The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-07-15


wild sport ended, and we slid out
Of the water and sat talking in lit
tie knots of four or five, while the
attendants were drying our hair.
and separating it till it stood out
in a light puff al! !ayound our heads
not a tangle WAS left in it, and no
comb or brush was used. Then we
were laid on the same marble di-
vans, though with a thick bathing
towel this time under us, while the
attenl&nts punched aud pulled and
rubbed all our joihts, and cracked
Ill our knuckles, and elbows and
shoulders, till | thought | should
be always even more unsteady than
ever. They don't give you the least
chance to make 4 protest to this
sort of thing. They roll you and
rub you, up and down, and round
and round, till you only want a
chance to get your hands free to
punch their heads, when all at
once, painting and perspiring, they
grin at you and say prkk&y, which
means ':all right, and then you can
put on your handsome bathing
dress, and have your towels spread
out on the divan about you. Then
the other ladies came about me
like bees around a holly -hock, and
proceeded to admire me from head
10 foot.
Then the attendants came in and
we Ill followed them through 4 sue
ccssion Of rooms, resting a short
time in each, and drinking lemon
adc and sherbet, and eating con.
serves made of roses and violets
Or, at least favored with the per-
fume Of those flowers. Then We
went into another room cooler still,
where most of the ladies smoked
while they chatted of their dresses,
husbands, firtations, etc. One thing
surprises me: the perfect freedom
with which they tell each other of
their Airtations, some of which go
somewhat beyond the decorum
of our American firtations, even.
After the ladies had all finished
smoking their marghilas and little
histories Of how they had managed
to throw dust into the eunuch S eyes,
etc., they proceededto perform their
toilets, something wonderful to see.
l am woman, and I thought l
knew all their little faults and some
thing of the intricacies Of the toilet !;
but learned more that day than
l ever thought any one knew. First,
an old woman came to each woman
or girl, bearing dressing case fill
ed with the most marvellous of COM
pounds for the improvement of the
beauty under their care. Little look
ing-glasses were given to each wo-
man, and then commences the oper-
alton. All the superfuous hairs on
the face we're removed by little
pincers then the women brought
out stiff little brushes made of bris-
ties, and after dipping them into
a preparation OF arsenic, proceeded
to, by means of pulling the skin Of
the face tightly, puncture it with
the sharp bristles which thus leaves
an indellible white beneath the sur
face, which is perfectly dazzling in
its transparence and brilliancy.
Next the eyebrows are carefully
brushed with soft brush, and then
the smoke of frankincense, mixed
with the oil of rose, is laid on, while
the eye-lashes are dyed with some
vegetable dye, which leaves them q
brilliant black, and under the eyelids
and on the upper lid is laid g sort
Of pale brown, which gives the
whole eye beauty and languor
most bewitching. Then when a
rich carmine, OF rather rose.leaf
pink, is artistically spread on the
cheeks, and the full lips of deep
cherry color, the faces in their COL
loring are most lovely. These col.
ors do not fade OF rub off, but stay
until another long-protracted bath
of vapor and tepid water opens the
pores for another application.
The toilet finished, the beauties,
natural and manufactured, regarded
themselves in their hand d-glasses
with evident satisfaction, and each
other with contempt. Some Of
them who were quite plain in the
water. became beautiful after the
operation was complete. T b cir
luxuriant hair was in general braid
ed and loaded with profusion Of
ornaments, not excepting diamond
stars and other jewels, and some
times with long strings OF gold
coin, plated in, which gingled
with every motion. It was a
novel sight to see these women
all sitting about on little stools
with their ancient hand maidens,
all submitting to these intrica-
cies Of toilet that ale kept so secret