room while he was in the hands of the surgeon, lest he might be defiled by contact with

the amputated limb, which, of course, was thenceforth dead. Another chasid went so far

in his zeal for Sabbath observance, that he would not build up again his house because

he had thought about it on the Sabbath; and it was even declared by some improper to

intrust a letter to a Gentile, lest he should deliver it on the holy day! These are real, but

by no means extreme cases. For, a Rabbi, contemporary with the apostles, was actually

obliged to denounce, as incompatible with the continuance of society, the vagaries of

the so-called "Chasid Shoteh," or silly pietist. What was meant by these will appear from

such instances as the refusal to save a woman from drowning for fear of touching a

female, or waiting to put off the phylacteries before stretching out a hand to rescue a

child from the water!

Readers of the New Testament will remember that the very dress of the Pharisees

differed from that of others. Simple as the garb of Orientals is, it must not be thought

that, in those days, wealth, rank, and luxury were not recognisable quite as much, if not

more, than among ourselves. No doubt the polished Grecian, the courtly Herodian, the

wealthy Sadducee, as well as many of the lady patronesses of the Pharisees (Josephus,

Ant. xvii, 32-45), would have been easily recognised. At any rate, Jewish writings give

us such descriptions of their toilette, that we can almost transport ourselves among the

fashionable society of Tiberias, Caesarea, Jerusalem, or that of "the dispersed," who

were residents of Alexandria or of the wealthy towns of Babylonia.

Altogether, it seems, eighteen garments were supposed to complete an elegant toilette.

The material, the colour, and the cut distinguished the wearer. While the poor used the

upper garment for a covering at night, the fashionable wore the finest white,

embroidered, or even purple garments, with curiously -wrought silk girdles. It was

around this upper garment that "the borders" were worn which the Pharisees "enlarged"

(Matt 23:5). Of these we shall speak presently. Meantime we continue our description.

The inner garment went down to the heels. The head-dress consisted of a pointed cap,

or kind of turban, of more or less exquisite material, and curiously wound, the ends often

hanging gracefully behind. Gloves were generally used only for protection. As for

ladies, besides differences in dress, the early charge of Isaiah (3:16-24) against the

daughters of Jerusalem might have been repeated with tenfold emphasis in New

Testament times. We read of three kinds of veils. The Arabian hung down from the

head, leaving the wearer free to see all around; the veil-dress was a kind of mantilla,

thrown gracefully about the whole person, and covering the head; while the Egyptian

resembled the veil of modern Orientals, covering breast, neck, chin, and face, and

leaving only the eyes free. The girdle, which was fastened lower than by men, was often

of very costly fabric, and studded with precious stones. Sandals consisted merely of

soles strapped to the feet; but ladies wore also costly slippers, sometimes embroidered,

or adorned with gems, and so arranged that the pressure of the foot emitted a delicate

perfume. It is well known that scents and "ointments" were greatly in vogue, and often

most expensive (Matt 26:7). The latter were prepared of oil and of home or foreign

perfumes, the dearest being kept in costly alabaster boxes. The trade of perfumer was,

however, looked down upon, not only among the Jews, but even among heathen

nations. But in general society anointing was combined with washing, as tending to

comfort and refreshment. The hair, the beard, the forehead, and the face, even garlands

worn at feasts, were anointed. But luxury went much farther than all this. Some ladies

used cosmetics, painting their cheeks and blackening their eyebrows with a mixture of

antimony, zinc, and oil. The hair, which was considered a chief point of beauty, was the

object of special care. Young people wore it long; but in men this would have been

regarded as a token of effeminacy (1 Cor 11:14). The beard was carefully trimmed,

anointed, and perfumed. Slaves were not allowed to wear beards. Peasant girls tied their

hair in a simple knot; but the fashionable Jewesses curled and plaited theirs, adorning

the tresses with gold ornaments and pearls. The favourite colour was a kind of auburn,

to produce which the hair was either dyed or sprinkled with gold -dust. We read even of

false hair (Shab. vi. 3), just as false teeth also were worn in Judaea. Indeed, as in this

respect also there is nothing new under the sun, we are not astonished to find mention