, 1885-10-20
Wla-WEARINe IN EUROPE.


COMMENCEMENT Franoe-CoIlection In
tho Britirh Museum -Cousar vatisni.
Chicago Times.
The British museum contains the wigs
of a large number Of lord %chancellors and
chief justices Its collection of wigs is
very large. 1t contains one that is said to
be more than 4. 600 years old. IL was OBJ
tanned in Egypt, and It Is presumed that
IL was worn by one oil the early kings.
Wigs, like that other useless institution.
speculative philosophy. probably had their
origin in the country OF the pyramids.
Wigs and speculative philosophy found
their way from Egypt into Greece aud
Rome Nenophon states that Astyages.
king Of the Modes, wore q wig OF stale
occasions. Liyy. Ovid. duvcnal. and
Plutarch all mention wis in their writ
ings The early church fathers con
demned wigs. but after the church be
came a great power the bishops wore
them.
The great modern revival OF wigs com
MERGED In France. Henry III Of France
lost his hair By sickness. and wore Il wig
to hide his badness. II was made Of his
own hair or some that closely resembled
H. lie was so pleased with its appearance
that he had wigs made Of very long hair.
His oourtiers followed his example until
HiltlIN HI WHO hlltnQtN tQuIl Ihiln anu
receptions wore wigs. some Of which were
very costly. | nder outs NH wigs made
Of silk becamr fashionable. During the
reign Of his successor powdered wigs
were worn, the curls of which often GOV
cred the shoulders and came more Ii
half way down he back. Henry XIV had
a wig made that was entirely white. so
that he might be distinguished from even
the most illustrious Of his subjects His
example. however. was quickly followed
by the nobility Of France. and wigs of
pure white were worn generally at court
Wigs were introduced INTO England
soon after they became fashionable in
France During the time Of Queen Anne
the noblemen, magistrates. bishops. cabi-
net ministers. as well as all persons Of
wealth and quality. wore wigs The
pictures Of nearly all the authors Of this
period represent them with wigs The
like is true Of most persons of distinction
down TO the commencement OF the pres.
ent century. In 1865 the distressed
peruke makers of England petitioned
King George III for protection against the
French manufacturers, who were crowd.
ing the markets with their wares aud
bringing down prices.
Many English wigmakers came TO
America during the colonial times and
hhh ~ WY NoAAohAHk bhoAhNeos ~
the period Of the revolution wigs were
very fashionable in this country. Indeed,
they continued to be worn long after that
period The Father Of His Country -
wore a wig. and so did very many OF his
personal and political friends. One Of our
historians states that most OF the leading
Federalists during the administrations Of
Washington and Adams wore wigs. The
anti Feddralists or Democrats. however.
declined 10 wear wigs unless they were
bald. and as a consequence all BARRIERS.
hairdressers. and wigmakers belonged 10
the Federal party.
Gun great Chief Justice Marshall. de
clined 10 wear Il wig. probably because
he had Il luxuriant growth of hair. caused,
il Is said. by going bareheaded in early
life. His example has been followed by
his successors on the national bench
Onlyiudges and lawyers now wear wigs in
the British islands Their continuing TO
wear them seems somewhat ridiculous.
II affords another example of their eX-
IRENE conservatism, They are the last to
hold on TO old forms and styles of dress.