Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-20
>yfoys of the Past.

There is to be Seen at the British
Museum an intensely human and
rather pathetic, little exhibition. 1t is
portion Of the department labeled Off
cially Greek and Roman Antiques,
but these particular antiquities are OF
more than ordinary interest. Here, in
n modest showcase in the Terra Gotta
Room-almost unnoticed by the Sc
rious- minded people who spent a por-
ton of their Whitsun holiday in the
great museum is a wonderful reyela-
ton of the child mind of two thousand
years ago.
What were the thoughts and desires
Of the children of ancient Athens or
Rome? Very similar to those of the
children of modern London, to judge
from the contents of this showcase.
The most striking object in the exhibit
ton is 4 rag doll-a fragile, dilapi-
dated little figure, which looks as
though strong gust of wind would
reduce It to ashes. 1t was fOndled and
worshipned 1860 years ago by some
little Roman maiden who probably re-
garded it as her most precious possess
sion. Dolls there are of many kinds
wood and bone and earthcnware--in
the showcase, but none quite So fas-
cinating as this one. Yet the carved
and beaten figures have an interest
Of their own. Some Of them are clever
bits Of workmanship, though their
youthful owners would weep to see
them now. For scarcely one of them
has been handed down the long ages
with its anatomy complete. Many are
without arms and legs; some have lost
an ear. or a nose, or 4 portion OF the
head: few are battered and bruised
almost beyond recognition. Most heart
rending Of all, there is quite con-
siderable collection of disjointed limbs
for which no bodies have been found
it is interesting to notice that many Of
the little images are jointed; and that
the legs and arms may be moved up
and down. But apparently the doll
maker Of those far off DAYS had ne,
conceived The idea Of n toy baby that
could calculate Mamma"
Near the rag doll is a baby's sheIl-s
like rattle which beasts an antiquity
of 200 years. 1t helped 10 Danish the
tears Of some infant eight centQlkea
before the Christian era. Another Ia 6S'
tie is carved in the form of grote
que pig. close by it is an earthenwlrs1
whistle with which some Greek or Fdks
man boy produced the shrilI sound41 q
whicl. his soul delighted. There
toys in great variety-'carved II ss,s
dogs. birds, and monkeys, aIniniatf2tsl2
tables ard chairs. comic Nf1guressA
horseback. and a very rusty char
~ MI n1iy 'Tharn ~
marbles which are scarcely to be dis
tinguished from their English tMtl6f
leth century prototypes. Dice&sffd
counters and '1knucklebones'' he syside
by side with strange carved frag-
ments which used to figure in some.
classic game, now long forgotten.
There is even a set of plaster drafts
men-not the fiat, sound craftsmen
with which English children are famil-
lar, but for all the world like the min
natures of the bakers 1oaves which
Mr.. Chamberlain once produced for
the qualification of tariff reform au-.
dicnce.
The school hours of the childreA OF
ZOO years ago also resembled those of
the boys and girls of today. There Is
- NiittN VIA WTllinS tablet, WINCH
bears remarkable likeness to d mod
ern slate, only it's surface bears the
multiplication table up To three times
ten" i'll Greek numerals. On another
tablet. wooden one, are engraved six
iines Of Homer. The curved ha5idle
suggests that this once hung on the
wall of some ancient seminary. Pens
of reed and bronze, ink wells, and
Fragments of written exercises. tell
of scholastic efforts that were prob-
ANY the results of much travail.
Ihere are many other exhibits in the
Terra Gotta room from which an ex
ceiicnt idea may be gathered Of the.
daily life of the Greeks and Romans
Lady visitors will find the articles of
dress and the toilet requisites of their
SISTERS OF classic days particularly in
tcresting. Elaborate brooches with
safety pins were apparently favorite
articles OF wear, while rings. armlets.
buckles, and mirrors were valued 10,
their curious and delicate workman.
snip then, just as they are now,