The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-26
Painting Bald Heads.

fortunate members of the lat
ter organization, who. like old Uncle
Ned of tuneful and historic memory,
have no hair on the tops of their heads,
the place where the hair ought to grow,
have had recourse to wigs to cover their
hirsute shortcomings; but now all this is
changed. A little French professor has
lately arrived in the metropolis, bring
ing with him an art that will drive the
wigmakers wild with envy and open up
possibilities of cranial establishment
that are almost limitless.
Sitting in one of the theaters a repre-
sentative of the Star, in looking along
the well-known row of baldheads in the
front circle of orchestra chairs, OBJ
served a familiar face. But how
changed was the head above it! 1t no
longer glistened with barren badness
and the calcium lights did not reflect
the glossy splendor Of its bald sheen. A
luxuriant crop of hair had grown where
formerly there was only tleshy waste.
Puzzled at the change, the Star repre-
sentative leveled his opera glass, and
putting it strong focus, proceeded to
make Investigations. The lenses de-
| 1AAChoOl dLCi bilC LCllldl ldCU uuitJ Iu6
venerable baldhead was not wearing a
wig, and yet on the previous evening
he had been seated in that same inden-
| teal seat with a Uranium as smooth as
a billiard ball
Waiting until the performance had
concluded, the Star representative
tumbled upon the transformed bald
head, with whom he happened to be
acquainted, and accosted him:
"Say, old fellow, where did you raise
all that hair?" he asked.
'Hair?" with look of blank aston
ishment. "Why, bless your soul, have
no hair"
''No hair!' as he raised his hat and
showed a closed cut crop of brown hair
that seemed just to have left the hands
of the barber, so smooth and glossy was
it. 'Then what do you call that?"
"That? Why, that is paint. Fact,
l assure you. 1t is the latest thing out.
OF course you know that we old bald
heads feel just trifle sore on the sub
ject of our badness, and yet we don't
like to wear wigs. Too much like
show, you know. Well, last week there
arrived from France benefactor of the
bald-headed portion of the human race
who paints our heads so cleverly that
as you see, the hair is almost as natural
as the genuine article"
"Can see this wonderful man?"
Certainly; come around tomorrow
and will take you to his studio"
The next morning the appointment
was kept and the pseudo bald head con-
Quoted the Star representative to the
second floor of little house on Fourth
avenue, where knock at the door
brought forward small, quick eyed
man, with a grizzly mustache and the
air of barber rather than an artist,
and yet the mans name with the affix
"Artist in Bald was conspicuously
painted upon the door. The object OF
the visit being made known, the Pro.
fessor entered on avoluble explanation
of his art in fluent English.
"You must understand, of course
he said, ''that it will not do for me to
tell you the secret of my preparation.
If l were to expose that, then my bust
ness would all go to what you Ameri.
cans call the smash 1t is harmless,
and well-painted head of hair will last
for month Is it better than wigs:
Sacre! l have made wigs for twenty
years, but no more will | them make.
Why, look you here. l have made
wigs for negro minstrels that | could
sell for fifty cents. | have made fright
wigs, in which the hair rises. | have
made blonde wigs for the divine Sarah,
and raven treSses for the sweet Colon.
bier. But | make them no more. !
now benefit my fellowmen. l paint
the heads that are bald.'
''DO you have much custom?"
''Not yet, but will. America wants
me. See the head of your friend.
Does he not look twenty years Younger
than he did two days ago, before | re.
stored him to youth and happiness?"
The assertion was too obviously true to
be denied, and when questioned further
as to the process, the little Professor
ratified on:
"You must understand that originally
| was portrait painter. Then, some
how l dropped into wig-making. But
my artistic instincts revolted at the de-
ception the wearing of wigs meant.
worked at the trade for bread, not
fame. But one day it occurred to me
that /, who had so well painted hair on
canvas, might paint it on the human
head. l experimental on my grand
father.
at was a grand success, for made
him look so much younger that he
married my mother-in-law, who was
widow, and relieved me of the expense
of supporting that most adorable
woman. Here, you see, is my paint
box. 1t does not contain a wide range
of colors. The principal ones, you will
observe, are the umbers, burnt and raw
Sienna, Naples Yellow, Cadmium, Van
dyke Brown, Bitumen and Ivory Black,
with few others. With these | can
paint any tinge of hair desired. from
the golden hair of Titian's beauties to
the raven gloss of an Italian count.
You will observe by the head of your
friend that this hair is painted on pre-
cisely as in portrait, all the delcacies
of light, shade and texture being en-
ployed, and, as a result, / present a
new man to the world. A thing of
beauty and a joy forever"
There was knock at the door and
customer entered As the Star repre-
sentative and his friend passed out, the
latter said:
'Great scheme, isn't it? Just think