THE VICES AND VIRTUES OF ROME 99 



barbarism still visible in it. At all events, I do not 

 myself admit that either Greek or Roman civilization 

 was, everything considered, and quite apart from 

 science, equal to ours (since 1850). But these older 

 peoples have been so long calumniated, and it is so 

 irritating to find writers of the highest ability and 

 ideals, though lacking in technical knowledge, repeat 

 the calumnies, that one is tempted to enlarge a little. 



In passing now to the body of workers of ancient 

 Rome we need make no apology. It is one of the 

 most interesting and pertinent points of this part 

 of our study. The vague idea of many people that 

 practically all labour in Rome was done by slaves is 

 a singular mistake. In the population of one million 

 there were, it is estimated, at least 300,000 free 

 workers. It seems a moderate estimate when we 

 learn that one place of entertainment, the Great 

 Circus, accommodated nearly 400,000 spectators. And 

 these artisans of Rome had, contrary to what so 

 many seem to think, a better time than any other 

 workers ever had, or have to-day. 



Their hours of labour were not excessive. They 

 began early, as one does in a warm climate ; but the 

 bells which closed the day's work generally rang at 

 three in the afternoon. They had then the most 

 princely baths imaginable to resort to. The Anto- 

 ninian Baths alone accommodated 1,600 bathers, and 

 they were as remote as possible from the brick and 

 iron structures of modern times. These baths — and 

 there were several such buildings — had their interiors 

 faced with porphyry and other beautiful stones ; and, 

 besides the great marble basins of hot and cold water, 

 there were gymnastic rooms, libraries, and marble 

 colonnades or lounges in which one could play dice 



