| Show lu alie olden alme tho of perfume was indulged in to such an extravagant degree by the ancients that some of the more ascetic men had good reason to denounce it solon issued an edict prohibiting its sale in athens julius caesar and lubinus Lu cinus who were roman consuls in published a law forbidding th sale of ecot acs ics in that city and by the laws of lycurgus perfumery perfumers ers were expelled from sparta as being basters wasters of oil and en arora nf clearchus broto against tho excessive use of un fuents aud socrates declaimed against them in strong terms preferring ho said the smell of healthy toil and tho perfume of a good and manly life it was customary at festivals to pass round perfumes served in alabaster to tho guests boxes and vessels of gold at ono of these feasts who loved to deride the youth for the uso of perfumes was made a antt for their ridicule some mischievous youth anointed the cynic with much ointment pouring it lavishly over his head and face when ho awoke lie exclaimed in an angry voice what is this 0 hercules will not some one como with a and wipe my face which is thus polluted with a lot of dirt at the syrian banquets it was usual for the slaves to como in with bladders full of babylonian perfumes and bedew the garlands and walls and hannings hangings hang ings and fill tho halls with delicious fragrance in somo of tho moro modern feasts statues and ornaments acro provided with jets which threw out diluted essences and altars attars london society |
