2500 YEARS AGO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 280, 7 August 1909, Page 11

2500 YEARS AGO.

A FASHION4BLB WOMAN AS. SHE, WAS. 11 ; The intimate, the boudoir life of a Latin girl of fashion who lived'soo years bofore Clirist' has been revealed 1 at last. • Through excavations, made on the site of an ancient Italian'city|it is now.possible to actually sea her at her toilet, on the streets, at the feasts, or climbing the terraces to the magnificent Temple of Fortmia, therei to beg the'favour *of the' ficklo goddess..'-There- has been 1 unearthed the most remarkable collection, of women's ornaments,-, her little articles* oMuxury,' and even her toilet articles, that 9ver rewarded archaeological', research.It was as though the seekers had stumbled upon the -innermost chambers of some Latin princess or'lady of great-rank. .''.- ; Thero )were her golden cases, long cylinders;, and. little boxes that had held the feminine- trifles of. the time. There- were wonderfully carved ivory cups- from which she could; drink while undergoing ;'the fatiguing; services; of her maids; wonderful golden caskets, carved with scenes, from the adventures of the gods, and wrought exquisitely;' were there. These have'held her; jewels. ,' '■'■■' , .The . very_.'jewels, the golden clasp that, 'held her'girdle, necklaces, brooches, ■ and curious finely, carved hands of ivory, used to scratch. her ladyship's white back to soothe .her; after, a day of tiring; fashionable effort-; ,even : the wonderful. bronze perfume 'burner.'in,<which delicate scents, were 'consumed to, please.her were found. . ' Almost it was. as if one had beeii transported backwards, twbuty-fivo centuries, and could-look .'into the homes of, these luxuriou-s Latins,, iiow , that theso., treasures of that ago' and place hayo 'been acquired by- thoItalian Government for its museums. ..

The , girl of fashion..of,. the ..fifth century ;B.C. had'at her'command all of the'luxuries that, Asia, Africa, and Europe could offer, and the artists of Greece and" Rome'vied with each 1 other in tho perfecting .of her

ornaments and adornments. Gold and silver were liko, stones': in the streets, and ivory carvings in every home with the least pretentions to elegance. When she made her toilet, her- maids brought forth magnificent' gold or ivorv . caskets, topped with ' beautifully . carved figures of Apollo or Cupids, and engraved with scenes from Greek and, Roman mythology. In one of these caskets were all tho jewels with which my lady was to bo adorned for the feast. Here was her gold collar, worked out in ' lions' heads; her bracelets, and any number of stickpins sot L with gems,- or curiously carved. The very mirror that was hold up beforo her to reflect .the ! glowing features was a triumph of tho engraver's art. In another casket were the •precious ointments and unguents with, which she smoothed her complexion and scented her. person. Here, too, wore tho combs, .the pencils for the eyebrows' the dyes for the hair —all the luxuries that could be devised to add to the cflarius of the princess who was soon to go forth to the feast. . ' : • t Unlike' the Greeks, the Latin matrons took part in tho feasts with tho men, and theirs was no small part of the conversa- ; tion ; and charm of tho festal board. At 3 o'clock—the eighth .hour, as the Uoma.,s called-lt-r-all domestic cares were put asido and:; preparations for the event of. tho dav- • dinner, .was bogun. The women of fashion was bathed, and perfumed, her hair waV r dressed, and her. jewels brought forth, 'jo that'she bo ready for the'prince to take hereto the dinner between 4 and's o'clock. A lid' there was -a convivial gathering indeed. The viands 'were of the 'dimcest— thisro ;was .the peacock iu • full ju]ujaiige l

tongues of nightingales, fishes, from the farthest seas. And the flowers—roses, roses, roses on all sides, wound about \the tables; filling tho magnificent.vases, twined with crowns for the Toasters.' I 'And'the conversation—was of all. "things in heaven and earth, of art, of science' as they knew it then, of love and of: fortune.