Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-04
RED HAIR.

Mr. Alden IN N. !. Times
The name of the lady who few
weeks since dropped her back hair
on the sidewalk Of street in Gin
ton, ILL.,, has now Been ascertained.
The hair in question was of bright
red color, and few persons would
have imagined it was dangerous
when unconnected with its owner.
Nevertheless, that seemingly inno-
cent back hair led to a tragedy that
nearly ruined the peace Of two hap
py and respectable families.
Messrs. Smith and Brown are the
leading citizens engaged IN the gro
Gerry business in Clinton. They
are men of great worth of charac-
ter, and have reached middle age
without incurring the breath of
sIander. One evening Mr. Smith
returned from the store and sitting
down at the tea table, produced a
Chicago paper from his pocket, and
remarked with much Indignation,
"Thst 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 cit was
a shameful outrage that the papers
were allowed to publish such dis
gusting things" and asked her
husband (which paper had the
fullest account of the matter"
That excellent man said that he be-
Iieved the Gazette contained 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 al
ways 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 boys ac-
cusation. There was an unmistak-
able female hair on the collar of
Mr.. Smiths coat, and it was OBJ
trusiyelv red. Mr.. Smith said that
it was a very extraordinary thing,
Mrs. Smith also remarking "yery
extraordinary, indeed,'' in a dry,
sarcastic voice, expressed deep dis
gust at red hair, and a profound
contempt for the "nasty creature"
who wore 1t.
About the same h0pr Mr.. Brown
was also seated at his taa-table, and
was endeavoring to excuse himself
to Mrs. Brown for having forgotten
to bring home a paper. The lady,,
after having expressed the utmost
indignation 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 discussion she noticed a long
red hair on Mr.. Browns cOat-collar,
and, holding it up before him, she
demanded an explanation. In
vain did Mr.. Brown allege that he
had no idea how the hair became
attached to his collar. His wife re-
piled that what he said was simply
ridiculous. "Red hair dont't blow
around like thistledown, aud 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. Pm not member Of Plymouth
Church, and you can't make me
believe that black is white"
Now, both Mr.. Brown and Mr..
Smith were perfectly innocent. OF
course, they we're 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 Of the Chi.
cago papers that contained any ref
erence to the Beecher matter, aud,
as the papers were received by Mrs.
Brown and Mrs. Smith with many
protestations of the disgust which
they felt at hearing even the name
of Beecher mentioned, they natu-
rollv annnoaad that thav had made