The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-16
WIe-WEARINe IN EUROPE.
Commencement I'm CHARACTERIZATION in
the British Museum
IChicago Times


LChicago TimesI
The British museum contains the wigs
of q 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, O09 years old. 1t was OBJ
tanned in Egypt, and it is presumed that
1t was worn by one of 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 and
Rome. Aenophon states that Astyages,
king Of the Medes, wore wig on state
occasions. Livy. Ovid, Juvenal, and
Plutarch all mention wigs in their writ
ings The early church fathers con
demned wigs, but after the church be
came great power the bishops wore
them
The great modern revival of wigs com
menced in France. Henry III of France
lost his hair by sickness, and wore a wig
to hide his badness. 1t was made of his
own hair or some that closely resembled
it. He was Sc pleased with its appearance
that he had wigs made of very long hair
His courtiers followed his example until
finally all who attended court balls and
receptions wore wigs, some of which We're
very costly. Under ouis XIII wigs made
reign of his successor powdered Wigs
were worn, the curls of which often COW
cred the shoulders and came more than
half way down the back Henry XIV had
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
int EnOl9n6
soon after they became fashionabl; 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 1855 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 and
bringing down prices
Many English wigmakers came to
America during the colonial times and
did very fouishing business. Up to
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
nti-FederaliSts, or Democrats however,
declined to wear wigs unless they were
bald. and as consequence all BARRIERS,
hairdressers, and wigmakers belonged to
the Federal party.
cur great Chief Justice Marshall, de
clined to wear wig, probably because
he had luxuriant growth of hair, caused,
it 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.
1t affords another example of their ex-
IRENE conservatism. They are the last to
hold on to old forms and styles of dress.