The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-12-25
crcumstaptial evidence. 1t also made a
great noise in Kent at that time.
A Widows Perplexity.

tue dwelling OF Mr.. Thomas tothergllI,
fine old gentleman of sixty-fve, who has
been a widower for eighteen months. Mr..
Folhcrgill, having become tired Of his soli-
tary condition, advertised for wife, stating
according to custom, the qualifications
which applicants for the situation were re-
quired to possess. Tho advertisement
could not have been more than an hour be-
fore the public, when a brisk widow, Mrs.
Rachel Morrison by name, might have been
seen ascending the steps of Mr.. FotIlergiIl's
residence. i'll Eight street. This lady re-
memberng the proverb that "the early
bird catches the worm," presented herself
for the advertisers inspection almost as
there was daylight enough 70 answer the
purpose and, to reward her busincss-Iike
alacrity, she proved to Je the first compcti-
! tor for the prize.
Mr.. fo'hergil, being man of mercan-
tile habits, is very prompt making bar
gam. and moreover, is not Very hard to
please. Having examined Mrs. Morrison's
credentials, he seemed to decide that she
would suit him exactly, and the whole af-
fair was about to te concluded, to the sat
iStaction of all parties, when hard pull at
the door-bc!l announced another arrival.
Al - Immediately, Il second lady en-
q" .oom and glanced around appre-
as if afraid that she had come
She WAS thin, elderly female,
whose name afterwards proved to be Miss
Noana Price. "Are you the gentleman
who advertised for wife q said Miss Prize
as soon as size entered. Before Mr.. Fo,h-
ergill could reply, Mrs. Morrison answered
tor him. ''fes, madam, he advertised
but I reckon he's supplied" 1 spoke to
the gentleman himself, madam" answered
Miss Price sharply, land suppose he
knows his own mind" lie made IL deca.
ration of his intentions before you came"
said Mrs. Morrison. Il think you must
have misunderstood him, madam persons
at your time of life arc apt to hear imper-
fec,ly," answered Miss Price. "You appear
to be very anxious to change your cond-
ton, madam" said Mrs. Morrison. "You
seem TO be much in want of Il husband, too"
said Miss Price. II never found it difficult
to get one," said Mrs. Morrison "and l
wish you to know that have had two al
ready" ooh y cried Miss Price, II see
your husbands were much to be pitied, and
don't wonder that their lives were of
short duration"
While this alteration was going on be.
tween the ladies, Mr.. Fo;hergiil Looked and
listened with extreme embarrassment. Pos
slbIy he could have been happy with either,
"were the other dear charmer away"-and
he seemed totally unable to decide which
deserved his preference. The contest be-
tween the rival candidates was carried on
with increasing bitterness, Until the hand Of
Miss Price, while performing an energetic
gesture. happened to touch the somewhat
protuberant nose of Mrs. Morrison. What
followed we gladly suppress, but, for the
sake OF making an accurate report, it L. is
necessary to say that the bonnets of both
ladies were demo lished, and their faces
rather badly scratched. Mrs. Morrison
made charge Of assault and battery a
gainst Miss Price. That the scene We have
described made some impression on the
mind OF Mr.. Fothergill may he judged
from the circumstances that when giving
in his evidence at Mayors office, he si.ni-
lied his determination to remain single for
at least six months longer-PhH. Press.
A Human Hair Fair-Woman Bringing
their Tresses to Market.
Very few of our gentle readers, probably
ever heard OF or imagined such thing as
a Human Hair Fair. AS few, perhaps, ever
thought OF inqniring into the source of the
beautiful trcssc, which are seen every day
in those armories OF Venus, the windows of
the hair-dresses. We arc reminded, how
ever, by late French paper that this is
the season OF the annual hair fair at Nor
lass, in the lower, Pryenees, in France.
Nlorlass is near the city of Pau, and it is
from Pau journal that we derive. some
account of the fair the present season. The
hair-dealers were crowding into the pace
from all points, from Toulouse and even
Bordeaux and the young peasant girls of
the neighborhood, famous for their fine and
abundant heads of bair, were focking to
the market like sheep, 10 be sl,orn OF their
locks for the a1ornment of other and proud
Ter heads. Even young husbands accolnpa-
ny their wives, 10 insist upon their despoil-
ing themselves, for trihing consideration,
OF their beautiful heads of hair. Twenty
francs is the highest price which is given
for the richest head of hair, and majority
OF the damsels art with their locks for a
tenth part of that sum.
This singular market is held in the open
street, and attracts crowds Of curious as
vel as interested persons. Girls are seen
to be sheared in public, while others are
waiting their turn, with their caps in their
hands and their long hair combed out and
hanging down to their waists. The shear
ers are men asswell as women. Some of
our fair readers will conclude that this must
be degrading scene. But how else could
the stock Of wigs and frizettes, and bands
and top pieces, and curls, which is needed
to prop up the lettering beauty of the. sex,
be supplied Tons of black silken hair.
sheared in bemanner above described FROM
the beads OF the peasant damsels Of tie
south of France, 1! srs imported into this
country annually :ss = . rs; I. 80 3 :.
= mere are ialrs IN others places in the
South of France and ID Brittany. where
adventurous, virtuosos buy up and shear the
i crops of the fair.haired damsaIs "a Z a Il,