New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-24
High Art in Hairdressinx.


festival Of hair dressers was held in the
small concert room of Hanover Square
Rooms. The object of the gathering was to
afford certain members Of the profession
opportunity to exhibit their skill before the
public and each other. To this end an OBJ
long table had been arranged down the full
length Of the room. Sixteen toilet glasses
stood back to back upon the table, two of
larger proportions thanking either end,
while before each glass q chair was placed.
On the tray of each looking glass was q
ments: Mr.. Riley, ball dress; Mr.. Percival,
ball dress; Mr.. Stiles, Grand Duchesse; Mr..
De Lamant, Marie Antoinette; Mr.. Sargent,
ball dress; Mr.. Stevens, Pompadour; Mr..
Rhodes, ball dress; Mr.. Cooper, court dress;
Mr.. Comber, bali dress; Mr.. Noakee, colt
fure au eoiree; Mr.. Williams, Du Barri Mr..
Wilkie, Louis XIV; Mr.. Wells, fancy dress;
Mr. Altree, fancy dress; Mr.. Rudolph, grand
fantasie; Mr.. Mason, Alexandra.
These evidences Of preparation faced the
visitor on entering at eight o'clock, in &C
cordance with the invitation on the tickets,
and for threequarters of an hour there was
nothing else save the gathering company
upon which the eve might rest. At fifteen
minutes to nine O'Clock some sensation was
created by the entrance of two or three
gentlemen carrying small cases in their
hands, which, being deposited eeside the
toilet-glasses and carefully opened, revealed
an assortment of scissors, combs, and in
some instances ringlets and pads. A towel,
opened and spread over the back of the
chair, further indicated temporary pro-
prietary interest in the section of the table.
Punctuality was decidedly not virtue per-
tanning to the exercise of hair-dressing-at
least as exemplified last night-it being
close upon half-past nine o'clock before the
sixteen professors filed in, each leading
lady. The ladies' hair was at this Stage
uniformly plain, or at most crimped.
1t would be obviously impossible to de-
scribe in detail the growth Of the sixteen
coiffures, as line upon line, pad upon pad,
dexterous fingers Of the artist. A marie
Antoinette" mystery may, however, be given.
When the lady whose hair was operated
upon sat down, her hair was powdered and
tied in simple knot behind. The artist first
united the knot and combed out the hair
Then he placed thick pad oyer the front
top of the head, and hid it beneath the fold of
the lady's hair. pad, hooked on in some in
scrutable manner behind, just over the nape
OF the neck, was hidden with hair in a
similar manner. Three pads, rising up
three from the left, we're added to either
side of the central ridge, and thus was laid
q foundation upon which the artist might
proceed to work, free from the fear which
must otherwise have haunted him. of in.
tiicting pain by the vertical propulsion of
the hair-pins. All the available hair which
the head afforded being now used up in the
binding round of the pads, the artist took
up long wisp of hair, which he fastened
by the middle on the bank of the head with
a hair-pin. This was utilized, as the natural
hoS hod IN ind hov
it was exhibited the back Of the hair pre-
sented rising bank Of little bags, the front
being brushed sheer back from the fore
head, high over the large pad first men,
toned. Finally, the hair was profusely
powdered. wreath of roses looped with
pearls thrown over the front, two ringlets
were tagged on SO as to fall over the fore
head, and the toilette a la Marie Antoi-
nette" was complete. Some people must
have thought the lady would have looked
better with the original simple dressing of
her hair. But de g,tstibats non est dtsputa,-
dun and the trade, of which there was
large gathering expressed their approval
by applause.
Three-quarters of an hour were occupied
in bringing about the effect here feebly de-
scribed, and the rest of the toilet being COM
pleted each hair dresser offered his arm to
his lady, and all walked in procession round
the table, fellow artist, who obligingly
officiated at the piano, playing an appro-
pirate march. The promenade over, gen.
tleman took the chair and delivered short
address, in the course of which he urged
upon the trade the desirability of forming
''the nucleus Of hair dresser's academy"
Practice was, he said, all very well, but it
was essentially necessary to perfection that
"hair-dressers should have the opportunity
of irrigating their minds" sentiment the
expression of which was heartily indorsed
by the company.