The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-01
The Trade i'm Human Hair.

A reporter OF the New York EOene72g
Mail recently had an interview with one
of the largest importers of human hair,
and from him learned some interesting
facts concerning this peculiar business.
In 1859 and 1860 between 100000 and
100000 pounds of hair was imported
into this country, valued at something
like S1,000,000. In 1865 it had in
creased to nearly three times this
amount. Paris sends large portion to
Russia as we'll as to America, where a
ready sale is alway 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 difficulty. The prices range from
Sl5 to $500 per pound, according to
color and length. Short, coarse hair is
much cheaper. Gray and white hair
sells from Sl00 to 5000 per pound. One
dealer in this city was once offered as
much as S400 per pound for parcel of
pure white hair, and this sum he re-
fused, selling it subsequently for $3.50
The hair is shipped to this country pre-
pared and unprepared. That which is
prepared undergoes process of wash
ing, securing and cleansing. all the oil,
dirt and other substances being separa-
ted from it, leaving it perfectly free
from all unhealthy influences. That
which is shipped in raw or unpre-
pared 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 jewelry. 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, it is ten cents per pound. There
are many instances given of changing
color.
1t is said that persons have from ex-
cessive grief found their hair changed
| from a 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
| famous elocutionist, the late DIR. Henry
Below. His hair is said to have turned
to slvery gray in one night, brought
about by domestic trouble. Other per-
sons hair changes color from extreme
fright.
| A curious case was mentioned of a
worker in metals, who had wrought in
copper only five months, and whose
hair, which was white, turned to green
color. Chemical analysis showed that
the hair contained quantity of acetate
of copper. and it is to this circumstance
that the mans hair owed its beautiful
green color, which was both singular
and remarkable. ~ tgs
The practice of wearing false hair is
many hundred years old. The Greek
and Roman ladies were, in ohden times,
as active at their toilet for the head as
the fashionable ladies at the present
day. Most of the hair at that time was
obtained from the Germans, and they
in turn from their slaves. Powdering
the hair is not so much in vogue in this
country as it is in Europe. History
tells us that the consumption of hair
powder by the ladies of George Ills
time was simply enormous. 1t was
calculated that, inasmuch as the mill
tary force of England and the colonies
was then about 250, 900, each man used
q pound of flour week for powdering
the hair. This would give $500 tons
per annum-an amount that would sus-
tain 10000 persons on bread. Gold and
silver powder was also used. Josephus
relates that Solomon's horse-guards
daily covered their heads with gold dust,
which glittered in the sun, and there
are several instances recorded in the Bi.
BILE of silver powder being used. The
ancient Greeks were very partial to
long hair, considering it very becom.
ing, while the Egyptians regarded it as
an incumbrance, and had their heads
shaved. They preferred wigs to natural
hair. The ancients, generally speaking
strangely considered fine head of hail
SO desirable that it became almost sacred
with them. They frequently dedicated
it to the gods on important occasions
such as marriage, victory, or escaping
from any great danger, and the buria
of particular friends.
Hair contains a very small quantity o
water manganese. Iron and various
salts of lime have been found by the
various methods of amalgamation. i
J is owing to this that hair is peculiarly
indestructible. 1t has been found OF
mummies more than twenty centurie.
old in perfect order and not bv any
means rotten.
, During the past few years there ha.
been gradual decline of human hair o.
the 6ner texture. Now there is a glu
In Tia market of ch0aN hair and where