Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-21
wIG-weARINa M EUROPE.
Commencement in Frsncs-ColIectiOn Ia
the British Mussum-ConssT ystIsm.

,Chrago 7 n,"s.l
The British museum contains the wigs
of a large number Of lord chancellOrs and
chief justices Its collection Of wigs is
very large Ii contains one that is sad to
be more than t. 900 ears old II was OBJ
tained in Egypt, and it is presumed that
it 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 aud speculative philosophy found
their way from Egypt into Greece and
Rome, Nenophon states that Astyages.
king Of the Mcdcs. Wore wig on state
occasions. Iivy. ovid, Juvenal. and
PlutarCh all mention wi 5 in their writ
ings The early church fathers con
demned wigs. but after the church be
came Il great power the bishops wore
them
The great modern revival of wigs COM
merced in France Henry III of France
lost his hair bv sickness, and wore a wig
to hide his badness 1t was made of his
own hair or some that closely resembI ed
IL liz was so pleased with its appearance
that he had wigs made of very long hair.
His Courtiers followed his exam lie until
nnaky all who attended court balls and
receptions wore wigs. some of which were
very costly. | Udcr Ous NIL wiEs made
Of silk heCam' fashionable During the
reign Of his SuCo oessor powdered wis
were worn. the Curls of which often COW
cred the shoulders and came more than
half way down the back. Henry AN had
wiz made that was entirely white, so
that he might be disIin- uished from even
the most ilIustrious Of his sub eCts His
example however. was quickly followed
BY tie nobility Of France and wigs of
pure whie were worn generally ST court
Wigs were introduced into England
soon after they became fashionable in
France During the time of ueen Anne
the nOblemen, magistrates bishops. cabi
not ministers, as we'll as all persons Of
wealth and quality. wore wigs The
pictures of nearly all the autho. s 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 and
bringing down prices
Many nglish @igmakers came TO
America during the colonial times and
did a very tiouishing business. tp TO
the period Of tho revolution wigs were
very fashionable in this country. Indeed.
they continued to he 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
FederalisIs during the adm inistrations of
Washington and Adams wore wigs. The
anti federaiisis or Democrats, however,
declined 10 wear wigs unless they were
bald. and as a consequence all BARRIERS.
haIrdrcssers. and wigmskers belonged to
the Federal party.
cur great Chief Justice Marshall. de,
clined 10 wear a wig. probably because
he had a 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
Onlyjudges and lawyers now wear wigs in
the British islands Their continuing to
wear them seems somewhat ridiculous
1t affords another example of their ex.
treme conservatism They are the last TO
hold on to old forms and styles of dress