Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-10
FOR THE SAKE OF HIS
HAIR.
How Young FrenChman's Vanity Saved
Him from Being Hanged.


How u Young Frenchman's Vanity saved
Him from Being Hanged.
The other day was standing on the
boulevard, watching with no little in
terest the new graduates from the mill
tary school at St.-Cyr. Among them
noticed struggling along with elastic
step, a young officer of dragoor5 who
was evidently wearing his uniform of
Sub-Lieutenant for the first time. His
tunic was without a wrinkle, his epau-
lets without Il spcck of dust, and his
fatigue-cap. tipped knowingly 70 one
side, showed, though his light hair was
still very short, that there has been an
attempt to part it in the back. This
reminded me forcibly of the experience
of Maxine dc Ian old mcssmate of
mine when l myself was at St. Cyr.
He was big Breton, tall, strong as an
OK, and with curly yellow hair. He
had, so far as we knew, but one
sorrow, and that to be obliged TO wear
his golden locks cut rs short as short
as old JOussc could clip them. In fact.
like many of his countrymen, Max at
tachcd a peculiar Importance 10 this
hair of his, and argued that to show
ones ears in their conspicuous naked
ness was sort Of degradation. Be
sides, there was 4 certain cousin, lo-
lande de Precy- -Bussac, in whose pres
ence he rather liked to look his best.
1t was III vain that he had found an ar
tistic barber, who every Sunday woLt
over with curling-irons The quarter Of
an inch of hair that the law allowed.
lie was ashamed OF himself and il was
with real delight that he hailed the ap-
proach Of his second year, when disci-
plue is relaxed to the point of allow
ing the hair TO be worn little longer,
provided the temples are bare. Think
Of it, he said TO me one day with
childish delight. I'm two months |
shall be at 1'rouvile. ! shall be an
officer, and free to do as | choose. |
can loaf all day on the beach and dance
the german with my cousin Yolandc in
the evening; and,' he added, lifting
his cap under which a thick mat OF hair
was already curling, Il shall have my
hair"
One unlucky morning, however, In
fantry-Lieut. Pichard, during inspec-
ton on parade, stopped short in front
OF Max. ''IaHc oil your cap!" Max
shuddered and slowly obeyed VERY
good. II all that isn't of by to-mor-
row, you shall have four days in the
guard-house and he continued his
inspection.
$50 you are to be sandpapered after
all, Max" said when parade was
over.
Not bit of it," he replied; ..do
you suppose I'm going to give up?"
what can you do about itg'
Il don't know. ! shall Use strata
gem. | shall move heaven and earth,
but intend to keep my hair.
The next morning we worked hard
with brushes and water until we had
smoothed out his rcbcllious curls and
hattened them out quite .presentably.
On parade, however, Max seemed very
nervous. Pickard might have forgot
ten No, here he was now, coming
slowly along with his hands behind his
back, and, as the day before, he
stopped before Max and made him lift
his cap. Surprised at first by his skill
full plastering, he proceeded to stroke
'hS 'Np Vi my pun iiNHd . ucuu tuc
wrong way, when the obnoxious curls
at once reappeared, sitter and more
obstinate than ever.
"Adjutant! Put down De l.. for four
days in the guard d-house"
At the end of the fourth day Max
mixed an intricate combination Of
colors in q saucer aud decorated his
knee with a wash of blue-green repre-
scntlng a serious confusion. lie avcrred
that his horse had knocked him against
one OF the posts in the riding-schOOl,
and good-natured DIR. Pouillac reported
him lila gain Of another day. The
next day, on parade, new inspection,
and this time eight days in the guard
house. Max took his punishment like
a stole, and when he reappeared the
ninth day got two weeks more, followed
by special report to the General.
Still he had on " one month longer to
hold out, and remained obstinate, but
finding that at this rate he was risking
his epaulcts, he again CONSULTED the
worthy doctor, who this time sent him
to the iniirmary.
He had begun to entertain serious
thoughts Of giving in, when one day,
the l4th Of July, 1870, a tremendous
cheer was heard in the court yard out
side, followed by thunders of applause.
The invalids rushed to the windows.
when a scene Of the widest disorder
met their eyes. Through the windows
were flying Typographical charts,
sketches and books-caps were whirl-
ing in the air, and the noise was grow
ing louder every moment. All at once
the door opened and an almost breath
less adjutant cried:
"Order; war is declared. Those ia
their second year are commissioned
Sub-Lieutenants by imperial decree of
the l4th of July"
Never was there such spectacle.
All the sick were instantly cured.
Tearing of their nightcaps, shouting,
singing, leaping, the ''inyalids" rushed
down into the courtyard, where they
were received with frantic congratula.
tions by their companions. Officers!
They were officers! No examination
no rank list An Adjutant merely
asked in which regiment they would
like to serve-the service to begin In