The bedsteads of the Greeks, though ot
the simplest forms wore beautifully
carved and often overlaid with tortoise
shell and ivory, while the feet were of
s Ivor. The mattress was of linen or
woolen, stuffed with straw or wool.
Both square and round pillows were
used. Blankets of soft, fleecy texture
wore in use. and night-gowns were
worn. Each Greek, as he laid himself
to sleep, swathed himself iu his blankets
and lay like a mummy taking his rest.
There was no partnership of bed clothes.
In the times of the Roman Emperors,
beds and bedsteads wore of surprising
magnificence. The latter we; o often of
ivory, adorned with plates of silver and
gold, covered by the most luxurious
mattresses and spread with elaborately
embroidered counterpanes. They were
so high that they could not bo reached
without step-ladders.
The first bedstead mentioned iu the
Bible is that of Og, King of Basham it
was nine cubits long aud four broad,
and would accommodate a man twelve
feet in height. The bedstead Shake
speare mentions must bo of nearly like
proportions. It is a structure twelve
foot square, and still to be seen in one
of the inns of the Euglish village of
Ware.
The air bed was known several cent
uries ago. It was made of a fabric ren
dered air-proof by paint or varnish, and
was inflated by bellows. The water
bed was invented by Dr. Arnott for the
use of invalids. At first the case was
leather, but later of India-rubber cloth.
