As a rule young girls bind back their hair in simple coils or clusters of curls, but some of the styles permitted to them from the moment they become matrons defy easy description. The prevailing mode rather favors building up the hair in an elaborate semi-circular mound in front with ringlets and plaits behind; but many a lady appears with a perfect tower-like structure that would collapse instantly were it not an affair compacted with extreme art. Of course, such edifices put a premium on false hair, preferably blonde from Germany, or even on wigs. Auburn hair, however, is extremely fashionable, and many a lady buys the expensive “Batavian caustic” supposed to bleach to the proper shade. Even very modest women can rejoice in great treasure chests of hair ornaments, elaborate hair pins, and combs made of precious metal or fine boxwood, ivory, and tortoise shell; besides all kinds of snoods and wimples usually of scarlet, amethystine, or ivory. Noble dames will keep at least one _diadem_, a long band of golden chains set with as many pearls and jewels as possible. On simple social occasions they will wear their hair in a net of gold thread. As for the very wealthy, they have one simple and favorite method of displaying their riches--that of bidding their maids, almost every day, to sprinkle the whole coiffure liberally with pure gold dust. =76. Elaborate Toilets.=--Needless to say, the toilet is, to ladies of fashion, a slow and serious business, consuming most of the morning.[39] Statilia’s mother, for example, who is now old enough to have to guard her complexion, has as her first duty that of suffering her maidens to peel off the thick layer of cosmetic paste smeared upon her face ere retiring. She complains that her husband is stingy because he will not let her imitate Poppæa (Nero’s Empress), who took a bath in asses’ milk every morning to improve her looks. Such a lady, of course, requires two maids to dress her and to pile the masses of hair upon her head; the pair being supported and directed by an old freedwoman who “assists at the council,” skilfully improves and flatters, and who perhaps can do something to assuage the domina’s fury if the latter’s silver mirror reveals a misplaced curl, and she stabs the clumsy maid’s arm with a sharp hairpin, or even shrieks out in wrath “Bring in the whipper!” Blessed with such “tiers and storys” upon their heads, Roman women seldom need anything else out-of-doors except a veil or hood in extreme heat or bad weather. There are no milliners’ shops along the Via Lata or Vicus Tuscus. The men likewise seldom bother about hats, and everybody on normal days goes about town bareheaded, although travelers have the hoods upon their pænulas. Workingmen, however, who are continually exposed to the weather, wear small conical felt hats--the pilei; and travelers who find hoods irksome can keep off the sun by a comfortable broad-brimmed hat, the _petasus_.