Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-05-02
HUMAN HAIR.
Sources From which Various Coiors
and Qualities Are Obtained,

Sources From which Various Coiors
and Qualities Are Obtained.
In tour of investigation Phila-
delphia Times reporter dropped in at
Mrs. Buch's That lady was deity
plating a wig on wooden block or
dummy. She was little alarmed at
first, but when the scribe explained
the object Of his visit proceeded to de-
scribe the manner Of obtaining hair in
Europe and America,
"You see, in Germany" said the
lady, "thcre are men going around all
the time among the country girls to
buy up their hair. They pay silk
handkerchief, or apron, and sometimes
a couple of dollars. As rule a girls
hair grows again every three years,
but that varies considerably much
with the person. Now my brother-in-
laws mether, who died here aged nine
ty years Of age couple Of years ago,
used to have her hair cut twice 4 year.
1t was silver-gray and very valuable"
"What is done with the hair after
the girls sell it9'
"There are big factories in the
large towns. The hair is cleaned and
sorted and then sold at prices varying
with its color and quality. A good
deal of it comes to this country. The
most valuable shades are gray, blonde,
and white. Ashen blonde Is very
dear. The true shade will bring 500
an ounce, The most expensive Of all
is gray, 1t is worth $40 to $50 an
ounce, according to its length. A lady
bought gray switch in New York
the other day and paid $500 for it.
Black hair is the cheapest Amy hair
can be dyed black"
Don't some of the hair used in the
business come from the dead?"
VERY little Of it. 1t can always be
known by the touch. 1t seems to be
dead and dry, just like straw"
ado American ladies sell their hair?"
"No; the people are not poor
enough. Now and then you see wo-
man with superb head of hair, worth
$50 or 800, but she will not part with
it. The converts supply us with
good deal of hair. The sisters sell it
twice year. Occasionally a little
girl comes and sells her hair, but a
grown woman never"
"What is this beautiful blonde harp"
asked the reporter turning over some
in box"
"Why, that's Chinese hair bleached.
Some of it is imported from China, and
then the Cinnamon here in the city sell
us their hair. Theatrical people use it.
A Chinese hair switch can be bought
for 81 or $l.50. There is a Chinese
laundry a few doors from here. The
Laundry men sell us their hair very
cheaply-only seventy-two cents a
pound. 1t is so short it isn't worth
much. When they sell US long hair
we pay So to s. a pound. The blonde
bleached Chinese hair goes through
refining process; it is soft as silk-just
feel it."
GLOW about the hair of colored peo-
ple:"
Their hair is too short. Can't do
anything with it in our line, unless it
be to make up wigs and boards for the
negro MINISTRIES 1t would be useful
then, because it always stays in curl.
The hair Of negro women doesn't grow
long; ten inches would be quite out 0:
the ordinary
Where else do you get hair from
besides Germany"
From Naples. This is the poorest
hair in the trade 1t is coarse and has
roots growing on it. II is dyed dark
brown, but fades to reddish gray or
black in a short time. 1t is dirty and
unpleasant to handle. | have been
told that it is hair taken from bodies
that have lain in the ground many
years. That accounts for the long
roots. The Swedes send us beautiful
long hair. We pay 50 to $40 an ounce
for it."
"Where does the best hair come
FROM"
"From Paris, prepared by man
named Pelleray. His hair is always
live, healthy hair, and every box is
married. with his nomnn