Smyrna times., 1902-06-18
BELLIES OF OLD ROME
THE TIME AND MONEY THAT WERE
SPENT ON THEIR TOILETS.

Ancient LuxuriOusneas Hygiene
the Latter Day Magic.
The secret of eternal youth, so eager.
ly 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 its watchword, |
which is hygiene. For youth means
beauty, and beauty means health, and |
the skillful beauty specialists accom-
plish all their successes by means of !
rational methods based on a careful
study of the causes that may affect to
its 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 Il
century after the downfall Of the Greek
and Roman empires such matters were
allowed to languish. Not until the de-
clining years of the nineteenth century
was the subject reinstated as one of
paramount 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 express
sion. Moreover, to feel that her youth
and therefore her beauty is somewhat
restored has beneficial influence upon
her mental state.
But whoever fancies that the modern
husband is to be pitied for the cost of
his wife's beauty preservatives should
consider the toilet expenses of q Ro-
man lady in the comparatively early
days of the worlds history. Excessive
as may appear the time and money
spent now upon the art of beauty culti-
vatiOn. the grooming Of Il modern wOm-
an of fashion seems invested with an
admirable simplicity compared with
the time and money thus expended in
the days of PoppHa 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
Immediately went to her bath, where
she was carefully rubbed with pumice
stone. She then put herself in the
hands of the cosmetics, a class of slaves
who possessed many secrets for pre-
serving and beautifying the complex
ion; therefore their functions were con-
sidered Of the greatest Importance. es-
pecially as they claimed for their arts
hygeian advantages.
BY the cosmetics her face was thor
Oughly sponged with asses milk. then
Ia
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 a 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 woolen cloth stepped in oil of
roses. and frecklcs were treated with
a scraping oS sheepskin mixed with oil
of Corsica, to which was added the
powder of frankincense.
Then appeared the second class of
slaves armed with pinchers and porcu-
pine Quills. One Of them extracted ev
cry hair, however minute. from the
face of her mistress, and another clean
ed the teeth with grated pumice stone,
with marble dust and finally with
toothpick of porcupine quill.
\ third class Of slaves. who were Gre
clan, colorcd eyebrows. eyelashes and
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 sheepskin, then
covered with the ashes of a burnt
mouse mixed with fennel roots.
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 apply
.ng fragrant unguents. Each part Of
he body had its own unguent-the hair
had sweet marjoram. the neck and
knees wild thyme, the arms balsam,
he cheeks and breast palm oil, the feet
and legs saffron. Then after a final
sprinkling Of Indian perfumes on hair
and dress the favored slave in order
hat the finished work might be appre-
,iated handed to her mistress a mirror.
1t was not of silyer-those were so
common they were used only by slaves
out a costly thing of gold. Ornamented
with precious stones, held by handle
Of mother OF pearl. the mirror itself
formed of a composite of several met
ais so exquisitely polished as to be not
inferior to glass. which was then un-
known.
Alb, the modern husband may be con
graduated that his lines were not cast
in the davs of Brutus and Cato OF
Utica Washington Star.