Easton High School - Eastonia Yearbook (Easton, ME)

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,X EASTONIA N , , Roman Life and Manners ' Under the Empire, Rome wore a. very diiferent ap- pearafice from' that which she presented in the days of the Republic. We 1 ' 'Most of the strangers who came to Rome were adven- turers who lived by their wits. Rome was a great hunting iield - for' ad-veiiturers and knights of fortune. A large portion ofthis foreign population was slaves, a class which formed' more than half the total population of Rome. The price of slavesfwas cheap. A young male slave could be bought-for about 520, a girl six years old for about 58. Thelconrlition of the slaves was often very deplorable. This Was-thecase with the immense gangs which specula- Qtors employednngiiidustry and manufacture. The outbreak of epidemics at Rome was a constant ,occurrencesfogerious pestilences broke out in 23 and 22 B. C.g,in 65 D. after the great fire, and in 79 A. D., just after theferuption of Vesuvius. On this last occasion, 10,000 deaths sometimes occurred in a day: Moreover, living at Rome was very dear compared with other towns of Italy. The city Was full of poor people in straightened circumstances, trying to keep up appearances. Men who made a great show were often bankrupt. Besides this great drawback of dear prices, the man of modest means found everything adverse to comfort and tranquillity in Rome. During the day the ordinary traiiic made the streets very noisy, and at night there was the rumbling of vehicles, which were not allowed to pass through the streets by day. VValking in the street was dangerous necessity for a man, who could not afford to be carried in a litter. He ran the risk of being struck in the side by planks of timber, of being trodden on by a soldier's hob- nailed shoes, of being crushed to death by a wagon-load of stone. As to the morality of Roman society, Juvenal devotes his longest satire to a description of the depravity of the

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- EASTONIA 5 to at least sea level, so added what I thought was a yeast cake, but which turned out to be the bottom part of a pickle bottle stopper. I then added half a cup of salt thinking perhaps it would be enough. Then I put in some laundry starch thinking it was cream of tarter, and made up my mind after adding a tablespoonful of castor oil for lemon extract that it was ready for the oven. If anyone had seen me working he would have declared that I was trying to perform a chemical experiment. I made up a roaring fire, put the bread in the oven and waited to see what would follow. My little brother gave me a pleasant look, saying he was thankful he had a brother that knew enough to cook. In a few minutes I opened the oven door to look at my bread which I thought must be half done. I was deeply impressed when I saw it. My spirits, however, were good, and I believed it must rise at least two inches before it was thoroughly cooked. At last the time came to remove the bread from the oven. I thought it thinner than it was when'I looked at it before, and when I went to take it from the oven. I could scarcely lift it, but supporting it upon my knees, I managed to get it on a chair. My little brother and the dog rushed for- ward with a lively interest. As I was prying off a corner with an iron poker it gave way and about a third part of the bread flew to the other side of the room and fell with a dull thud in the corner. The dog ran for it and started out the door with the whole piece, uttering the most dead- ly shrieks you ever heard. I shouted after him wishing him good luck. I ventured cautiously to taste a little crumb that had splintered off from the side, and it sur- passed even my wildest dreams. I quickly snatched the piece I had given to my little brother, gathered up the rest and hurled it with all my might out of the door. Iust then I saw my mother coming up the walk. C. S. K. '12

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EASTONIA 7 women of his day. He describes the women who fall in love with actors and gladiators, harp-player and flute- playersg those who alfect Greek and profess to be quite ignorant of Lating those who tyranize over weak husbands and those who have eight husbands within five years. He tells of their love of finery, their love of gossip and their pride of birth. At Rome education was not compulsory but it was general. The fees at the elementary schools were low, not more than 15 s. a year. Under' the Empire men of the highest rank sent their children to public schools. Mem- bers of the Imperial family were always taught at home. The schools were held in porticoes opening on the street, and the noise of the classes was often a nuisance to the neighbors. Children began to attend school at the age of seven. School began before dawn and each boy brought his own lamp. It was the custom in the early days of the Roman State for the senators to bring their sons to the senate so that they might learn how the affairs of the commomwealth were managed. And that no harm should ensue to the city, the boys promised that they should not tell anything, which they had heard in the House. One day the son of a certain senator was questioned by his mother concerning the Senate. The boy, remembering how he had promised to remain silent about such matters, refused to tell it. But being questioned so closely he at last told her that the Senate debated whether something might not be done, whereby there should be more harmony in familiesg and whether, should it be judged expedient to make any change, this should be to order that a husband should have more wives than one, or a wife more husbands than one. This woman told all the women of her ac- quaintance, and told them not to allow any such thing. The next day the Senate was astonished to see so great a multitude of women near the doors who besought them not to make any change, or. if any, certainly not to permit a man to have more wives than one. Then the boy told