Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-03-25
WHOLE NO. 1856.
Grey Hairs.

Gle on 7OE6y halFe, Dy LAURA heau, IN
the Louisville Journal: 1t has been so
long since l have seen q grey-headed
woman, that l did not realize the pos
sibilitY of such a thing until, all at
once, my own hair revealed itself case
in point. All my life have made my
toilet before the glass, more as q habit
than seeing how looked. Itwas ever
more some picture of hope or 8 sor-
row that met my view, but as thread
after thread of silver was added to my
hair, found myself making an OBJ
servation. Lifting up side lock, the
signs Of grey were unmistskSble, and
1t was not long before one friend and
another Jealous Of my good looks, sug-
gested different remedies. One went
so far as to present me with bottle of
the most approved hair restorer and
l was obliging enough to attempt its
use. The hair, must admit changed
its hue, but that was not all. The skin
Of my head exhibited an appearance
as if it had been peppered, and the
peculiarity soon extended to the fore
head. Ny cheek bones, which are
rather prominent were rendered con-
spieuous by little patches of black
ened pores. that looked precisely as if
1 had dirty face. remembered to
have observed the peculisrity in other
faces. When l met acquaintanees on
the street and elsewhere, found my
self looking out for the signs ofdye. and
got so kept my veil down, not liking
scrutiny myself. My hands and finger
nails were alike dingy. especially my
nails. l tried soap and water, but they
only set the dye. A chemist suggested
borax, and the result was the new
bronze, as shining as Varnish. My
complexion had never been fair, bat 1t
was smooth and free from blemish-
and here made another observation
The hair restorer was advertised to be
stainless, and free from all disagreea-
bic odor, but l noticed that, when
opened my comb drawer, there was q
very perceptible smell of sulphur es-
caped-my pillow had similar odoT,
and my hands-and in a crowded room
l felt nervous, lest the person seated
behind me, or at my side, would detect
the smell Of sulphur also.
At this point 1 grew desperate, for if
l have q sense stroug to fault, it is
that of smell, and sleeping and waking
at home and abroad, l carried the an
noyance with me. Here, too, took
another survey of my hairin the strong
est light. It was motely in color, and
had no more lustre than dead corn
silk The grey was changed mot
"a sea change to something rich and strange
1t was brown, sandy, and carrot
colored, with a tinge of purple, and
what had been black was the dead
cork silk hue aforesaid. And my hands
had the stickiest, nastiest, feeling, IS
if covered with greasy buckwheat.-
/ The upshot of these observations was
pitching the bottle of Eureka, or Helm
street, or Steinstreet, or Allen, or what
ever it was, into the street, fumigat-
| ing the comb drawer, refurnishing it,
and cutting of my hair. view with IN
mixed delight the young growth Of
even black and white.
Ny experience has led me to dwell
thoughtfully upon the subject Of grey
hair, and growing old in general
Why is it people have such nervous
dread of old age? Grand-mothers are
ma Smiths and ma Browns, and even
the children, nowadays have a hor-
ror of grey hair. One of their tasks is
pulling it out-the use of tWezers deep
ening wrinkles. 1 must own my de-
termination to let nature take its course
was terribly shaken when my bright
eyed little god-daughter said what
makes you let your hair be grey;
can't like people with grey heads
How different from the lovely picture
of summer afternoon-the grey hair
ed sire with his grandchild asleep upon
his breast.
Again in my efforts to spduse and en-
tertain children, I have often been
called upon to repeat the story of Bald
head. One evening after moralizing as
usual, on the wickedness of those young
Isrselites, the least one OF my hearers
exclaimed "Why didn't old Badly wear
a wig then?"
Looking around fashionable church
lately, l observed but two grey-headed
females in the congregation, and one
was an English woman, the other a Ca
madam. There were plenty of Wrin-
kles-and sunken, faded eyes-and
blanched faces, but neVera halo of grey
hairs to soften the touch of times
rough fingers. There was no blossom
ing for the tomb of these mothers in
Israel-it was staying off Death and
holding on to youth with trembling
hands.
1t is our duty to look as well as pes-
sible in the world, but all ages have
their boundaries, and attempts to
overstep them is like walking back
wsrds-one is sure to stumble.
When l was child, sat in church
Just where two extremes of life met
my eyes, as l looked at the preacher.
One was a child, who had golden curls
framing in a face exquisitely fair
brown eyes, and lips apart, a glimpse
of snowy teeth between the other was
an old lady with white neckerchief
pinned closely around her throat, a
soft double plating of lace in her bon
net, and face-can I describe it7-
Blue eyes, large and beautiful lips, firm
and sweet, smooth low brow; and the
hair, half grey and wsVy, shading it all,
like a subdued background to the pic
ture of a saint. The repose Of the whole
figure l cannot describe; and, my eyes
between the spring and the
winter of life, did not need pictured
saint or sculptured cherub to assist my
devotions-
Those two races somehow are insep-
arably associated with early religious
And there is another
racenow illuminated in glory-it was
an illustration of grace here-that
comes up before my mind-but l am
writing simply of grey hair. and have
" andered off to visions of my youth.
Youth is lovely, but is there not a
glory in old age far exceeding? Let
me for one accept its confirmation in
the laying on of snowy 6ngers-accept
Z with prayer that may 50 improve
The failing yeas as to be respectable
in old age.
The SWEDISH ARMY IN TINE OF
PEAcg.-In Sweden, in time of peace.
t is customary to let out soldiers for
'ivil labor, 50 that in the cities, espee-