The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-11
YRESSES IN THE MARKET.
sources from which Various Colors and
Qualities Arc Obtained.

Sources from which Various Colors and
Qualities Are Obtained.
Thieves entered the house of family
named Smith, living at Allentown, Pa,
and, chloroforming the inmates, cut off
the long black hair of the daughter.
young lady Is years of age. This
naturally suggested inquiry a. to
whether the hair supply was scant,
and where it was to be supplied from.
In tour of investigation Philadel-
phis reporter dropped in at Mrs. Buch's.
That lady was deity plating wig on
wooden block or dummy. She was a
little alarmed at first, but when the
scribe explained the object of his visit
proceeded to describe the manner of
obtaining hair in Europe and America.
"You see, in Germany" said the
lady, "there are men going around all
the time among the country girls to
buy up their hair. They pay silk
handkerchief or apron, and sometimes
couple of dollars. AS rule, girls
hair grows again every three years, but
that varies considerably much with the
person. Now, my brother-in-law's
mother, who died here at 80 years of
age a couple of years ago, used to have
her hair cut twice year. 1t was silver
gray and very valuable"
What is done with the hair after the
girls sell it,"
There are big factories III 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 val
liable shades are gray, blonde and
white. Ashen blonde is very dear.
The true shade will bring $40 an ounce.
The most expensive of all Is gray. 1t
is worth SO to so an ounce, according
to its length. Black hair is the cheap
est Any hair can be dy ed 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
"Do American women sell their hair ?"
"No; the people are not poor enough.
Now and then you see woman with a
superb head of hair, worth $50 or 500,
but she will not part with it. The con-
vents supply us with a good deal of hair.
The sisters sell it twice a year Occa-
sionally little girl comes and sells her
hair, but grown woman never"
"What is this beautiful blonde hair 2"
asked the reporter, turning over some
III 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..
L.. til. Ia
for 81 or $3.50. There is Chinese
laundry few doors from here. The
laundrymen sell us their hair very
cheaply-only u cents a pound. 1t is
so short it isn't worth much. When
they sell us long hair we pay 50 to - a
pound The blonde-bleached Chinese
hair goes through refining process; it
Is soft as silk-just feel it..
How 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 ne
gro minstrels. 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 OF
the ordinary"
Where else do you get hair from be-
side GERMANY"
From Naples This is the poorest
hair in the trade. 1t is coarse and has
roots growing on it. 1t is dyed dark
brown, but fades to reddish gray or
black in 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 s. to $40 al ounce for it.