Smyrna times., 1882-04-05
Woman Pedicures and Manieures il
Paris.

lelhale attenuah( mat she might send the
chiropodist, or to use the French term,
"pedicure," to ME as soon as I had had
my bath and dressed myself
"Then madame will not have her feet
done while she is still in the bath ?" she
queried. 1T is more convenient 1t is
thus that all our ladies do in Paris"
They must have different ideas of
mOdesty from mine"
" All, la mOdesti-'she' is not infringed.
la MODESTO. Our pedicure isa good, brave
woman, knowing well her trade. \ sheet
thrown over the bath tub, and with our
brave pedicure in the room modesty OF
madame will suffer little.''
So said, so done. The brave pedicure
sustained her reputation for goodness by
her looks when she appeared, and strapp-
ed band of leather from side to side of
the bath-tub. She was a plump, good
natured woman of forty-five or so, and the
easy manner in which she handled her
numerous instruments showed her TO
be quite at ease in her profession She
placed my foot very gently and gracefully
on the leather support (wkile l luxurious
ly reposed in the warm water of the bath
tub, and deXterously manipulated the
troublesome little consequences of unceas-
ing tramping and the rubbing of tight or
! ill-htting shoes. She was Il pleasant
talker, and while she welded her dainty
implements with the ease and decision of
long practice, she discoursed about the
opening of the door of public opinion con-
cerning the pedicure profession to the
secondary sex.
: 1t is some years now, she said, 'since
woman pedicures first began TO practice
ia the Paris lighthouses. Formerly men
came in to ladies bathrooms. the ladv's
form being covered with a sheet. OF course.
But as soon as women learned the trade.
and few great ladies confined the little.
surgery of their feet to them, then no lady
would tolerate male pedicure IN the
bathroom any more. 1t is a very nice
and suitable trade for lady who has a
sufficiently steady hand, and all day am
49, 10y ee7 CaeAA DSs c@b AOl " NOuS lOl CdCli
lady, for putting her feet in order
docs every body have troublesome
feet then?''
Everybody" she answered, positively
There is not lady bather comes to
these rooms who has not got cOrns-some
trightful ones. These modern high -heeled
boots are an abomination they murder
the feet Of all who wear them"
The female pedicure gave me so much
ease that felt as if she had furnished me
with brand-new feet when got up and
prepared to walk off on them.
And the hands?" she suggested. "You,
would not like your fnger-nails done p
Handsome finger-nails-they advantage
greatly an already pretty hand"
Sly latterer! was in for the doing OF
the hand, of course.
Il will give you the address of the
manicure we recommend" j" said she. "No,
l am not a manicure-pedicure is my only
trade
Ia the course of the day, more from
curiosity than anything else, betook
myself to the rooms Of the manicure,
between the hours indicated on the busi-
ness card for her reception of clients at
home. To my surprise found the place
crowded, not only with ladies, but gentle
men, patiently awaiting their turn for a
sitting with the manicure. The dress and
bearing of altpresent indicated their posi-
ton, and in almost every case it was one
of Importance. Grave senators, young
sciOns of nobility, numerous stately gentle
men decorated with the cross of the
Legion of Honor, tastefully attired ladies
with children accompanied by servants
two or three pretty American girls, sat
around the room and glanced over books
and newspapers to relieve the tedium OF
waiting.
The manicure's operations were per-
formed in the same room, and under her
skillful scissoring and rubbing we saw
hand after hand depart in u much more
beautiful condition than when it was
brought there.
After a tedious waiting my turn at
length came, and seated myself at the
manicure's little table, upon which were
scattered the tools of her trade. These
were scissors and knives of shape spec
tally devised for trimming the nails; files
nail-cleaners, small basin of rose water
with bit of soap near it, a tiny towel Oi
linen cambria, a bit of lemon, and various
polishing powders and sweet-smelling un-
gents in the form of ruby -colored pomades
The first step in her proceedings was to
wash off the finger tips carefully, then to
dry them, after assuring herself that there
were 40 ink spots or other stains upon
them. Then she clipped and trimmed the
nails into the approved filbert shape
neither too short nor too long, nor toe
pointed nor too bread; the "half-moons'
J at the base of the nails were gently
brought into clear light all "haHg-nails'
were amputated, and after this she rubbed
coral-colored pomade of delicious odoi
upon the nails and upper part of all ths
fingers After allowing this to remain 6
little while she wiped it off again, anC
scattered upon the nails golden brOwnist
powder, which she vigorously rubbed with
the whole length of her powerful forefH
ger, occasionally aided by the palm