The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-05


from fashionable opera 2
.---------
The AutOcracy or Hair DreSsers.
The two great hair-dressers of the
day at Paris are Felix and Petris. The
former has been the Empresss hair
dresser since the time of her elevation
to the throne until few months ago,
when he lost his post through having
weakly yielded to the seduction of an.
enormous bride, allowing lady Of the
court to have duplicate of the head
dress made for the Empress, which du-
plicate the lady in question vowed, by
all the saints in the calendar, not to
let any human eye behold in Paris,
promising to take it off with her to the
south of France that very day, instead
of which she wickedly postponed her
journey, and made her appearance at
the Tuileries, wearing fac simjie of
the Empire SIS headgear. Though Fee
lix, by thus violating his engagement
never To let any one have a copy of any
thing he should invent for her majesty
until after the latter had worn it, lost
his place and the handsome emolu-
ments attached to it, he is still the first
"artist" of Paris in his own line But
he is an absolute despot, and suffers
no customer to have any voice as to
what he shall do with her hair. A few
evenings ago, being in attendance on
the Duchess Of, he entered her
dressing room, as usual, with the air
( of an autocrat.
/ What dress do you wear tonight,
Madame? inquired Felix, leisurely
drawing off his white kid gloves, as he
approached the dressing table, on
which was laid out magnificent set
of coral ornaments.
"A white MORE antique, replied the
duchess.
White MORE, said the artist, with a
dissatisfied shrug; the MORE is very
commonplace All the butchers wives
wear white MORE
My dress is really very beautiful,
returned the duchess, humbly, and
certainly you won't see many butchers
wives with such lace as that, she con-
tinued. with wave of her hand toward
the opening door, through which her
maid was entering, with the dress ex-
tended, its lustrous tissue almost hid
den under the splendid oyerskirt OF
point de uenise.
With the lace it may pass muster,
deigned to say the artist, with Il sec
ond shrug; but, as for the coral, ii
will not be becoming to your style OF
face
But, Monsieur Felix, | am SO fond
of it / thought of asking you to
dress my hair, with double braids, and
these beautiful coral beads twisted i'll
the braid
But, Madame, your fancies are moth
ing to me. can only dress your hair
according to my own inspirations, not
accordingto yours. 1t is l, and not
you, who am your hair-dresser Coral
is heavy, anglican; fit only for Creoles
A wreath of pomegranate blossoms
would become you admirably.
Nevertheless, Monsieur Felix, MUIR
INJURED the lady
If you have not confidence in me
Madame, call in another artist l am
responsible for the good looks of my
clients 7 returned the artistic haughti-
ly, drawing on his gloves, and moving
towards the door. The moment was
critical In another minute the capil-
larry autocrat would have re-entered
his elegant coupe, and have been on
his way to the ehessing-room of some
more plant "client"
Justine ! said the duchess, address
ing her maid, take away these orna-
ments, and bring the box of pomegran-
ate-fowers.
And few diamonds added the an
tocrat, replacing his gloves in his
pocket, and taking up comb.
The only hair-dresser who pretend'
to dispute the supremacy of Felix IL
Petris, the hair-dresser of the Crane
Duchess of Baden, who passes his ex'
} istepce in state of vibration between
Paris and Baden. Petris is, in reality
as autocratic as Felix, but he is the
most adroit and delicate of flatterers
never assumes an air Of command, bu
contents himself with leading insteac
of driving. If Petris is about to orna
ment the head of brunette, he take
occasion to remark that all the grea
! historic women were dark, and expati
ates on Miriam, Judith. Semiramis, Lu
cretia, Rachel, Malibran. and so on
dwelling on their majestic brows
crowned with a diadem of Jet If Pc
iris happens to be operating on
blonde. he admiringly remarks, 'Whel
/ God created a companion for Adam
he gave her your hair and iustrou
: tresses; and if any proof were neede
, OF the superiority of your shade of hail
it would be found in fact that anon
| our old German ancestors the bru
I nettes powdered gold dust among thei
I dark locks. II he he called TO give tn