The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-03-23
A LADy,s TOILET.
Hair and Its Horrors-RevelatiOns nbout
Powder, Rouge, etc.

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Hair and Its Horrors-RevtlatiOnsn about
Powder, Rouge, etc.
Never since the beginning of the sew
enteeth century has fashion given license
to so many absurdities in the arrange
ment of ladies' hair, or SO many abomi-
nations with which to ornament it, as
at the present day. The enormous
pinnacles worn during the fourteenth
and in the early part of the seventeenth
centuries were called fontanges, and were
constructed by means of illusion lace
and the hair borne up by wire. These
ridiculous cones were sometimes an ell
in height, and made women taller than
men. There is no record, however, OF
ornamental hair having been used in
their construction.
Instead Of the hair being raised in q
fontange, it is now fashionable to build
out the head at the back, by means OF
chignons, stuffed with topseys, or long
rolls Of curled hair, curls over this, and
puffs and frizzes on the top and front
Of the head.
The long braids, or chatelains, as they
are called, are worn by young people
instead of of the chignon, and are loop
ed in the back with curls between
Those persons possessing a reasonable
amount of hair of their own, or rather
growing on their own heads what lady
nowadays, has not quantities of hair
of her own y can braid and arrange it
in this manner, to look very tastefully
without the addition of ornamental hair
There are few heads, however, that have
undergone the crimping process" and
the constant washings to make the hair
light and feecy, that can be made to
look monstrous enough, without adding
rats and topseys, switches and chatc-
lains.
THE CHIGNoN.
The ordinary chignon now in vogue
is very convenient head-dress, more
especially for elderly persons and those
possessing but small quantity OF hair
yet it is sometimes pinned upon the
head in very absurd position by those
making their toilets in hurry, and un-
der the circumstances is a very ridicu-
lous appendage. 1t is only few year.
back that those wearing false hair took
the greatest care to conceal it. A switch
coiled in with the natural hair was as
carefully guarded as if it were snake
about to rattle; but in these days q
lady's dressing table is strewn with
curls, puffs, rats and chignon boxes, as q
matter of course; and it is quite fact
that one of the fair sex not long since
purchased charming set OF heecy
curls " while accompanied by one of ouI
New York beaux.
The young men of our city appear
| quite resigned to the eXtravagant quanti-
ties of false hair worn by the ladies
whom they admire. Could they behold
one of these blonde beauties before the
ornamental hair has been fastened on
her head, her own locks drawn straight
back and twisted in very little knot
behind, it is to be feared they would be
disenchanted.
Personal DECORATION.
AS with gentleman elegance of cos
tune begins at the collar and neck-tie
and with an inviting and gracefully ap-
pointed room the attraction concen-
trates in a neat and glowing hearth.
stone, so in the toilet of lady the
charm and beauty of appearance is made
or marred by the symmetry of her head
by the arrangement of her hair in be.
coming and elegant manner, or by its
Disagreement with an untidy conglom-
Grafton of horse hair, tangled curls
rusty nets, and snarly frizzes.
There has been great deal written
and said of the many denominations o.
the present style of head-dress, and we
are all so used to the ridiculous arrange
ment of ornamental hair. that outland.
ish head-gear and struck-by-lightning.
looking chignons fail to attract second
glance. There is one kind of decoration
however, of which none like to talk, o.
which few undertake TO write, and nc
one will admit the using, viz, cosmetics
for beautifying the complexion. To bt
sure ladies will acknowledge the posses
sion of Baby powder" and puff, anc
writer's have attempted the exposition O
poisonous cosmetics, but generally The
subject is avoided.
There are few women in fashionable
society who do not use powder or somt
other cosmetic for whitening the skin
There are very many who, beside this
pencil their eyebrows and blacken tn,
edge of the lower eyelid. Rouge is no
used to the extent of either the abov,
articles for improving the color of th'
face but there are great quantities o
it purchased, and the truth is it is pu
on the cheeks with such care that it i
difficult to tell in many instances whc
is painted and who is not.
Gentlemen are more deceived by tn,
manufactured compilations of the fai
sex than by any other of their arti
fetal adornments. Mankind are especi
ally averse to powder and paint, and wo
wen who are in the habit of using i
generally apply it cautiously. Man.
married women there are whose hus
bands do not suspect of artificial com
plexion, who regularly whiten ant
rouge their faces, yet most careful
ly secrete the Oriental cream and tn
pink saucer.
Why is it so much worse to use tn
white and vermillion on the skin thai
it is to adorn the head with a mass O
dead hair, sometimes musty and alway
dusty? 1t is certainly a more cleanl
artifce; yet gentlemen will not object t
fondllng long, golden curl they knoy
to be dead hair, if they have common
sense, who would fly into rage at tn
sight of box of /" Meen Fun" or
bottle of "Bloom of Youth" Gentle
men, notwithstanding. have been know
to return from the BARRIERS with some
thing looking very like powder lei
about their ears.
ABOUT POWDERS.