE ROMANS FORTUNE
WAS INVESTED.
rhe Son of Antony Had Fine Appre-
citation for Wit-Priceless Treas
ures ON tho Bed of the
Mediterranean Sea.

Before the invention OF bills OF ex-
change, when banks. or the equiva-
lent Of them. we're only one degree
more safe than a private house. those
who had money invested it in goods
easily concealed easily transported
and easily exchanged for cash. Jewels
were the readicst form of this con-
venience. buS Europe had no su fciont
supply.
Plate was substituted. But the
quantity which citizen might keep
was limited perhaps in every state OF
Greece Draco is said to have pro.
hibited it altogether, but his laws are
mythical.
In Rome the amount which any
pounds weight and for time which
seems extraordinary 70 us the censors
| took care that this law should be
effective. We read that the grand.
father of SylIa was expelled the
senate for breaking it-a little Incl
dent which perhaps affected the
destinies of the world.
For the family had been worry
wealthy till thus diogracel. as wealth
was understood in the good days of
Rome: it then fell into poverty and
Syllas career was directed. in its
earlier and most important stages
| by the overwhelming resolve to make
money.
1t is told also that Paulus Emilius
handed over ali the wondrous store of
gold ana silver plate which he too k
| from Perseus o. Macedonia TO the pub
| lie qu stors-to be melted down prob
ably. An antiquary thrills with hor-
ror even in this day. at that tale, re-
Wondering that the grandest works
Of art both Asiatic and European.
must have been gathered there.
In the astonishing report OF his tri
umph, mention is made especially of
the cups by Antigonu5 OF Seleucus.
and those by the renowned artist
Perices" AS we might say Benveuu.
to Cellini-besides the gold plate OF
Perseus' table.
| But Emilius retained II silver cup
weighing five pounds which he gave
to his son-in- law, 4Elius Tubero oil
whom Plutarch tells an interesting
story. This true old Roman lived in
one small house with fifteen kinstolk.
working on small farm. The cur
was the first object OF silver-much
more gold which they possessed.
We may hope that it was cherished
when the great house OF Ellus took {
leading part among 1.-The common
wealth of kings-the men OF Rome "
in later ages. Sylla. probably found
peculiar delight in annuling the law
which had ruined his family. In hi
time ut least it collapsed Another
generation. and we come across sucl
tales rs that OF Antonys son and hi
physician Philotas,
Delighted with jest by the latter
the boy presented him with all tn,
plate in the room-a gift SO eXtrava
CANT that Philotas dared not accept
Next day. however servant brough
it. and when he expressed his fear
the man said
Remember this is present from
! the son of Antony. who could Civ
you its weight in gold without wine
j ingr After this time plate became
, furore which endured to the last a
r Rome.
Juvenal's Twelfth Satire describe
( the storm in which Catullus nearl
5 persisted when sailing to visit him
I Everything was thrown overheard t
tighten the ship. Last OF all Catullu
sacrificed his plate. Vases. tn
d master work OF Parthenius cratera
: or rather an urn, fit to quench tn
thirst OF Pholus or of Fuscu
i wife. Then amphor and thousan
Y precious things; cups out OF whic
e cunning Philip of Macedon ha
e drunk"
l. What priceless marvels will
c found when. at length, divers can o,
d plore the bottom OF the Mediterrar
j. can! But Juvenal goes on .Wh.
/. man on earth but Catullus woul
j. prefer his safety TO his wealth. h
II life to his plate'" Such were Roma
: notions on this subject
/. Des ending to later ages. we fin
e plate still very ghly estee ed
only be ause there was so little abou
What beca @ OF the Niebelunge
II hoard. as Kingsley we'll descr bed
- the treasures OF old Pome -
!. u question more and more int
IS esting the greater our knowledge
/, the circumstances. Anyhow. little
|. it rema' ned when we again catch
e distinct view OF the barbarian col
d querors. The English indeed ha
t, but IA small share of the loot VIII
t vessels OF gold and silver they pc
e sessed before the Norman welde
II them again to the Roman world as
may be expressed appear TO ha,
= been their native manufacture mostl,
ie 1t wa not bad art-not by any mean
i, ompared with that OF their conten
i, poraries.
d English jewelry was famous throuc
r tine Western world especially aft,
Q Alfred had taken up this handicra
ID and improved it--as he did ever
* thing he tou .hed But AS for plat
% II we negle t the evidence OF poe
and romancers 1t does not seem tn