The Arkansas advocate., 1837-01-13
AN AFFICACIoUs HAIR POWDER

We heard an anecdote the other day of old Sbafer ot whom 90 many stories are tod and who, years ago. used to "cut up such shines in and about Boston, which we believe has never been published. No mat fer II II has, we give it in way. Some years ago, one very hot day Tn summer, number of blacks, wishing to wind off "Bobolition Dayn with dance, went over to Roxbury and wanted Shaffer to let them have his hall for ball in the evening .sDis sePct compane, massa Shaver, of gemmen and ladies of de first scety, and want tngs done up nice.' "Oh, certainly, certainly; but Sligo, I cant let you have the hall except one condlion.' "Well, what dat, Mir. Shaverm "Why, its the fashion now to have the hair powdered, and if you'd all dance with your top pieces whtened, to appear gentee you may come, and lll find the powder to bootn 70 goshee certain y, Massa Shaver! dat be jst what wanted to sug- gest We want to take the shine off your common dancers" "Ill suit you then to hair" said ShafTcr.
 Things were hus all settled, and at inc the appoint ed time some fifty or hundred blacks in high gleo and spirits drove hp to Shafer's with their Ducineas dressed up in all the colors of the rainbow. The "gemmen' were taken into separate room, where Shaler had placed three four persons with lots of powdered mc with which to set off their curly tops in the 'Frnost approved fashion, The lime was put on "pretty considerably thick" rubbed in &c and when their heads were all s'fnished0 as the writing master says, they went to work in the ha and for about four hours put the double shue and pigeon wing into the floor ssabou the slickestn It was a very hot night and of course e company of dancers perspred freely and for some reason other, the precipitation appear ed to take place about the hoad more abundanty than elsewhere. This of course produced an immediate scratching with the hands in the region of the upper story--"H Hallo hcre," bawled the fddler "Mss Phil- isy, what dat lock of wool on de floor gosh-guess all the black birds be goin to shed dare leaders,. And the fiddler ceased fiddIing laid down his instrument, and began to scratch and pull away with both hands upon his head, s.Iike one possessed.e Off came his hair in admirable profIson What was the matter! The dance ceased. and all the dancers came 10 halt The scratching and pulling of hair had become general The poor fellows when they got tired of scratching themselves, bent have their heads rubbed by their "sweet hearts,, who administered such consola.
 ton with the ends of their fingers and tops of their vol ces they could. The ssgemmen' began to perspire more freely than ever, both from fatigue and alright
 for their hair began to fall fast and abundanty upon the floor that they presented the appearance company of bad-headed dancers-"M Massa Shaver what Tn de Lor's name dis meant What dam powder dis here! We be all droppin of at the head" But Shaer having got pay for his tickets, was for long time among the missing The blacks soon found out the mystery, however-when they began to dance and perspire he lime began slack, which in little time took their hair off, and ckled their skin rather uncom
 fortably. They after departed much lighter than they came .Old Shaver said he suit us to hair.' quoth old Sigo "but guess next time we know enough | to wear wigs."--.H II. Eagle.