The Osceola times., 1880-11-20
HUMAN HAIR.
where False Hair Is Obtained-Chinese
Cow Hair ana How IL is Used.

ed yearly to this country. II one-half OF
the women knew what they were wear
ing in the shape of headgear, they would
be almost ready 10 fall into mysteries.
A little light on this subject may be in
teresting to thousands of both sexes.
False hair is not as fashionable as il used
70 be few years ago, when tons were
imported TO this country; nevertheless,
at the present time an extensive busl-
ness is being carried on throughout the
United States. In London it is comput-
ed that fully six tons of human hair are
imported every year, and that the trade
increases annually. In order to meet
the demands of this and other countries,
there must be regular harvest, which
can be looked forward TO at q particular
season; and as there are different mark
cts for black and given tea, for brown or
pale brandy, 20 rs there market for
light hair distinct from the market for
dark hair.
Light hair is exclusively German
product, and Is collected by agents of
firms and companies who visit certain
parts of Germany and Switzerland. A
few years ago light hair was more valu-
able, and one particular golden tint was
| 81 BllHtu tilt OliN
produced it for favorite customers,
and sold it at double its weight in silver.
| The rich and silky texture of this much
treasured article had its attractions for
poets and artists as well as traders. The
immortal Shakespeare delighted in golden
hair Bassanio, in describing Portia,
speaks of her Sunny locks" and in the
1.-TWO Gentlemen of Verona" Julia says
of Sylvia and herself, "Her hair is au-
burn; mine is perfect yellow" Black is
halr only mentioned two or three times
in all of his plays, showing that Shaks-
peare considered light hair TO the attrib-
ute of soft and delicate women. With
painters light brown hair is generally
chosen for their subjects, as is clearly
demonstrated by walk through any of
our art galleries. 1t is admitted that the
color of the hair of the English people
has deepened in tint within the present
century, and that this change is owing
to the more frequent intermarriage since
the Napoleonic wars with nations nearer
the sunny South. Whether light or
dark, the hair purchased by the dealer
is so closely scrutinized that they can
discriminate between the German and
the French article by the smell alone.
Black hair is mostly imported from
Brittany and the south OF France, where
| it is collected once every year by the
agents Of Partisan houses. In various
parts of the motley crowd of Breton
fair may be met several of these halr
purchasers, who travel the country for
the purpose of attending fairs and buy
ing the tresses of the peasant girls. In
fact, in many instances tie girls take
their hair to market as regularly as if
they were selling some kind of provis-
ion. These girls are sheared of their
! hair just like so many sheep, one after
I the other. They stand round in ring
ready for the scissors, with their caps in
their hands and their long hair combed
out and hanging down TO their waists.
By the side of the operator is basket,
into which every cutting is placed separ-
ately, tied up in a wisp. The girls or
women of Brittany do not lose much of
their personal adornment by having
their hair cut off, as they wear close
caps, which entirely prevents any part
of the chevelure from being seen. The
portion of the crop most suitable for
perukes is purchased by particular class
of people, by whom it is cleaned, curled
and prepared to a certain stage, and then
disposed of to wig makers for ten and
twenty times more than its original cost.
1t is then retailed at big profit; for
choice heads of hair, like choice old pic
lures or choice old china, have no limit
to the price they occasionally command.
II is only some fifteen years since il was
used to any extent in this country, but
since that time it has developed itself to
a large and almost incredible degree.
A great deal of the hair that is now
imported is not, however, human, mach
of it being YAK" hair, taken from
Chinese cows and other animals. In
Europe it has been in use for many years
and great attention is paid to its prepar-
alton for the different markets.
A reporter for the Een,n1 Mail recent
ly had an interview with one of the
largest importers of human hair, and
from him learned some interesting facts
concerning this peculiar i~siness. In
1859 and 1860 between lJs;~l0 and 200,-
600 pounds of hair was imported into
this country. valued at something like
81 100000. In 1865 K .---i lcreased to
nearly three times this amount. Paris
sends a large portion to Russia as well
as TO America, where a ready sale is
always to be found. France and Italy
give the best quality of hair 1t is finer
IN texture, more even in color and glossy.
Its chief value is in its length. After it
goes on the market it is assorted.
which task is attended with much diff
Guilty. The prices range from Sl5 10 5000
per pound, according TO color and length.
Short coarse hair is much cheaper. Gray
and white hair sells from 500 to 5000
per pound. One dealer in this city was
once offered as much as 800 per pound
for parcel of pure white hair, and this
sum he refused, selling it subsequently
for $3.50. The hair is shipped to this
country prepared and unprepared. That
which Is prepared undergoes process
of washing, securing and cleansing, all
the oil, dirt and other substances being
separated from it, leaving it perfectly
free from all unhealthy influences. That
which is shipped in raw or unprepared
state is subjected to the same process
after its arrival. 1t is then ready to be
made into switches, curls, plaits, fronts,
wigs, chignons, and not a small amount
is used in the manufacture of hair Jewell
ry. The duty on the raw material is
twenty cents per pound, on cleaned and
drawn hair it is thirty cents, and on
manufactured hair it is forty cents per
pound. On other hair. not human, il is
ten cents per pound. There are many
instances given of hair changing color.
1t is said that persons have from ex-
cessive grief found their hair changed
from dark brown to almost a perfect
white; others from the same cause in
the short space of one week discovered
their hair streaked with gray, giving
them the appearance, although young,
Of being old. THIS may be said of the