Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-29
PartiaIity Evinced for Red Hair.

In ancient times the nations who were
the most polished, the most civilized, and
the most skillful in the fine arts, were pas
sionately fond of red hair. The Gauls, the
ancestors Of the modern French, had the
same preference, though that color is now
held IN disrepute by their descendants, who
like black hair. In some districts Of Afri-
ca they prefer light hair. A taste for red
hair, however, still exists in extensive re-
gions. The Turks, for example, are fond
Of omen who have red hair, while the
modern Persians have strong aversion to
it. The Inhabitants of Tripoli, who proba-
bly, learned It from the Turks, give their
hair AIRED tinge by the aid ofvermillion.-
The women OF Scinde and the Deccan are
also fond of dyeing the hair yellow and red,
as the Romans did, in imitation Of German
HAIR. There is among Europeans general
lily strong dislike to red hair; in Spain
red hair is admired almost to alteration, and
there is story told Of one of our naval
commanders, who luxuriated IN fiery locks.
being idolized and caressed in conse.
quence, by the Spanish women. and look
ed upon as perfect Adonis. Red hair is
often considered deformity; but why it
should be, 1t IS hard to say, since in all
cases the hair and complexion suit each
other admirably; the "golden locks and
'sunny tresses" of the poets invariably ac-
companied the blonde, frank, and manly
faces inherited from Saxon ancestors. We
have heard of 'villanous red hair" and
"horIid red wh,skers;" but hair is only
"villanous" and whiskers "horlible" when
the first is dirty, and the last worn without
regard to the kind of cheeks they surround.
AS consolation for red haired people, |
may state that the Chinese rather mean to
compliment US when they apply the term,
Hung Maow Kwie," literally ''red-haired
devil" Mr.. P. P. Thoms, very good
Chinese linguist, thus explains the epithet
"Red," he observes, ISIS beautiful to the
Chinese; they extol the peach flower, be-
cause of its form and delicate red color /;
all the fronts of their houses are red they
use the vermillion pencil" eff red be
thus beautiful, how can their designating
Europeans red-hared people imply insult
With regard to the word ''Kwie," be con-
tinues, "there is no occasion for us to take
it in its most offensive signifcaton, that of
evil, it being a general term for spirits,
whether good or evil, and equivalent to our
word spirit" Thus "red-haired devl' be-
comes "beautiful spirit" The Germans
hold light hair in estimation, and the Ro-
man ladies Of old had great partially for
hame-colored locks. Red hair has been al
most universally given to warriors, and gol-
den tresses to ladies.-Roaoldnd. -
AN ENGLIsH BEAUTY; AN EMPRESS
JEALoUsr.-The belle of the evening (at a
ball at the Hotel de Ville) was a lady of
whom you have probably heard-N1lss
Smead, OF England. Ishould not have men,
toned her name, were it not already known
to the public in connection with very mark
ed attention bestowed upon her by the En-
peror, oflate,-attention which have caus-
ed the Enpress to forbid her admission to
the Tuileries. She is the most thoroughly,
perfectly, beautiful woman Ihave ever seen,
either in Europe or America. Her type is
altogether English; she has the fair COM
plexion, the light har the blue eyes, which
are characteristic of tie nation, and trifie
OF that embonpoint which lady may have
to advantage, even at q. In form she is
faultless, and in manners she is model
Every one seemed to know the circumstan-
ces of the late Irritation at the palace, and
consequently, when she walked she was
followed by retinue.; when she stopped
she was the centre of dense group OF wor-
shippers, and when she sat, all circulation
was rendered impossible, and the passages
to and from were blocked up hopelessly.-
She bore it with unbroken equanmlty, hard
y noticing that she was the object of any
unusual remark she had learned that
beautiful woman is doubly beautiful when
unaffectedly simple. had never even
dreamed ofsuch wonderful perfection GER
tainly no painter has ever created, from the
depths of his Imagination, and out of the
unreal suggestions of an inspired fancy. a
face so adorably lovely there is not anoth-
er like it, except perhaps, in Circassia, or
at Baltimore. Heigh ho! The Empress
had good reason to be jealous; she herself
is far less handsome. e.-Paris Corresp. ~
Y. Daily Times.
a NUTsELL OF TRUrH.-Here is brief
paragraph into which big heap of truth is
squeezed: Did you ever scratch the end
of piece of timber slightly elevated with
a pin' Though scarcely heard at one end,
it was distinctly heard at the other. Just
SO 1t is with any merit, excellence, or good
work. 1t will sooner be heard of and a2-
plauded and rewarded on The other side OF
the globe, than BY your immediate acquain-
;ance.-Patrio'.
o. The first clock seen in Europe was
present from Haroun Alraschid to Charlie
magne; and, in the fourteenth century,
Dondi of Padua was raised 10 the peerage
for making one of an improved construction.
The title, marquis Dondi del Orologio,"
descended to the eighteenth century, and
probably still exists. e.s III
A Coop MoDE OF REvivING A FADING
FLowER.-Cut the stalk and hold it few
moments in the flame of the candle, and
then set the flower again in the cold water,
when it will recover its strength almost
visiby after this violent assistance, and
blossom. Immediately.