Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-08
FAMOUS BELLIES OF OLD ROME.
The Time and Money That Were Spent
on Their Toilets.

The secret of eternal youth, so eager
~ sought by the magicians of all CEN
turtles and sought in vain, has almost
revealed itself to the present genera
ton; at least We have it's watchword,
which is hygiene. For youth means
beauty. and beauty means health, and
the skilful beauty specialists accom-
plish all their success by means of ra-
tlonal methods based on careful study
of the causes that may affect to it's
detriment the health of the skin.
In the dim back ages of the world of
civilization beauty was made a cult of
the utmost moment, but for many a
century after the downfall of the Greek
and Roman empires such matters were
allowed to anguish. Not until the de-
Ginning years of the 18th century was
the subject reinstated as one of para
mount interest. But today beauty
specialists abound-some for face treat
ment, others for manicure and again
many more for electrolysis.
OF course these treatments are ex-
pensive, but it is worth much to a wo-
man to be rid of a careworn expression.
Moreover, to feel that her youth and
III pSouty SoIlleNI Hat re-
stored has a beneficial influence upon
her mental state.
But whoever fancies that the modern
husband is to be pitied for the cost of
MS wife's beauty preservatives should
consider the toilet expenses of a Roman
lady in the compe ratively early days of
the worlds history. Excessive as may
appear the time and money spent now
upon the art of beauty cultivation. the
grooming of modern woman of fash
ion seems invested with an admirable
simplicity, compared with the time and
money thus expended in the days of
Poppaea and Agrippina.
In the early days of Rome three
classes of slaves assisted at the toilet of
lady of fashion. On leaving her bed,
which was usually at noon, she i'm
mediately went to her bath, where she
was carefully rubbed with pumice stone.
She then put herself in the hands of the
cosmetics, class of slaves who pos
sessed many secrets for preserving and
identifying the complexion; therefore
their functions were considered of the
greatest Importance, especially as they
claimed for their arts hygeian adVan-
tages.
BY the cosmetics her face was thor
oughly spOnged with asses milk, then
massaged with various mixtures corre-
spending in intention to the ''skin food
OF these days; with ashes of SnailS and
OF large ants, bruised and burned in
salt; with honey in which the bees had
been smothered; with the fat of pull
let mixed with onion-oh, shades of
Araby. And, lastly, the fat of a swan
was vigorously applied, to which was
attributed the property of removing
wrinkles. Red spots were effaced with
piece of wooden cloth stepped in oil of
roses. and freckles We're treated with a
scraping of sheepskin mixed with oil of
Corsica. to which was added the pow
der of frankincense.
Then appeared the second class of
slaves, armed with pinchers and porcu-
pine quilts. One of them extracted
every hair, however minute, from the
face of her mistress, and another
cleaned the teeth with grated pumice
stone, with marble dust and finally
with a toothpick of porcupine quill.
A third class of slaves, who were Gre
wan, Coioitu eycDIOWS, eSeldS0eS ana
hair to the shade of my lady's" taste.
Her lips were treated with red pomade,
but if chapped they were first rubbed
with the inside of a sheepskin, then
covered with the ashes of q burnt
mouse mixed with fennel roots, says
the Washington Star.
The last touches of the toilet were
given by the favorite attendant, the
slave kept by every patrician Roman
woman for the sole purpose of applying
fragrant unguents. Each part of the
body had its own unguent-the hair
had sweet marjoram, the neck and
knees wild thyme, the arms balsam,
the cheeks and breast palm oil, the
feet and legs saffron. Then a final
sprinkling of Indian perfumes on hair
and drass the favored slave in order
that the work might be appreciated |
handed to her mistress a mirror, 1t |