The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-23
FOR THE SAKE OF HIS
HAIR.
How Young Frenehman's Vanity Save
Him from Being Hanged.

Foh THE SAKE OF HIS
HAIR.
How q Young Frsnchman'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 dragons who
was evidently wearing his uniform OF
Sub-Lieutenant for the first time. His
tunic was without a wrinkle, his epau-
lets without spcck of dust, and his
fatigue-cap, tipped knowingly to 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 messmate 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 as short-as short
as old Jousse could clip them. In fact,
like many of his countrymeD, Max at
tached a peculiar importance to this
hair of his. and argued that TO show
ones ears in their conspicuous naked
ness was sort of degradation. Be-
sides, there was a certain cousin, Yo-
lande de Precy-Bussac, in whose pres
ence he rather liked to look his best.
1t was in vain that he had found an Ar
tistic barber, who every Sunday went
over with curling-irons the quarter of
an inch of hair that the law allowed.
He was ashamed of himself and it was
with real delight that he hailed the APP
proach of his second year, when disci-
pline 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 L
shall be at Trouville. l shall be an
officer, and free to do as L choose.
can loaf all day ON the beach and dance
the german with my cousin Yolande in
the evening; and,' he added, lifting
his cap under which thick mat of hair
was already curling, Il shall have my
hair
One unlucky morning. however, In
fantry-Lieut. Plchard, during inspec-
ton on parade, stopped short in front
of Max. Take off your cap! Max
shuddered and slowly obeyed. ''Very
good. If all that isn't off by tO-mor-
row, you shall have four days in the
guard-house''- 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 upP"
What can you do about it?"
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 rebellious curls and
flattened 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 ut first by his skill
full plastering, he proceeded 10 stroke
the top of my poor friends head the
wrong way, when the obnoxious curls
at once reappeared, stitfer and more
obstinate than ever.
"Adiutant! Put down De l.. for four
days in the guard-houser'
At the end of the fourth day Max
mixed an intricate combination OF
colors in a saucer and decorated his
knee with wash of blue-green repre-
He 1VarrAd
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, a new inspection
and this time eight days in the guard
house. Max took his punishment like
stole, and when he reappeared the
ninth day got two weeks more, followed
by special report to the General.
Still he had only one month longer tC
hold out, and remained obstinate, but
finding that at this rate he was riskins
his epaulets, he again consulted til,
worthy doctor, who this time sent hin
to the infirmarv.
He had begun to entertain seriou:
thoughts of giving in, when one day
the 14th of July, 1870, 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 window:
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 onc'
the door opened and an almost breath
less adjutant cried:
Order; war is declared. Those il
their second year are commissioned
Sub-Lieutenants by imperial decree o
the 14th of july"
Never was there such q spectacle
All the sick were instantly cured
Tearing off their nightcaps, shouting
singing, leaping, the ''invalids" rushe'
! down into the courtyard, where the,
were received with frantic congratula
tions by their companions. Officers
They were officers! No examination
no rank list. An Adjutant merel
asked in which regiment they woul
like 10 serve-the service to begin il
three days time. Amidst the genera
good humor Pichard alone RENAME,
gloomy. well, so we are not to b
clipped after ALL" Max said to him
my dear brother-in-arms.
.'You may consider yourself lucky,
he replied, laughing in spite of himself
For l should not have let you of,
and thew shook hands. Max hurriedl