The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-06-29
RED HAIR.


asoertained. The hair in question was of a
bright red color,and few persons would have
imagined that it was dangerous when un-
connected with it's owner. Nevertheless, |
that seemingly innocent red hair led to
tragedy that nearly ruined the peace of two
happy and respectable families.
Messrs. Smith and Brown are the leading |
citizens engaged in the grocery business in
Clinton. They are men Of great worth of
character, and have reached middle age |
without incurring the breath of slander.
One evening Mr.. Smith returned from the |
store and sitting down at the tea-table, pro |
duced a Chicago paper from his pocket and |
remarked with much indignation, "That |
revolving Beecher scandal has been revived, |
and its loathsome details are again polluting |
the press and corrupting the minds of the
public"
Mrs. Smith replied that ait was shame
full outrage that tue papers were allowed to |
publish such disgusting things" and asked |
her husband (Which paper had the fullest |
account of the matter" That excellent |
man said that he believed the Gazette con-
tanned more about it than any other paper
and that after tea he would send one of the
boys to get a copy of it. His wife thanked
him, and was in the act of remarking that
he was always thoughtful and considerate,
when the oldest boy exclaimed, "Pa, you've
got long red hair on your coat collarl"
A prompt investigation made by Mrs.
Smith confirmed the boy'saccusation. There
was an unmistakably female hair on the
collar of Mr.. Smiths coat, and it was OBJ
trusively red. Mr.: Smith said that it was
very extraordinary thing, and Mrs. Smith,
also remarking" extraordinary indeed"
in dry, sarcastic voice, expressed deep dis
gust at red hair, and profound contempt
for the "nasty creatures" who wore it.
About the same hour Brown was also
seated at his tea-table, and was endeavoring
to excuse himself to Mrs Brown for having
forgotten to bring home paper. That lady,
after having expressed the utmost indigna-
ton at the revival Of the Beecher scandal,
had asked for the paper in order To see who
was dead and married, and was, of course,
indignant because her husband had not
brought it home. In the heat of the discus
sion she noticed long red hair on Browns
coat collar, and, holding it up before him,
she demanded an explanation. In vain did
Brown allege that he had not the least idea
how the hair became attached TO his collar.
His wife replied that what he said was smp-
ly ridiculous. "Red hair don't blow round
like thistledown, and at your time of life,
Mr. Brown, you ought to be ashamed of
yourself The less you say the better, but
can tell you that you can't deceive me. I'm
not member of the Plymouth Church, and
you can't make me believe that black is
white"
Now both Brown and Smith We're perfect
ly innocent Ofcourse, they were annoyed
by the remarks of their respective wives
but, like sensible men, they avoided any
unnecessary discussion of the painful topic.
The next day they each brought home all
the Chicago papers that contained any refer
ence to the Beecher matter, and, as the
papers were received by Mrs. Brown and
Mrs. Smith with many protestatons of the
disgust which they felt at hearing even the
name of Beecher mentioned, they naturally
supposed that they had made their peace
But marital suspicion once awakened is no
easily put to sleep. While Brown wa
handing his wife the bundle of newspapers
she was closely scrutinizing his coat collar
and, after she had laid the papers on he
plate and told the children not to toucl
them, she quietly took two long red hair
from her unfortunate husbands coat, an,
held them solemnly before his face.
Mary, give you my solemn word.
began the alarmed Mr.. Brown but he wa
not permitted TO finish his sentence. "Don
say one word,' exclaimed Mrs. Brown
"Falsehoods won't help you; am faith
ful and loving wife, and I'll have you eS
posed and punished if there is any law i
Illinois" Thus saying she gathered up he
newspapers and rushing to her room, locke
herself in. 1t was not until later in tn
evening that Mrs. Smith, as she was abor
To turn down her husbands lamp whic
was smoking, perceived that two red hai
were attached to his shoulders. She sal
nothing, but, after laying them on the tab
before him, burst into tears and refused /
be comfoEed until Mr.. Smith solemnl
swore that he had not seen a red-haired gi
for months and years, aud offered to buy h
new parlor carpet the very next day.
OF the two ladies, Mrs. Brown was muc
the stronger and the more determined. TT
next evening, when Mr. Brown brougl
back from the store no less than five re
hairs on his cOat-colar she broke a pie pla
over his head, and leaving him weltering
dried apples, put on her bonnet and left II
house. Mrs. Smith, on the same evenin
found four of the mysterious red hairs 4
her husbands coat, but she refrained fro
violence, and merely telling him that 81
would not believe in his innocence ifhe w
to swear till he was black, called loudly +
her sainted mother aud was about to fail
when Mrs. Brown burst into the room. M
Smith, Ike a wise mar, fed from the seen
and the two ladies soon confided theirwron
TO one another.
When Brown and Smith met the ne,