The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-17 00:00:00

THE LINGERING CHIGNON.

The result of a somewhat extended acquaintance
with hotel and tavern bars has heeu the formation of a
' deeply-rooted conviction in my mind that the old
A letter from Genesee to the Syracuse Standard, 1 sumptuary laws might with advantage be revived—at
under date of September 24, relates the following : all events, as far as kite head-gear of the beer-engine
THE PROPOSED ALTERATION OF FARES "Yesterday, on the train on the Erie Railway which Venus type of barmaid is concerned. The astounding
ON THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. runs from Rochester to Danville, and reaches here , edifices of hair and' -pads" which one every now and
at ten a.m., a most singular circumstance occurred. i then meets with behind the bar baffle description
(From Monday's Tinier.) When the train was about three miles from this and transfix the male beholder with amazement, as
An announcement of no little interest both to Rail- village, the passengers in one of the coaches were ! much at their huge proportions as at the courage
way Passengers and Shareholders was made in our I alarmed by the singular actions of a lady, who gave her and endurance of those who exist under the top-
City Article on Friday, and was officially confirmed on name as Mary P. Rhoades, of Adrian, Mich., and a', heavy structures. 'The long-standing feud between
Saturday. The Midland Railway Company has re- I relative of Rev. C. T. Seibt, of Olean, N.Y. She I good taste and fashion noalere exhibits its evil
solved "that on and after the lot of January next was leaning over a seat, uttering the most piercing influences more strongly than in the hideous in.
two classes only of passengers be carried on the Mid- cries. A gentleman rushed to her and asked the stances of head disfiguration, which now-a-days we
land Railway, to be called first-class and third-class, trouble. She made no answer, but continued to scream are asked to accept as examples of fashionable hair-
and that the fares for first-class be reduced to lid. the louder. When the train reached this village she dressing. If the fair sex could only be made to under-
per mile, the third class fares to be continued as was helped into the waiting-room, and a gentleman stand that, with a simple and tasteful arrangement of
lat present. Return tickets at reduced fares to present procured a glass of brandy, which being given their natural hair, the male brutes would be far better
be discontinued." A resolution of this kind taken to the lady she appeared to recover some. A lady stand- pleased than with the shapeless masses of false tresses
by BO great a Company must be regarded as fore- inte near at this juncture gave a scream, and pointing and pads which now render their wearers ridieuloue in
shadowing a policy likely to be generally tried, and a to the head of Miss Rhoades fainted. On examine- the eyes of nensible men, the evil would be more than
i
very great change n the conditions of railway travel- Ron a large striped snake was observed coiled half remedied, I feel bound to ray that the presiding
ling may thus be imminent. It was the same enter- around the chignon of the lady. How it came there divinities at refreshment and wine bars are among the
prising Company, it will be remembered, which set the • waa a mystery, and only explained by the theory that chief offenders in this respect. lam told that this
example of attaching third-class carriages to Ml trains, it had -got into the car and took refuge under the (nitre style of toilette is a matter of business" in
and, as indeed is sufficiently proved by the manner in cushions of the car-seats. Miss Rhoades stated she such cases • such policy, however,. I can in no degree
which this announcement is affecting the price of felt something crawling up her head, but could only endorse. The class of customers likely to be attracted
Railway Stocks, the force of canmetition tends to give vent to her feelings in screams, and until it was by such displays as one too often meets with in the
compel uniformity of practice on all such points. The taken off did not herself know what the matter was, bars to which I have referred, must infallibly banish
Company, moreover, have in this instance very The snake was killed, and the affair produced no little from the establishment 1111 more desirable visitors.—
high financial authority to resit upon. Lem than two excitement for the time." Licensed Victuallers' Guardian.