Morris tribune., 1880-12-09
MYSTERY OF THE MANICURE
How Gotham's Bellies are Beautlfled.


of New York that the cleaning and shap-
ing of finger nails is followed in that
city as regular business, and that too,
most profitably. The vocation, or rather
the person following the vocation, is
dignified by the euphonious title, ''mani-
cure," the exact meaning of which IS
rather lncOmprehesible to the general
mind in its ignorant state of the especial
points of the business.
A few doors from Sixth avenue, on
Twenty third street, is located the only
and orgina. manicure of New York. At
this place the reporter called and was
ushered into handsomely furnished par
lor, where he was received by a tall,
graceful woman, whose large black eyes,
raven hair and olive complexion indicat-
ed Southern origin. She had arisen
rather languldly from low chair, in
front of an open CRATE fire, and as she
carelessly threw back silk circular that
rested on her shoulders, she did not look
unlike some mystic dealer in magic.
This Idea was further carried out in the
arrangement of the furniture and decoIa-
items of the room. The sunlight was for
a moment shut out by rich curtain
drawn in front of the windows and cut
ting off small space at the south end of
the room. A soft, rich carpet covered
the floor, easy chairs and sofa or two
stood around without much regard to
order, while the walls were decorated
with mirrors or pictures. A large col
lection OF brio brac, chiefly oriental in
its character, and an upright piano COM
pleted the furniture of the manicure's
sanctum.
| "Do you wish your finger nails done"
asked the laiy,as she observed her visitor
hesitate.
''No, madam; my visit is for differ
ent purpose. Your business Is not well
known one, and if you will allow me to
sit here for short time, and watch what
takes place, you will confer quite favor,
for believe that may find something
interesting to the public"
~ do not know about that; but at
any rate, will grant your request. l
have been working very hald this fore.
noon, and, when you came in, was at
tempting to snatch moments rest-but
there goes the bell now! You will have
to excuse me until I dispose of these call
ers. In the meantime, make yourself
comfortable, and find what amusement
you cam
At the ringing of the bell, "a little, short,
dark woman tripped lightly and noise
lessly from behind the curtain and ush-
cred in the customer, tall, slender
young lady, richly dressed, and apparent
ly of the first society. The young lady
was Immediately led into the mysterious
recess by the manicure, while the noiseless
little brunette took up blue glass bowl
and filled it with red fluid from shin.
ing kettle suspended in the CRATE. Their
all was still, except the slight murmur o.
two female voices busily conversing be
, hind the curtain. This curtain had now
been partly drawn aside, and the report
er could see that the area cut off was sub
divided into two compartments, one O.
which was closed, and was occupied by
the manicure and her patient, or rather
customer, while the only occupant of thu
: other was the little dark woman sitting
demurely at the window. This LITTLE
woman was the manicure's assistant
: Very soon the customer came out to thu
assistant, and was subjected to what ap
peared to be most vigorous rubbing o
the hands. She was then led through
the large room to Is basin, where hel
hands were washed, and the whole opera.
ton was completed.
The customers are now coming In "a
pidly, and while embracing every age,
they seem to be confined almost wholly to
the richer classes. AS many as fifteen al
! one time were waiting for an opportuni
ty to be served, and the manner IN which
! they sat around and glanced enviously
at those ahead of them, strongly suggest.
+ ed barber shop. This idea was strength.
ened by the manicure crying out, ''next,
whenever she finished customer; among
the customers who called during the at.
teInoon, the reporter noticed an old gen
tleman, at least sixtY-fve years old. His
face was wrlnkled, 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 driv.
en- down that fine afternoon to the mani
cure to have his finger nails cleaned and
shaped, and when his "next" came, he
puckered his parched lips into what was
intended to be smile, ard disappeared
behind the curtain. And there were also
: obese old ladies, gorgeous in silks, velvets
and diamonds, who came into the room
putting and wheeling from their exertior
IN mounting the steps from the street
There was 10 distinguished line between
their necks and shoulders, and their ia
wrists rolled down over their hands al
most to the knuckles, still they wanted
aristocratic nails, and had come to sub
ject their fat, chubby fingers to the mani
cures art. There were also handsome
matrons and pretty girls, who lookeG
mischievously at. young dandy, wht
> sported gold eye glass and sucked {
dog headed cane. The youngest custom
: er of the afternoon was yellow-haireG
: little girl of some seven years.
1 When the close of business hours had
4 come aud the last customer had gon,
home, the manicure said to the reporter
{ Now come and will show you what
4 do" She led him into the mysteriou
4 Enclosure and seated him in a most com
! Portable chair. To her right was placed
: a stand. upon which lay many lDstru
ments, curved scissors, ivory handled
. knives, scrapers and files, some powder
3 cosmetics and brushes.
/ "First, hold your hands for some tim
y in this indicated water. 1t softens tn
d flesh about the nails, and makes it NOR
easy for me to work. 1t also renders tn
nails pink, the fashionable color. Nov
the first thing do is to take this instru
o ment and 60 around the base of the mai
If cleaning off the dirt and clipping off tn
Y ragged edges of the cuticle. Then talk
e flea finger nail should always b
If filed and never cut--and form your mai
; into this long almond shape. Then pu
70 little of this wash ON to prepare for tn
y polish. Now, take this chamois Skin
e dip 1t into the diamond powder. and rut
s. rub, rub. Then take the palm of m
}, hand--there is nothing SO effectual fo
n polishing nail as the hand-and Civ
II the finishing polish
III The lady rubbed so deftly with he
d hand that the reporter remarked: a
8 should think that it would become nee
Ie essary to have your hand halt-soled, 20