ine sculptures, costly marble walls, and doors
ornamented with gold, silver, and rare shells. There were expensive rugs
from the East, and, in fact, everything that could be obtained likely to
add to the attractiveness of the room.

Candles were used in early times, but later the wealthy used lamps,
which were made of terra-cotta or bronze. They were mostly oval, flat
on the top, often with figures in relief. In them were one or more round
holes to admit the wick. They either rested on tables, or were suspended
by chains from the ceiling.

MEALS.

The meals were the JENTACULUM, PRANDIUM, and COENA. The first was our
breakfast, though served at an early hour, sometimes as early as four
o'clock. It consisted of bread, cheese, and dried fruits. The prandium
was a lunch served about noon. The coena, or dinner, served between
three and sunset, was usually of three courses. The first course
consisted of stimulants, eggs, or lettuce and olives; the second, which
was the main course, consisted of meats, fowl, or fish, with condiments;
the third course was made up of fruits, nuts, sweetmeats, and cakes.

At elaborate dinners the guests assembled, each with his napkin and full
dress of bright colors. The shoes were removed so as not to soil the
couches. These couches usually were adapted for three guests, who
reclined, resting the head on the left hand, with the elbow supported by
pillows. The Romans took the food with their fingers. Dinner was
served in a room called the TRICLINIUM. In Nero's "Golden House," the
dining-room was constructed like a theatre, with shifting scenes to
change with every course.

DRESS.--BATHING.

The Roman men usually wore two garments, the TUNICA and TOGA. The former
was a short woollen under garment with short sleeves. To have a long
tunic with long sleeves was considered a mark of effeminacy. The tunic
was girded round the waist with a belt. The toga was peculiarly a Roman
garment, and none but citizens were allowed to wear it. It was also
the garment of peace, in distinction from the SAGUM, which was worn by
soldiers. The toga was of white wool and was nearly semicircular, but
being a cumbrous garment, it became customary in later times to wear it
only on state occasions. The poor wore only the tunic, others wore, in
place of the toga, the LACERNA, which was an open cloak, fastened to the
right shoulder by a buckle. Boys, until about sixteen, wore a toga with
a purple hem.

The women w