_Of the Fine Arts and Literature._
The Romans invented short or abridged writing, which enabled their
secretaries to collect the speeches of orators, however rapidly
delivered. The characters used by such writers were called notes. They
did not consist in letters of the alphabet, but certain marks, one of
which often expressed a whole word, and frequently a phrase. The same
description of writing is known at the present day by the word
_stenography_. From notes came the word _notary_, which was given to all
who professed the art of quick writing.
The system of note-writing was not suddenly brought to perfection: it
only came into favor when the professors most accurately reported an
excellent speech which Cato pronounced in the senate. The orators, the
philosophers, the dignitaries, and nearly all the rich patricians then
took for secretaries note-writers, to whom they allowed handsome pay. It
was usual to take from their slaves all who had intellect to acquire a
knowledge of that art.
The fine arts were unknown at Rome, until their successful commanders
brought from Syracuse, Asia, Macedonia and Corinth, the various
specimens which those places afforded. So ignorant, indeed, were they of
their real worth, that when the victories of Mummius had given him
possession of some of the finest productions of Grecian art, he
threatened the persons to whom he intrusted the carriage of some antique
statues and rare pictures, "that if they lost those, they should give
him new ones." A taste by degrees began to prevail, which they gratified
at the expense of every liberal feeling of public justice and private
right.
The art of printing being unknown, books were sometimes written on
parchment, but more generally on a paper made from the leaves of a plant
called _papyrus_, which grew and was prepared in Egypt. This plant was
about ten cubits high, and had several coats or skins, one above
another, which they separated with a needle.
The instrument used for writing was a reed, sharpened and split at the
point, like our pens, called _calamus_. Their ink was sometimes composed
of a black liquid emitted by the cuttle fish.
The Romans commonly wrote only on one side of the paper, and joined one
sheet to the end of another, till they finished what they had to write,
and then rolled it on a cylinder or staff, hence called _volumen_.
But _memoranda_ or other unimportant matters, not intended to be
preserved, were usually written on tablets spread with wax. This was
effected by means of a metal pencil called _stylus_, pointed at one end
to scrape the letters, and flat at the other to smooth the wax when any
correction was necessary.
Julius Caesar introduced the custom of folding letters in a flat square
form, which were then divided into small pages, in the manner of a
modern book. When forwarded for delivery, they were usually perfumed and
tied round with a silken thread, the ends of which were sealed with
common wax.
Letters were not subscribed; but the name of the writer, and that of the
person to whom they were addressed, were inserted at the
commencement--thus, Julius Caesar to his friend Antony, health. At the
end was written a simple, Farewell!
The Romans had many private and public libraries. Adjoining to some of
them were museums for the accommodation of a college or society of
learned men, who were supported there at the public expense, with a
covered walk and seats, where they might dispute.
The first public library at Rome, and probably in the world, was erected
by Asinius Pollio, in the temple of liberty, on Mount Aventine. This was
adorned by the statues of the most celebrated men.