The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-19
INTERESTING ITEMS.

asserts that one woman in every ten in England
uses more or less false HAIR with her own. The
larger proportion Of tals comes res irOm asi PaTIs,
English color is bro wn; and, as the home
grown article matches English heads better
than any other it demands a ,proporhonately
higher prl0e. When we say that the prevail
ing English color is brown, of course we refer
to the better classes. There are, perhaps, a
greater number of distinct shades oil color in
English hair than in that of any other country,
and this is accounted for by the mixture OF
races OF which English men and women are
built up. In many parts of this island the de.
scendants of these nationalties still retain all
the ancient peculiarlties of their race; in the
south and southwest the 1axen hair of the
Saxon still predominates among the peasantry;
in Wales the blue-black of the Celt is still
maintained in all its integrity; whilst in the
northeastern counties we see among the COM
mon people, who are tied to the soil, the red
dish hair which they have inherited from their
Danish ancestors. In the large towns where
these various elements commingle, and espe-
cially in the metropolis, an average brown
tint is the prevailing color-hence it is that OF
our more civilized element. DIR. Beddoes,
Bristol physician, has ingeniously argued that
we are, year by year, becoming dsrker-haired
people, by reason OF what he terms ''coniugal
selection" He examined the hair Of 1877 women,
and OF those he found that % had red hair, 95
fair hair 240 brown, 1886 dark brown, and that
only 33 had black hair This analysis over
whelmingly proves the predominance of brown
hair; but then he asserts there is disturbing
element IN the problem, which hs thinks Is cal
cuated to reverse the ultimate result; and as this
element is very interesting one to the ladies,
we beg their attention. Following those women
in their coniugal relations he found that OF
the 367 red, far, and brown-hared ones, which
he rightly classeo as fair, 81 per cent. were
single, whilst of those who had dark brown
and black hair and were classed as black, only
21'5 per cent were single; and he accordingly
comes to the conclusion that, in agreement
with DR.. Darwin's theory of selection, the
blackhaired population must gradually swallow
up all the others. We trust any lighthaired
beauty who reads this will not feel despondent;
we neither believe in the ingenious physicians
figures nor in the conclusion he draws from
them. We are certain that men do not like
dark women better than lightbaired ones
fashion certainly does not say so. The poets,
most undoubtedly, are of the opposite way of
thinking; and II it is law Of English nature
that dark women have the preference, low is it
that, by the theory of selection, we have not
become black-haired race long ago? The
natural theory, undoubtedly, is that the dark
prefer the light, and Utce UerSd and, by virtue
OF this law, medium tone oil color is arising in
this country-a fact which is exemplifed on a
still larger scale IN Central Europe, where the
far-haired North and the black-haired South
have commingled and produced q population
rejoicing in dark brown hair.
4 GIGANTIC REVENUE FRAUDS IN FRANCE.-The
Correctional Tribunal of Yalenclennes has just
pronounced an important judgment seizure
of tobacco made at Vicoigne, at the end of
1864, led to the discovery in the department of
the Somme of a vast enterprise for smuggling,
in which were concerned more than one hum
dred persons living in the departments of the
Nord, Pas-de Calaise, Oise, etc. II was proved
that the principal person, M. Marcel, OF Canon,
had introduced into France during the years
1868, 1864, and 1866, one hundred and ninety
eight thousand pounds of tobacco. From the
proceedings before the court 1t appeared that
Marcel introduced 1t In various shapes, as the
case might be, sometimes among beet-root
pulp, cereals Goals, etc. The loss to the
treasury is estimated at one million of francs.
Forty-seven persons were found guilty and sem
In unWardS
f44,000, and to terms OF imprisonment varying
from three to six months.
SELFACTING CLoCKs.-A novel application of
electro magnetism as motive power for clock
work has lust been perfected by working
ieweller at bennington, which promises to in
troduce anew era in the science OF clock making
and to bring modern tlme-pieces to a state of
absolute perfection. By the new arrangements
the pendulum, the bob, or ball of which consists
OF an electromagnetic coil, is made to osclllate
by means of feeble current of electricity, beat
ing true seconds, with a train OF three wheels
only. One of the advantages of this system is
that q number of clocks in different parts, or
even in different houses, can be connected
together by single wire, and the whole number
will indicate the same time to a second. The
clocks are of the simplest construction, and
never need winding up. No acid battery is used.
BURNING OF THEATRE-The theatre in Brest,
France, was burnt down three weeks ago, Just
after rehearsal. A woman, who was in charge
OF the boX-office, heard q sailor outside say 10
the sentry on duty at the theatre that the place
was on fire, and on rushing into the building tc
see she found the interior in flames, but on
attempting to descend found her retreat cut off
She then ascended, and after breaking window
on the second floor managed TO get out on bal
cony, but was unable to get down. A man sue
ceeded in entering one OF the windows on the
first floor and let the woman down by rope
afterwards rushing through the fire himself Th'
theatre was built in 1850.
The VINE DISEASE IN PoRTUGAL.-The Lisbo1
correspondent of the London Daily Neaos says:-
''The vine disease has sensibly diminished II
Portugal and it is fully expected that there will
be good vintage this year. The farmers us
sulphur to the plants in large quantities, ant
derive great benefit from its application. Shoul
the hopes of the Vine-groWers be realized, tn
prices of wine will fall, and Portugal Will agar
be able to resume her exports to Brazil, a trad
which France and Spain have monopolized 10
several years past"
CoLoRED JURY IN GEoRGIA.-At AugustI
Georgia. March %, Judge Davis, OF the Freed
mems Court finding a difficulty in decidin
upon n certain case, called in three colored meI
made them listen to the argument, and accepte
their verdict as mis- own. This the Transcript 9
that city calls /" the first Colored Jury i
Georgia.
THE LUXURY OF LIVING SoUTH.-The Mobil
papers have most tantalizing accounts OF th
abundance of vegetables in the city market
Green peas were plenty-some brought trol
New 0rleans-but the most OF them hon
growth. The finest of carrots, celery, cabbage
rutabagas, radishes, lettuce, beets, ETC., wei
displayed. New potatoes were also IN abundance
IsNGLAss.-Rockport, Massachusetts, ht
almost monopoly in the manufacture OF ISL
glass. 1t is made from the sounds OF tue hs
called hake, and the business is very actlN
during the winter months.
FREE BATHS IN BosToN.-The Boston city go
ernmont has appropriated $4,000 for the est