The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-06-14
RED HAIR.

/ walk OF street in Clinton, Illinois has
now been ascertained.-The hair in cues
tion was of bright red color, and few per
sons would have imagined that il was dan
gerous when uncOnuected with its owner
/ Nevertheless, that seemingly innocent back
/ hair led TO tragedy that nearly ruined
the peace OF two happy and respectable
4 families.
Messrs. Smith tS Brown are the leading
CITIZENS engaged III the grocery business in
/ ClIutUn. They are meu of great worth of
character, and have reached middle age
without HncEuing the breath of slander.
Que evening Mr.. Smith returned from the
store, and sitting down at the tea table.
produced a Chicago paper from his pocket,
I and remarked with much indignation.
! THAT revolving Beecber scandal has been
revived, aud its loaJhsome details are
I again polluting the press aud coIrupting
the minds of the public"
"Mrs. Smith replied that iU was shame
ful outrage that the papers wei = allowed tu
( publish such disgusting things" aud ask
/ ed her husband (which paper had the full
. est account of the matter" That excel
/ lent man said that he believed the gazette
J Contained more about 1t than any other pa
per, aud that after tea he would send one
. OF the boys TO get a copy of it. His wife
/ thanked him, and was il the act Of remark
, ing that he always thoughtful ana
considerable when the eldest boy eXclaIn
ed, PA, you've got long red hair on
your coat collar -
a prompt investigation made by MIS-
Smith Confirmed the boys accusation
/ There was AN unmistalzably female hair on
the collar of Nj. Smiths coat, and it was
obtrusively red. Mr.. Smith said that it
! was very extraordinary thing. Mrs.
Smith also iemaIking very exfla0IdiuaT,
indeed" IN a dry, Sal castle voice express
ed deep disgust at red hair, aud profound
/ contempt for the nasty creature yYhr,
I wears J.,
About the same hour Mr.. Brown was
also seated at the tea table, and was en
deayuriug to excuse himself To Mrs Brown
for having forgotten to bring horne pa
per. The lady, after having expressed the
/ utmost Indignation at the revival of the
Beecher scandal, had asked for the paper
III OlCeI TO see who was dead and married
aud was of course indignant because het
husband had not brought ii home. Ia the
heat of the discussion she noticed "A lUn,
req hair on Mr. Browns coat collar, anu
holding II up before him she demanded iu
explanation. In vain did Mr.. Brown al
lege that be had no idea how the hair b.
came attached to his culdr.-HIs wife It,
plIeG That what bo said WAS simply ridicu-
lUus. 'Red hair GoH't blow atuliud like
thiStledUHH, and at your lime CI life, Nj.
Blown, you ought To be ashamed of ybur
self. The less you say the better tut
can tell You that you can't decrIye ne.
Tn not member uf tue PlymouJa CbuicIi.
Z and you can't make me believe that black
( is white
Sow, bolh Mr.. Brown and Nh. Smith
were perfectly innocent. OF course, they
were annoyed hy tte remarks of the re
I spsCtiye wives, Uut, like sensible men, they
avoided unnecessary discussion OF the pain
fui topic. The next day they each Brought
home all the Chicago papers that cuuUaIn
aud, as the papers were received 10y Ms
Brown and Mrs. Smith with prOtestaJ IONS
/ OF the disgust whfCh they felt at hearing
even the name Of Beecher mvut iUued thcN
/ naturally supposed That they had mad,
their peace. But marital suspicion once
awakened is NOT easily put 10 sleep.
. While Mr.. Brown was handing hIS wife the
bundle of newspapers, she was ciuse!y
ScruIiuizing his coat collar, aud, after she
had IaId the papers UH her plate aud tOld
,he children not to touch them, she quie ~
took TWO long red hans from her unfortu
nate husband coat, and held them sol
emily beioie his face.
MARY, | give you my solemn word, -
began the alarmed Mr.. Brown but lie was
NOT permitted To finish hIs Sentence.
"Duu'L say one word exclaimed Ms.
Brown 'kaIsehOud won't help you |
am a faithful and loving wife, aud L have
YOU cxpused aud punished II there Is any
law in Illinois. Thus saying, She gathered
up her newspapers. aud rushing 10 hei
room. locked heIs, II in. II was uoL untIl
later in the evening that MIS-. Smith, a.
she was about TO turn down her husband :
/ lamp, which WAS smoking perceived thai
i two red hairs were attached - his shuul
der. She said nothing, but, alter laying
them on the table before HIM, burst Inlu
tears. and refused 10 be cUmlOited uutii
Mr. Smith sOlemuiy SwOIe that he had not
4 4 nj Lex. md
and offered to buy her new parlOI carpet
, the veIy next day.
OF the two ladIts, Mrs. Brown was much
. the stronger and she more deter mInrd.
The next evening. when Mr. Brown bro:
, back from the store no less than hive red
hairs on his coat collar, she broke pie
plate over his lead. and, leaving him vel
tering in dried apples, put on her bonnet
. and left the house. MIS-. Smith on the
same evening found four Of the mysteiiJ
. red hairs on her husband coal Out Sue
refIaiued from vIuleuce, aud merely telling
him that she would not believe ln hls ia
uucence If lie was To swear tlll he was
black I'D the face, called loudly Tor her
. saiatcd mother, aud was about 10 laint
! when Mrs. Brown buIst forth into the
room. MIR smith, Ike wise n.an, fled
from tie scene, aud tie two ladies sOOn
couiided their wrongs 20 each Oiher.
When MIR. Brown ami Mr.. Smnh mes
the next day. the former coHleS>ed 10 the
latter that lie had got iu terrible Scrape.
Confidence begct confidence, aud they so"n
becnue convinced that they were the VIC
TINS of IA fightfdl conspiracy to which
some unknown wearer uf red back hair
was patty Their distress was Increased
early in the afternoon Icy the appearance "i
their respective wives, who walked up and
down the oppusite side OF the street tur
hours, each carrying n Conspicuous raw
hide, aud evidently lying in wait Cor the
imaginary red-haired woman, MeSSIs.
Smith aud Brown felt that they were ruIn
ed men, and that u tremendous scandal
was about 10 Overwhelm iho'n' lhey
even wished they were Gead.
About n'cIuek p. IN. Mrs. Smith clutch
ed her cumpaniuu's arm aud bade her hs
ten to \ small bnY who who was relating
one of his recent crimes 10 a youthful oom-
, panion. Il just picked mp that there
, hair" remarked the wicked youth, land
mt sOr,e of IL on old Smiths aud tptt old