THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JUNE 20, 1915.
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Vy?r?s Corner rz C&srrmoji Crz-czssfson
BY RENE BACir
LHILAiDELPHIA, Jub 19. The fa
mous "widow's mit has recently
. come into the possession of the
t Philadelphia, mint. It Is the smallest
t colp- ever circulated anywhere in the
' woflj, so far aa can be ascertained, and
' 'was dvj; up close by the ancient site of
: the etotaed Temple of Jerusalem, in
Pales tin A Baptist clergyman, the
St. William Barclay, brpugrht it to
this country.
One readily recalls the' Bible tale re
' latins: to the mite and the widow. Saint
Mark: narrates how Jesus; who was
: -walkiite along with some of his disci
ples, paused When he reached a point
directly opposite the temple, and gazed
with Interest upon what was groins on.
There -was quite a crowd assembled
about a contribution box. placed in
front of the building; and guarded by
priests in their official robes. Volun
' teer fferin&3 were beirigr made, and
each person gave in proportion to his
or her means, substantial citizens be
stowing & considerable amount in gold
and silver, intended to help in the
maintenance of the ecclesiastical es
tablishment. "And Jesus" (according to Saint
Mark) "beheld how the petple cast
money into the treasury; and many
that were rich cast in much.
"And there came a certaiif poJr wid
. ow, and she threw in two mites. Which
make a farthing.
"And he called unto him his disciples,
and saith unto them, "Verily I say unto
you that this poor widow has cast more
In than all they which have cast into
the treasury.
' " "For all they did. cast in of their
abundance; but she of her want did
cast in all that she had, even all of her
living.' "
Now, Mr. Dooley says- irk his witty
way that when the Laird of Skibo gives
away a dollar it "sounds like a waiter
falling downstairs with a tray of
dishes." And yet it must be owned
that no gift ever bestowed, by Mr. Car
negie or anybody else, has made such
a noise in the world as the two mites
dropped into the contribution box by
the poor widow of Jerusalem.
Realising which. It is interesting to
consider bow much the widow's gift,
in a merely pecuniary sense, amounted
to. The English translation of the gos
pel of Saint Mark states that it was
"half a farthing," but this is very far
from being correct. It was not, as a
matter of fact, anything like so much
as that.
A numismatic expert has gone to the
trouble of figuring the matter out with
accuracy. . He states that the unit of
the ancient Roman coinage Palestine
in the time of. Jesus, of course, was a
Roman province was the As, or pound.
It weighed, originally, 13 ounces, and
on It was stamped a sheep. Whence
the word "pecuniary," relating to
money, from the Lat in "pecus," mean
ing & flock."
But the As in the course of time un
derwent various changes.' Being grad
ually reduced in size, and proportion
ately in value, it fell at length to a
weight of half an ounce. This was
what it weighed in the time of Jesus,
when It was worth only a trifle over
a farthing, or about half of one of our
bronze cents.
It Is necessary to make this explana
tion in order to show clearly and ex
actly what was the value of the wid
ow's mite. For, if. Ignoring the Eng
lish translation of Saint Mark, we go
back to the earlier Latin version, we
find that it says: "There came then a
certain poor widow,' who cast In two
mlnuta (mites), which make a quad
rans." But the quadrans was the fourth
of an As; so that the mite being the
half of a quandrans, it must have had
a value of only the eighth part of a
farthing, or the 16th of a cent.
Thus. It appears that the widow
dropped into the contribution box two
small coins, each of which was worth
a 16th of a cent which means that her
offering amounted to one-eighth of a
cent.
A fact worth considering in this con
nection is that metal money had- a
much greater purchasing power in
those days than at present. The world's
stock of gold and silver was compara
tively small, and much of it was arbi
trarily held by emperors, kings and
nobles, in the form of treasure, decora
tions, etc.. and by the priests In the
temples devoted to the worship of the
gods. - Consequently what coin there
was in circulation would then buy a
great deal more in proportion to its
face value than it would today. Prob
ably it would not be too much to as
sume that the coins given by the wid
ow to the Temple at Jerusalem were
worth in purchasing power eight times
as much as pieces corresponding to
them in modern currency. If this be
assumed the poor woman's offering
was equivalent to about 1 cent.
Nobody knows exactly what the wid
ow's mite was made of. The specimen
in the Philadelphia mint is bronze of
some sort, apparently, but not ordi
nary bronze,
i!rv i
i: W0 SKA . '
were employed, it could not be expect
ed that the coins produced would be
very symmetrical. Considered as a me
chanical product, the pieces of money
of copper and tin: but there is no pos
sible way of determining the matter
without destroying it, and it is too
precious to be subjected to even the
mildest test.
The weight of the mite in question
is 10 grains. Its stamped design con
sists of nothing more than a capital
Greek L, which looks exactly like an
A without the cross-mark. The L
stood for Lepton, which is what the
coin was called in the days when it
was in circulation. It was (as al
ready stated) the smallest piece of
metal money ever minted and possessed
the least - value a fact which alone
would give it more than a passing in
terest. Now, when one speaks of the "mint
ing" of the mite, one uses a term which
hardly corresponds to our modern no
tion of coin making. For dyes, such
as are now employed for the stamping
of designs upon pieces of money, wen
unknown In the time of Jesus. In
those days punches were used instead.
The mite was cast in a mold of sand.
Probably it is composed after which tho design was imprinted
on it by a hammer and punch. Of
course, it was a slow method of mak
ing money, but the coinage in circu
lation was of comparatively small val
us. barter being largely employed then
as a means of doing business without
the help of a negotiable medium.
When an ancient Roman died a small
piece of money was customarily placed
in his mouth before consigning him to
the tomb, in order that he might have
the wherewithal to pay the fare to
Charon, who' was supposed to paddle
departed souls across the River Styx,
in the after world. In all likelihood
the mite was frequently utilized fox
this purpose.
The mint of Philadelphia possesses
what is believed to be the oldest piece
of metal money ever made. It was
minted at Aeglna in 700 B. C, or there
abouts, and its design is in high re
lief, with a tortoise crawling across
the face. There is no date on it, of
. course, the idea of putting dates on
coins being unknown up to 400
ago.
terf sitting of .ancient coins has .long
been a recognized industry, practiced
by experts so clever that some of their
productions in this line, even when
known to be imitations, have com
manded high prices, it will be realized
that no precautions are too great to
be taken In judging the antiquity of
such a valuable curiosity as the wid
ow's mite. In regard to the specimen
at the Philadelphia mint, however,
there is no shadow of doubt.
The Teirfple at Jerusalem here men
tioned was known as the Temple of
Herod, and stood on thesite originally
occupied by the Temple of Solomon,
which had been destroyed by the con
quering Nebuchadnezzar itn 586 B. C.
It was constructed entirely of polished
granite interspersed with dark-colored
marble, with beveled edges. Herod pro
posed to fill up the edges withi.sold. but
the Rabbis advised him to abstain from
of the time of Christ were poor things doing so, as the white plaster 4n which
compared with ours, but some of them
were very artistic. And it may fairly
be said that, later, the coinage of the
Middle Ages, which was made by
stamping disks cut with shears out of
metal sheets hammered to the desired
thickness, was, much of it, superior in
this latter respect: to that of today.
In conclusion one might add that the
coin of greatest interest mentioned in
the New Testament, with the sole ex
ception of the widow's mite, is that
in which Judas bargained for the lib
erty and life of the Savior. Nobody
knows, unfortunately, just what the
piece of -money was. though the com
mon supposition is that it was a shekel
a coin about the size of our silver
dollar. "Thirty pieces of silver" was
the price received by the Betrayer a
the stones were set gave the temple
the appearance of waves of the .sea.
It took 46 years to build the temple,
and one of the classic writers has re
corded the opinion that anybody who
failed to see it missed the opportunity
of beholding the most beautiful . plece
of architecture in the world.
The temple proper was surrounded by
two courts, and the Holy Place (whichf
was the inner -shrine) was protected
by two "veils," or curtains. There waa
also a Holy of Holies, protected by an
other veil. It was these veils which,
according to the Bible story, were rent
on the most awful of all occasions,
when Christ suffered on the cross.
The widow's mite now in the pos
session of the Philadelphia mint
(though worth in Jesus' time only a
16th of a cent) is doubtless today the
moat valuable piece of metal money
in the world, and. in response to offers'
sum which, if ttiev were shekels, would
be about equal in purchasing power to for it already made by numismatists.
JZ40 of our money. the Government has declared that " It
Naturally, when such crude processes When It is understood that the coun- is not for sale at any price.
Children Who Fin 11,000 a Month llKn
ely jlnoun to-uwq on nWfWB '
w- , V k - , rrs'' q I Va-r! i III! lirv INi r-U 'T'T- - 'XZ ?'
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f ' Hp, V '?'J 8 , .... (. : :,-. v' ... irvv- :' wrtt --.r"". - -' " " - 1 -fi'n ... . .-...r,.. .j .
, 4i . v? , ' ' . ' 111 . i. .. -. i - . r-
t - f . ! It -V." 4,1 ' "-" i , . Kiv: r WILS$il well as boys. If one would realize
Z -r i 'S f- , I fSS2Z how far this idea Is carried
fx J" if i Ar i ' I C "" - ". . - . i 3 R' R':V go to Newport and see how the chil-
T A. MI-.tx--. --' , . - " ' llfcfei dren of the so-called smart set, even
f ' l -A. j. .. j , .... -n,. V: .... ' 'X
, zzrf r&z&t?& tagag SX. Jite3
m 4. C- r -W -J y . j. :.:;:.;. 'A T . 'j- ' If
fr a.
ja vv lUKit- no personal expense lating to the nursery. Besides, she spond. Every morning he gives the hangs the daintiest imaginable chande- eat Is carefully elected for digest!
stances, from 5 to 15 years of age. health and beauty, both of which are. which fs not only a means of cleanli- IJT'- . t a , ar6-cVerd Wlth
piay be properly reckoned at about to her. nil imnnrtanf , tn Pleated fabric, so as to be con-
requiring strength and endurance are At 16 she will receive $1000 a year, and
a part of the education of girls as when she reaches the age of 18 her
father will give her $5000 or $6000 per
let him annum to supply her personal wants.
Including clothes. Thus the remark
able independence which she has en-
tots or five or six years of age, of both joyed since babyhood will be continued
sexes, take regular lessons in swim
ming and learn to paddle about and
dive like ducks. Likewise they must
up to trfe time when she marries. That
she will not fall to marry may be
taken foi granted, because her dear
learn to ride fearlessly, and nowadays PS-pa sure to present her a furnished
ness but a part of early education in
It is mainly on this account that -on those habits which are becoming to a
cealed, giving to the whole room the
$1000 a month.
'lnis inrerence is made rrom.a num- Fifth i m. v i, ., rnntinman
ber of recent court -orders governing beholds the sneetael r .'wM.nnr The suite assigned to Hrtl
the expenditure of trust moneys in be- front door and trootl of mftrrv.voioed Midas is similarly arranged, but fur- th household, as befits something ex
half of orphan boys and girls. - youngsters issuing forth to nlav. Thara nished in a less substantial and more tremely precious. Is placed for safe-
Indeed. $1000 a month is to be re- ls no such joyoua company concealed dainty way. as is appropriate to an keP1n-
effect of the Interior of a big jewel-
rtg. wa, an waicn we peitea aaning oz
bility.
While in some ways the methods
adopted in the rearing of the off
spring of our multi-millionaires may
be Injudicious, by reason of too much
luxury and Jnsufflclent hard knocks, it
is undeniable that everything that is
wise ls done for the improvement of
their bodies. Little Miss Midas is
youths of ten and twelve are instructed
in the scientific management of auto
mobiles. Training of this kind possesses a
practical value that is not to be over
estimated. It hardens the body 'ana
the nervous system, and gives the
child the sort of physical equipment
that it needs to meet the wear anS
tear of the strenuous and incessantly
active life which grown folks of great
wealth and high fashion are accus
tomed to lead.
The children of our multimillionaire
She has a costume made
. . , , . . . UIUAI.1C3, OlIO lias A bUAiUWQ JUUUQ
1 complete as if eals- aIa mo8t f eun th f the and Bpends at ,eagt
1 out 1- society. apBrtme1",ts- Insmuch " t an hour evry day ,n a maU Kym.
it of European household is managed on much the na8l whlch ls rt of the e ,
garments are very expensive, being
made by the most fashionable tailors
and dressmakers. Two thousand dol
lars a year is not considered too much
to pay for the clothing of a little girl,
whose gowns will cost from $60 to $75
apiece. She will need at least two
dozen frocks, and perhaps 13 hats.
garded as a very moderate allowance inside the walls of the palatial man- apartment occupied by a young lady. ut4 Master and Miss Midas have bt b their ,overne8s to exercise are simply and plainly clad, but their
... w - v....u sions or brick and stone, but only here -er personal establishment is in all re- , " -.n"ec""k ner muscles.
i... " and there a small boy or girl who is spects as luxurious and
piane oi suusiannai inaepenaence, oc- seen ot intervals out walking with a she were grown up and
cupy.ng weir own exclusive sunes or mald, 0 perchance, seekine amuse- The furniture lu. all of
apartments, and waited upon by their ment discreetly with two or three care- manufactre. of light satin-wood, made me PJan a ,m11 hoteI' employing t f fa h g jjer brother, as
personal servants, who have nothln? .--..j , . . . . . . . SO or 40 servants thlo Inunl'vaa nn In. "-" " c '
T . . : . , . iuu-Biecwa companions oi nis or ner "u imirariea oy special oraer. ner oea ' " matter of course, does the same thing.
to do but to look after their comfort wn social set. ' is an exqisite piece of art workman- convenience. Breakfast is brought to and ne may take reg.uiar iesaons ln
and obey their commands. Tne ,ittje Midaa bov. wn is 10 lt ship. and the chairs and sofas match it. thelr roo,na and eaten in company with bo:, Whii tho tri .Mni. th
Such arrangements are made more rears of ate. sav. r1nvn mcIuhIva as well as the dreasinir ta.b1e. bonuth the nurse or with the governess, and rudlm..t, , art nr fMo- Her shoe bill is a heavy item, inas
easy by the small size of the multl- of a sort of bachelor apartment in his the canopy Hop of which bunches of dlnner la served in the same way at competent master. The "well-set-up" "aacn her footgear is made to
millionaire's family. It is not likely own home, consisting of three nnm electric lights hantr nendant. 6 P. M. . voiina- wnmen on e. n "Fih o. order at a high-priced boot-maker's.
thathehasmorethantwochildren.be- bedroom, sitting-room and bath. To The walls of the bedroom are cov- The fare is simple. Though indulged nue any flne aftemoon owe much of For th clothes ot an infant as yet thing he wants simply for tH askin
cause that is the number recognized as wait on him he has a maid and a gov- ered with sky blue silk, put on in ver- lo n "rainMy degree in mosi thelp flne physical development to this un"orn irom ibou to szouo is ire-
a well-bred and suitable limit. The so- erness, with the use of a man. This tical pleats running from floor to ceil- thlnss' tho children of the rich, as a sort of training In their childhood. quently spent
clal duUes which Impose themselves means that the man has other duties lng, and with a flounce along the bot- Part of th1"- hygienic bringing up. ats In the8e day, the accomplishments Little Miss Midas has a regular al-
upon a fashionable woman do not per- in the household, but at a summons torn edged with lace. The ceiling is denied sweets to a great extent They deemed most important for young lovrance of pocket money. Just like a
mit Mrs. Midas to occupy herself be- from his young master's electric bell he adorned with the same material, drawn do not have nearly so much candy as ladies of fashion are of the athletic grown-up young lady. When she ls 10
yond a certain point with affairs re- is expected to drop everything and re- in pleats to the center, from which most' poor children, and whatever they kind, and bodily exercises of a sort years old she gets $30 or $40 a month.
house and jo. moderate fortune on her
wedding day, and young women who
are so situated do not look in vain for
husbands.
Unquestionably the children of the
rich do not have as good a time as
boys and girls who are born to less
fortunate circumstances. They are not
allowed to play ait will with other chil
dren, but the few companions with
whom they are permitted to associate
are carefully picked by their parents,
usually with a view to subsequent ad
vantage derivable from social impor
tance. Their toys, of course, are the most
expensive purchasable, but it is doubt
ful if they enjoy them so much as
everyday boys and girls do theirs. Lit
tle Miss Midas has a dollhouse which
is a reproduction in miniature of a
Fifth-avenue mansion, but it is almost
too flne to play with. Somehow when
a plaything becomes too gorgeous and
costly it affords lesj amusment. Be
sides, when a youngster can have any-
and knows that such is the case, the
fun is gone out of it.
Master Midas and his little sister are
scarcely acquainted with their mother.
How could it be otherwise, indeed!
Concluded on Pare 7.)