Huntsville gazette., 1882-01-07
The Latest Folly-The Rage for Long,
Pointed Finger-Nails.

Dainty little nail cases have become
fashionable at present, and are even
seen among wedding gifts, when the in
struments are mounted in gold and sill
yer. One given last week was made TO
order in Paris, and included a button
hook and glove -buttoner Like all the
other pieces, the handles were of ivory,
studded with small turquoise, and the
Russia leather case was lined with tur-
quoise blue satin. SISSY aaR 4
Nowadays, if you 90 to call on young
lady early in the morning, ten to, one
you find her lolling back in an easy
chair, with her rosy fnger-tips i'm
mersed in a finger-bowl of scented wa
ter (the first step in the process) or
else, chamois polisher in hand, carefully
and laboriously rubbing her nails with
fine pink powder that eventually makes
them shine like diamonds.
..saFhe other day, having desire to
write up the process, I visited the estab-
ishment of Mr.. F., and it was there I
was impressed with the growth of the
new fashion, being asked to make an
appointment three days later, owing to
the rush of customers. noticed that
s z
commented on it, Mrs. P. showed me
small office, entered from the back of
the house, where were seated some gen
tlemen, one Congressman from Vir-
ginia, all looking rather shamefaced at
being there. fsjas
f" They have not the courage to be
seen entering" said the manicure; $50
had to arrange a sort of back door.
A great many gentlemen come here, no.
ts tably ministers and actors, as in their
respective professions they are given to
using their hands freely, and like to
have them as effective as possible.
"Then fashionable young men have
d taken up the idea, and many of them
are regular customers, and paw so much
month to have their nails taken care
of. MY two most famous patrons are a
Brooklyn preacher and a Washington
politician and orator." s-asaa.
And how about the ladies?''
-- "Oh, you can see for yourself" and
the manager took down blank book in
which were inserted the autographs OF
her lady patrons. Among them were
the names of several well-known
y actresses Of stock companies and of an
American prima donna. Amusing to
relate. the list of matrons was longer
than that of young ladies. i
But to the point. When my turn came
sat in row with five other ladies, in
the easiest of armchairs and with
damask napkins in our laps. Finger
bowls of stained glass on plates of
painted French china, filled with tepid
water perfumed and containing an acid
to soften the skin, were given us, and
solemnly we sat and soaked our fingers
for fifteen minutes.
At the end Of that time an ssoperator,'
on low stool seated herself before me,
dried one hand, posed it on pink cush-
ion, and with q fine steel instrument
quickly scraped away all the soft skin
around the nail; then she filed it into 8
point at the top and clipped the sides
with sharp scissors; then she rubbed q
red salve over it, wiped it off, and pro-
ceeded TO polish with The diamond pow
der, using the palm Of her hand until
the nail fairly glistened, and finally
warm water, CASTLE soap and soft
brush left it clean, smooth and Shining.
The process was repeated on every
finger, and in half an hour, for the sum
Of $l.5O, was finished, and the result
was ten pink and brilliant weapons of
defense, SO sharp and pointed as to sug-
gest the advantages of peace. The fash
ion of wearing these long and pointed
nails has become SO exaggerated that it
necessitates long-fngered gloves and
extreme care to keep them from break
ing off.-Cincinnati Enquirer,