The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-05
Short Hair for Woman and Children.

Game of the Prairies.
Scribner's for October.
|
Short Hair for Woman and Children.
| A fine head of hair is a beautiful thing.
1t forms becoming background or set
ting for the human features. Other '1ittle
women" than 10 March have considered
their long, abundant, glossy hair their ''one
beauty" Some of these same little women
have found, however, that they were real
ly better looking than before when they
have had their long curls or heavy braids
cut off.
1t seemed "such pity to all their
friends, and they felt themselves that it
was great risk to run, because they might
not look half as we'll after the barbering as
before, and they hadn't bit of beauty to
spare. But the deed is done, and the
friends, who demonstrated most earnestly
are perhaps forced to confess that short
hair can be made very becoming to some
persons.
all know. Thin coarse locks are no orna-
ment. If cut short, and tossed up lightly
about the face, they sometimes improve
the personal appearance very much, as
many have learned during the late frizzing
days. Long hair is usually drawn away
from the face, so as to afford less of ''set-
ting" for its wearer than short locks give.
1t is called covering for women, but it is
drawn up from the neck in such way, at
fashions demand, that it covers less of
the body than hair only two inches in
length.
While not advocating the total abolition
of long hair, let us see what good reasons
may sometimes constrain sensible woman
to have her head shorn of its reputed
GLORY
The long, thick hair considered SO desir-
able has considerable weight, and it taxes
the nervous power to carry it about. A
pound of hair is as heavy as a pound of
candles. Worn in braids or rolls over the
top of the head, it will actually make de-
pressions underneath the rolls or braids,
quite perceptible when they are moved af-
ter few hours pressure. At the same
time, such long hair produces considerable
discomfort. One may become so accustom-
ed to this as to pay little attention to it.
Worn in coil at the crown or back of the
head it disturbs the circulation and pro-
vokes disease, and it renders any comfort
able resting of the weary head almost i'm
possible. What misery there is in the use
of hair-pins! What ''ridiculosity' in the
traits" cushions, jute chignons, etc. !!
What an amount of time, and care, and
life power gets used up in dressing and
arranging this weight of hair, especially if
it must be put in curl-papers or frizzing-
pins over night!
Does it pay? Every woman should
answer the question for herself. Outward
adjoining is all right if it does not inter-
fere with the more precious inward adorn-
ing of the mind. The adjoining fashion
ordains is often barbarous in the extreme,
and why does not cultivated taste rebel?
What relief it is to get the head into
such condition that it can be bathed and
dressed and rested with ease! How pleas
ant it is to run the fingers through the
hair when the head is tired and heated.
What comfort it is not TO have ones hair
in the way when hurried or when weary!
But there is an answer ready for all
reasoning in favor of short hair: ooh l
think long hair looks best for woman."
That settles it, of course, for most women.
Here and there is woman who considers
health and comfort and convenience of
more consequence than prettiness. There
are women, too, who can not believe that
any thing is really beautiful or truly becom-
ing which tends to ipjure health or destroy
comfort. But most of US 60 from one
fashion to it's opposite, unthinking slaves
of fashion as we are, and everything We
are accustomed to is considered tasteful
and proper. And then few women have
husbands who consider themselves sole ar
biters in all matters concerning their wives
apparel, and such men are pretty sure to
like to see women those belonging to them
selves) looking like duchssses, in plated
hair and broidered apparel.
Little Grille had long golden curls, and
we loved them until we saw how it fretted
her and her mamma every day when the
task of unsnarlng and recurring had to be
performed. And the curls were so warm
on her neck and shoulders, and such a
temptation for baby's pulling fingers So
they were cut off, and when the pretty
head was "shingled' the child actually
was prettier than before, and her mamma
admires the golden curls laid away in the
bureau drawer more than when they graced
and tormented and cultivated vanity in
her child. RELL.