The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-13
Arr or QUALIFICATION IN PARIs.


The return Of the gay world 10 the capital is
often source Of curious surprises. Red or grey is
often found 10 have changed TO auburn or black
and stranger STILL heads that have been pre-
viousy covered with black or dark brown hair,
are seen, on their return to town, to be covered
with lrxuriant crops of laXen curls. Others,
whose heads bad been actually grey, came back
with hair as white as snow, every Bit Of color
having been, by some ingenious chemical pro-
cess, completely Cotton rid Of. Blondes and
brunettes, too, are found to hSye changed their
complexions and fas people TO have grown thin,
and thin people fat Both sexes seem equally
skilful in bringing about these metamorphoses,
nhich have usually been the result Of a summer
passed at some remote chateau, ont Of sight Of
"the dear five hundred" by whom these curious
changes are TO b. duly admired and quzzod, as
the case may be.
The art Of making mp the human exterior has
certainly been carried further in the Paris Of to-
day han ever elsewhere. We have special prdc-
ttiOuers for the hair, the skin, the shape, the
teeth and 30 on. But these "ar,ists" have hitherto
worked apart each in his own sphere; and no
one had bethought him of setting himself up as
geu eral beautihcr Of the human subject This
want, however, is now to be supplied. a pros
pec,us has Just been issued BY some one who
has not yet divulgod his name, but who is
evidently a genius Of very high order In his
way, He states that he Is the author OF
the NV art, which he calls the Catapastic,
and defines "rho whole art of beaut-
cation OF the face form, and costume" He
says that "catapastic processes" have hitherto
failed to produce their full effect, because not
eOmb mbined under the direction Of single compc-
tent professor; and adds that in order 10 obtain
the full and brilliant success which these pro-
cesfes are capable Of nsuring, it is necessary to
combine the sure and eflicaciOus products of the
deTnC chem stry of the ne ofAspasia and Alc-
baues, of ancient Rome and the Middle Ages,
with the modern inventions Of the hair-dresser,
the corset-maker, the worker In gutta-percha,
the dentist, Oculist OrthOpgdist, pedicure tailor,
dressmaker, aud the jeweler. The Cataplastic
artist mites all these speciaties in his own per-
son; and proposes to issue weekly newspaper
in which all these elements of the great work
disqualification" are to be treated of, and in
which accounts Of results obtained are to be duly
commune ated to the reader.
"The work propose 10 undertake is a general
one, says the Cataplaslic oracle. IL mend up tho
tleshy parts smooth down asperties. fiji IN hol-
lows melt the tints into one another heighten or
tone down the complexion, soften the SKIN and
render It soft and lustrous, modify the color and
style Of the hair TO suit the general character of
the physognomy l attack the imperfections of
the eyes, teeth, limbs, and feet; | make the
crooked straight, and cause dignity and upright
ness TO succeed to stoop. Having rectfed the
deviations OF the body, given animation to the
glance, charm TO the smile, and grace TO the out
line, proceed to the toilette Of the rejuvenated
being.
"Come to my rooms, ladies' and gentlemen.
adds the Oracle, and l will change you so COM
pletely that your friends will not rec )rnize Won
so youthful fresh, agile, and enchanting shall
haVerendered you. You will leave my hands in
state of perfection; and will only need in order
TO ensure your triumph, to avoid exposing your
self 70 the sun or rain"
A story is told of a certain elderly dandy who
continues to pass himself off tor younger than he
49, by the aid OF these complicated appliances, and
who has recently engaged, as Ualet de cham5re, a
young fellow freshly imported from his native
village. The valet who has been impressed by
the graces OF his new masters person, and who
had no suspicion OF their artificial nature, was
greatly amazed on assisting him to undress on
the night Of his entrance on his new place. at the
work Of demolition in which he was called upon
70 assist. The coat and vest carried off with
them the rounded outlines that had showed TO
such advantage the moment before, and at the
unbuckling of the corset, the iaunty upright
ness of the dandy underwent an equally sud-
den eclipse. The withered and shrunken being
duly wrapped in dressing-gown, the old
beau seated himself at his dressing-table, and
proceeded to take himself 10 pieces. The removal
Ofthe lustrous brown wig revealed a perfectly
bare scalp; the white teeth followed the wig and
were carefully placed in glass Of water for the
night The pair of gutta- -perCha "plumpers," 80
skilfully placed between the gums and the
cheeks, we're carefully taken out, betraying the
hollOws they had so effeetually distended, and an
artificial eye was next removed from the empty
socket. The amazement of the unsophsticated
servant had been at last deepening into horror,
as he witnessed these successive transformations;
and when the eX-dandy, STOPPING towards his
lower extremities, proceeded 20 unfasien pair
OF false calves, the valet, imagining that his
ter was going to take himself com petely to pieces
EXCLAIMED IN tone Of mingled anxiety and
terror :-"Oh, monsieur 10 marquis pray do leave
enough Of you for me to put into the bed"
My dear Young lady" said a certain painted
old baroness, living in the Avenue de PImpera-
trice, 10 young Irish girl, an acquaintance Of
your correspondent, few evenings ago, how
very imprudent you are to wear black silk
" Why so, madame la baronne" innocently
inquired the youag lady. Because" replied the
old baroness, if any little bits of paint or
powder fall of, they show 50 plainly upon black
Bat never wear paint or POWDER" replied
the Irish girl $50 there 5 no reason why should
not wear black silk"
"But, my dear, You will grow older every
day. replied the baroness, land so you should
think Of the future, and not acquire the habit o.
wearing things that will be inconvenient by.
and-by."
"But am quite sure if I should live to be g
hundred years old, | shall never use either paint
or powder, OF anything else but cold water, which
no d TO be the best cosmetic. Why, Madam, -
SAID the daughter of Erin, al wash myself in
cold water from top TO toe, every day Z"
"Oh, dreadful! horriOle" cried the old lady
water Is absolute ruin 10 the complexion.
have not washed my face, or taken bath fol
over twenty years Waters such a baC
tnlng for the skin, that have renounoed the ust
of IL altogether. ] rub my face occasionally with
soft linen dipped in rosewater, and put on fresh
powder You see the result" she added with a
simper expressive Of her perfect satisfaction with
her own appearance.
She never shows herself In broad daylight,
without two or three wells, and s1fully painted
as she is and "made up" according 10 the "bes
methods of the day, and showing herself only il
darktned room, or by lamp-light, she succeeds
with the aid OF girlish dress, and afTectaion OF
youthful manners, in looking, at sixty, like an
ugly specimen OF badly preserved forty-fye.
The air is alEO very bad thing for the skin "