The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-11-19

ELsW Wenea Supplement Natare's Head
Covering.
Few persons have any idea Of the
amount OF human hair and other hair
imported yearly 70 this country. II one-
half Of the women knew what they were
wearing in the shape Of head-gear they
would be almost ready 10 fall into hys-
terics. A little light on this subject
may be interesting TO thousands Of both
sexes. False hair II not 50 fashionable
a il used 10 be few years ago. when
tons were imported TO this country;
nevertheless. at the present time an ex-
tensiye business is being carried on
throughout the United States. In Lon
don il IS computed that fully six tons Of
human hair are imported every year,
and that the trade increases annually
In order 70 meet the demands Of this
and other countries. there must be a
regular harvest. which can be looked
forward TO at particular season; and
as there are different markets for black
and green tea. for brown or pale bran
DIV. so is there a market for light hair
distinct from the market for dark hair.
Light hair is almost exclusively a
German product. aud Is collected bv
agents Of firms andcompanies who visit
certain parts Of Germany and Switzer-
land. a few years ago light hair was
the more valuable, and one particular
golden tint was 50 much priced that
the dealers only produced il for favor
tie customers. and sold 1t At double its
weight in silver. The rich and silky
Al
had its attraction for poets and artists.
as well rs traders The immortal
Shakespeare delighted in golden hair.
Bassanio. describing Portia, speaks of
her sunny .ocks,' and in the Two
Gentlemen Of Verona Julia says Of Syl-
via and herself. Her hair Is auburn;
mine il perfect yellow" Black hair is
only mentioned two or three times in
all his plays. showing that Shakespeare
considered light lair to be the attribute
of soft and delicate women. With
painters light brown hair i generally
chosen fer their subjects. rs is clearly
demonstrated by walk through any
Of our art galleries. 1t is admitted that
the color OF the hair Of the English peo-
pie has deepened in tint within the pres
ent century. and that this change is
owing TO the more frequent inter-mar-
riage since the Napoleonic wars with
nations nearer 10 the sunny South.
Whether light or dark. the hair pur-
chased by the dealer Is so closely scru-
tinted that he can discriminate between
the German and 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 croud of Breton
fair may be met several of these hair
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. the girls take
their hair TO market as regularly as if
they were selling some kind Of pro-
vision. These girls are sheared q their
hair Just like 50 many sheep. one after
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 everyscutting is placed sep
arately. tied up in wisp. The girls or
women Of Brittany do not lose much Of
their personal adoInment by having
their hair cut off. As they wear close
caps, which entirely prevent any
part Of the chevelure from being seen.
The portion Of the crop most suitable
for perukes is purchased bva particular
class Of people. by whom II i cleaned.
curied and prepared to certain stage,
and then disposed Of 70 wig-makers for
ten and twenty times more than its
original cost 1t is then retailed al q
big profit. for choice heads Of hair. like
choice old pictures or choice old china.
have no limit to the price they occa-
sionally 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 large
and almost incredible degree.
A great deal Of the hair that is now
imported Is not, however. human, much
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 il paid to it,
preparation for the different markets.
f.T