The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-22

penditure on manuscripts must have reached
from s300.0O0 to $375.00o The exertions OF
Bracciolini, q famous scholar OF the time.
| brought to light manuscripts through which
the entire writings OF Quintilian and plautus,
! some OF the orations OF Cicero. and tho trea-
tises OF the Rrammarians Caprus. Eutychiun.
and Probus were first made known to tho
modern world. Filelto brought from the East
tho writings OF Aristotle. Demosthencs and
Euripijea.. and eSpounded them In public.
Transitions OF Artstotle's Politics and Eco
nomics" were made by Leonardo Bruni.
and OF other writings OF his by Argyro-
| pylus; the "CyropUdia" OF Xenophon was
translated by a son OF the celebrated poggio,
while the father busted himself in trans.
lating tho works Of Diodorus Siculus and part
OF Lucinn: the Natural History OF Plny" was
translated by Landino. and the Lives Of the
Philosophers" tby Diogenes Laertua) by a
monk named Ambrogio who translated also
some Of the writings otthe early Church Faith
ers the various Lives OF Plutarch" were trans
lated by Donate Acciajuoll and other Floren-
Innocent VIII. with q Latin translation OF
Herodian's " History OF tho ltoman Emperors"
| from A. ID. 1SO-2,S. other historical works,
| such as "Procopius on the Invasion OF the
| Goths." The Life OF Hndran." by Sparti-
anus. the Lives Of Antopinus Plus and Mar
Gus Aurelius." by Julius Capitolinus. and the
Life OF Alexander Severus' by Lampridius.
also found translators among Florentne
scholars. To Boccaccio. as We know. is due
| the first translation OF Homer.
| As manuscripts were exceedingly costly. and
printing only began to be practised In tho last
| half OF tho fifteenth century. the number OF
those who desired to read them far surpassed
that Of those able to purchase them. SO the
need Of public libraries was felt which re-
suited in the founding Of the famous collec-
| lions OF works. both written and printed. which
| have been transmitted to our times. The OK
| istence. however. of university and OF public
| libraries does not explain tho assertion Of
| Poliziano. who. writing to friend declares
| that the whole city OF Florence knows the
| Greek language, and that one dwelling in It
might believe himself transported to ancient
| Athens. For the dissemination Of culture
among the people, 1t IS needful to have not only
the appliances Of learning, but also the reQui-
site training. 1t is to the credit Of Flor
ence that at an early period OF her intellectual
life she recognized this necessity. and made
preparations for tho instruction OF her chill
dren. The citys first historian. writing In tho
year 1898. informs us that already there were
In the Florentine schools from 5000 to 10000
boys and girls learning to read: 1000 to 200
boys In six schools receiving instruction in
arithmetic and higher mathematics. and from
$50 to 600 arranged in five schools. who were
studying grammar and logic. Roscoe says.
though he does not cite the authority for the
statement. that ut a later date public schools
were instituted at Florence for the study OF tho
Greek tongue. No record seems to have been
kept OF the number Of students attcnd-
ing the various courses OF the university
though we are informed under date Of 1920
that there was multitude OF them from all
parts OF the world. The whole number must
have been considerable II it bore any proper
ton to the four hundred who daily listened to
the lectures OF Francesca Filelfo.
III
We may next review the private life Of the
medieval Florentines. which tho author has
made the subject OF particularly careful re-
search. promising that we must lot expect him
to dwell upon the vices Of the period. striking
feature Of Florentine existence at tho epoch
Of the Renaissance was the extreme simplicity
which characterized everyday homo life.
even among the rich. 1t was doubtless as
Mr.. Seattle says. this simplicity that afforded
leisure for intellectual occupation: the time
which could be spared from professional or
mercantile toll was not wasted on the myriad
superhuitics OF luxurious life. Florentine
professor told the writer Of this book that he
had somewhere read the statement that even
in the pa lace Of the Medici. the ordinary hospi-
tally consisted in the offer Of wine and chest
nuts We also read that. at the table OF tho
great Lorenzo. there was no recognition Of
rank in the order OF seating. but each took his
place according to the time Of arrival. whether
he were Grandee or poor student. UnQues-
tionably. in comparison with contemporary
peoples the Florsntines Of the Renaissance
could congratulate themselves on the com
A..
houses: yet these were not very comfortable
according to our standard They were large.
but they were not provided with corridors
enabling one to reach the various rooms
without passing through others. On the
contrary, the whole house was arranged in
suites OF rooms which precluded the obtaining
OF privacy. except in n very few chambers. Re-
garding the prices OF ordinary houses in me-
dinval Florence it is difficult to form an
idea. There Ia a record Of one house being
bought for 1lS forms. and this must have
been a house above the average. II one may
Judge by tho parties to the contract. In an
other case a house several stories high. and
situated in the middle OF the city cost but
80 forms. or say 500 in weight Another house
In the same street rented for 18 lire. or $3.50 |
per annum What the cost Of the great palaces |
In the city was Mr.. Scaife has not been able to |
determine. but he says that the average cost |
Of the finer Wins in the onvirons was $500
gold forms. 1t appears that the author has
also found 1t impossible to find anywhere an
adequate description Of the manner OF con-
ductine household during the Renaissance |
period. That the Florentine women were |
thrifty housewives we know. and also that
there were not only servants. but. In some |
cases. evon slaves. though there was too little
slavery to have any effect on the labor market.
AZ to tho wages OF house servants in general
little knowledge seems attaina BILE. but that such
servants could occasionally command good pay |
is shown by the record OF wedding entertain
ment in the year l4O7. where the cook who |
prepared the table received four forms and |
ten soidi When it is recalled that house OF |
fair size could be rented for eighteen lire per |
annum. and that dwelling OF some preten-
sions could he bought for less than 200 forms.
1t will be seen that this was very high pay for |
1. II. ...l... L. i