Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-10-13
" Pedlcures " and g Manicures.'

Olive Logan writes to Harper
Ba.ar a. follows At the bath house /
Paris, near the church Of La Madeleine
and which 10 called after that magniflcen
building, told the female attendent tina
she might send the chiropodist, or,
use the French term, "pedicure," +
me. as soon as I had my bath aud dresse
myself.
"Then madam will not have her fec
done while she IL still In the bath ?
she queried. "It ia more convenient
II IN thus that all our ladies' do in Paris
Our pedicure is good, brave woman
knowing well her trade"
The brave pedicure sustained he
reputation for goodness by her look
when she appeared, and strapped ban'
OF leather from side to side of the batl
Tub. She was plump, good.naturc'
woman of forty.hve or 50, and the eas,
manner in which she handled her mum
erous instruments showed her to be quit.
at ease in her profession. She place.
my foot very gently and gracefully OF
the leather support (while luxuriousl.
reposed in the warm water of the batl
tub, and dextrously manipulated tn
troublesome little consequences Of un
ceasing tramping and the rubbing o.
tight or ill.fitting shoes. She was {
pleasant talker, and while she wieldet
her dainty implements with the east
and precision of long practice, she dis
coursed about the openings of the dool
Of public opinion concerning the pedi
cure profession to the secondary sex.
at is some years now" she said, since
women pedicures first began to practice
in the Paris bath houses. II is a very
nice and suitable trade for woman who
has sufficiently steady hand, and ali
day I am as busy rs can be, at forty
sous for each lady, putting her feet in
order.
"Does everybody have troublesome
feet, then?"
Everybody" she answered positive
ly. "There is not lady bather comes
to these rooms who has not got corns-
some, frightful ones. These modern
boots are abomirations
they murder the feet of all who wear
them."
The female pedicure gave me such
ease that I felt as if she had furnished
me with brand new pair of feet when
got up and prepared to walk off on them.
"And the hands ?" she suggested.
"You would not like your finger nails
done?' Handsome finger nails-they
advantage greatly an already pretty
hand"
Sly flatterer! I was in for "doing "
Of the hands, of course.
~ will give you the address of the
manicure we recommend" she said. No,
am not neutrality-suspicious. is my
only trade"
In the course Of the day, more from
than anything else, I betook
myself to the rooms of the manicure,
between the hours indicated on her bust
less card for her reception of clients at
home. To my surprise l found the place
not only with ladies, but with
gentlemen, patiently awaiting their turn
or the favor of sitting with the mani
'ure. The dress and bearing of all
present indicated their position, and in
.lmost every case it was one of impor-
ance. Grave senator's, young scions Of
lobility, numerous stately gentlemen
decorated with the cross of the Legion
# Honor, tastefully attired ladies with
children attended by servants, two Or
hree pretty American girls, sat around
he room and glanced over books and
newspapers to relieve the tedium of
Waiting. The manicure's operations
we're performed in the same room, and
lnder her skillful scissoring and rub
ing we saw hand after hand depart in
ouch more beautiful condition than
'hen it was brought there.
After tedious waiting my turn at
ength came, and I seated myself by the
little table, upon which were
catered the tools of her trade. These
7ere scissors and knives of a shape
pecially devised for the trimming of the
ails files, nail.cleaners, a small basin
+ rose water with a bit of soap
ear it, tiny towel of linen cambria,
lit of lemon, and various polishing pow
ers and understanding unguants in the
orm of ruby-colored pomades. The
rst step in her proceedings was to wash
# the finger tips carefully, then to dry
hem, after assuring herself that there
7ere no ink spots or other stain upon
hem. Then she clipped and trimmed
he nails into the approved flbert shape,
either too short nor too long, nor too
ointed nor too broad; the "half
Moons at the base of the nails were
emily brought into clear light; oil
IihAS Auho WOiC uuhPuHbVCu uuu
fter this she rubbed coral colored
omade Of a delicious odor upon the
ails and the upper part of all the fin
ers. After allowing this to remain
title while she wiped it off again, and
catered upon the nails golden brown
sh powder, which she vigorously rubbed
Nth the whole length of her powerful
orefnger, occasionally aided by the
'alm. More pomade, more powder,
aore rubbing, and then the nails were
hown with that beautiful CLEAN upon
hem, that pearly pinkness, seen in the
Interior OF some delicate SEQ shells. A.
he pedicure had said, the manicure's
greatly "advantaged"
'retty hand, but even in greater degree
an ugly one.
The manicure, like the pedicure,
harged forty sous. When she did the
listing her price was dollar. That
he found her business lucrative was
uAfo;opt1v indicated nv her handsome