The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-05-21

How Gothnm's Bellies and Beaux ere
Beautined-The Art of Rendering tho
Malls Pcarly Pink.
It is not generally known to the peo-
pie of New York that the cleaning and
shaping of finger nails is followed IN
thai city as n regular busineseJ ahd that
too, most proitRbly. The voestibns or
rather the person following the svoca-
ton, is dignifed by the euphonious
title, "manicure," the exact meaning
of which is rather incomprehensible to
the general mind in its ignorant state Of
the especial points of the business.
A few doors from Sixth avenue, on
Twenty-thirdi street, is located the
only and original manicure OF New
York. At this place a reporter called
and was ushered into a handsomely
furnished parlor, where he was received
by ataIL graceful woman, whose large
black eyes, raven lair and olive COM
plexion indicated q Southern origin.
She had arisen rather languidly from
n low chair in front of an open CRATE
fire, and as she carelessly threw back q
silk circular that rested on her shout
ders, she did not look unlike some
mystic dealer In magic. This idea was
further carried out in the arrangement
of the furniture and decorations of the
room. The sunlight was for a mo-
ment shut out by a rich curtain drawn
in front of the windows and cutting of
o small space at the south end of the
room. This arrangement produced an
artificial twilight, which was relieved
by the red CLEANS of the burning coaliu
the CRATE. A soft, rich carpet covered
the floor, easy chairs and a sofa or two
stood around without much regard to
order, while the walls were decorated
with mirrors or pictures.SA large col
lection of bric-a- brac, chiefly oriental
in its character, and an upright piano
completed the furniture of the mani
cures sanctum.
"Do you wish your finger-nails
donepp asked the lady, as she observed
her visitor hesitate.
mo, madam; my visit is for a,differ-
ent purpose. Your business is not a
wel-known one, and If you will allow
watch what takes place, you will con-
fer quite a favor, for / believe that l
may find something interesting to the
public"
81 do not know about that; but at
an rate, I will grant your request. l
have been working very hard this fore
noon, and, when you came in, was at
tempting to snatch a moments rest
but thNre goes the bell nowl You will
have to excuse me until 1 dispose of
these callers In the meantime, make
yourself comfortable, and find what
amusement you can"
At the ringing of the bell, a little,
short, dark woman tripped lightly and
noiselessly from behind the curtain and
ushered in the customer, a tall, slender
young lady, richly dressed, and appar-
emily of the first society. The young
lady was Immediately led into the
mysterious recess by the manicure,
while the noiseless little brunette took
up a blue glass bowl, and filled it with
a red fluid from n shining kettle sus-
pended in the CRATE. Then all was still,
except the slight murmur of two female
voices busily conversing behind the
curtain. This curtain had now been
partly drawn aside, and the reporter
could see that the area cut of was sub
divided into two compartments. one of
which was closed, and was occupied by.
the manicure and her patient, or rather.
customer, while the only occupant Of
the other was the little dark woman,
sitting demurely at the window. This
little woman was the man;cure's assist
AT ttlJ oDOh biIC SuoLOnlNl CdluC Oub
to the assistant, and was subjected to
whit appeared to be a most vigorous
rubbing of the hands. She was then
led through the large to a basin,
where her hands were washed, and the
whole o3eration was completed.
The customers were now coming In
rapidly, and while embracing every age,
they seemed to be confined almost
wholly to the richer classes. AS many
as fifteen nj one time were waiting for
an opportunity to be served, and the
manner in which they sat around and
glanced e~nviously at those ahead of
them, strongly suggested n BARRIERS
shop. This idea was strengthened by
the manicure crying out "nextw when
ever she finished a customer. Among
the customers who called. during the
afternoon, the reporter noticed an old
gentleman, at least sixty-five years old.
His face was wrinkled, his eyes were
bleared, his voice was cracked; his
head was bald, his teeth were gone, his
form was bent and his step was feeble,
yet he had driven down that fine after
moo TO the manicure to have his finger
nails cleaned and shaped, and when his
next" came he puckered his parch-
ment lips into what was offended for n
smile, and disappeared behind the cur
tain. There were also obese old ladies.
gorgeous in silks. velvets and diamonds,
who came into the room putting and
wheeling from their exeltion in mount
ing the steps from the street. There was
no distinguishing line between their
necks and shoulders, and their wrists
rolled down on their hands almost 10
the knuckles, still they wanted aristo-
cratic nails. and had come In subiacf
their fat, chubby hnqers to the mani