Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-16
FIFTEEN DOLLARS A DIMPLE.
Some of Arts Peculiar 1ciumphs Over Unsatis
factory Nature

/ possess 1T to certain extent in these
days of invention" said curious little
man who has a workshop In one of the
side streets uptown, where he Carries on
rather peculiar and novel trade.
"Noses are remodeled,n he continued.
fingers made to taper, instcps to arch,
and my work that of making dimples
and long eye-lashes, has added the finish
ing touches. \ handsome face without
a dlmple is as lost to real beauty as q po-
tato without salt is lost to taste. / have
but recently set up my establishment
here, but in the few months OF nv soiourn
nave transformed many a plain girl into
a dlmpled beauty and added eyelashes as
long as an inch to the bare eyelids of many
others.''
lis the operation of having an artificial
dlmple made very painful?" queried the
reporter.
"Yes, I should think so, because a
piece of the flesh is taken right out of the
chin or cheek, aud that operation is not
| painless; but l have known girls to stand
| the operation without a murmur, when
| they will scream at the sight of mouse,
and faint if a spider touched them. Wo-
men will stand anything for the sake of
beauty, and girl knows that a charming
dimple will add ten times to her attrac-
tiveness, and will be a lasting beauty if
it is rightly made.
just then a timid knock was heard at
the door, and in walked damsel of TWEEN
ty, beautiful Venus, with four or f7eA
of the lovliest dimples showing in her
round cheeks and chin as she smiled
prettlly at the maker of these charms
Surely she had not come for artificial
dimples.
II wanted to show you how well the
dlmples were getting on" she said. in a
low tone. You see, at first | thought
they could not possibly amount to any
thlng-they were so sore and looked so
disagreeable, but now I think they are
lovely" and she smiled at her own refiec-
ton IN large mirror opposite, and then
smiled again with delight as the dimpIes
came.
The dimple maker made a careful ex-
animation of the little dimples, and after
paying bill of $1.0O cash the young lady
Departed
''How much do you charge to make a
dimple?" was asked.
WELL that depends greatly on the per-
son, whether the skin is tough and hard,
and other accidents. My lowest charge
for single dimple is SO, but when |
make several on one face the bill is, of
course somewhat reduced. 1t takes about
two weeks to make a proper dimple.
First must get the cuticle in proper
condition; then the operation, removing a
part of the flesh and putting back the
skin is accomplished, and that is of
course, the most difficult part of the pro-
cess. About ten days are required to
completely heal the dimple, and during
that time the patient must be very careful
not to smile at all or the dimpIe may be
entirely ruined"
"What kind of people come to me TO
have dimples made? Every kind, almost,
although you would not think SO. [ had
lady of forty-fve here yesterday, and
she gave me an order for two dimples
one in the chin and one in her left cheek.
She expects, I rather think, that they will
aid her matrimonial prospects. Then%
had a nursemaid last week who paid ME
$15 for a handsome dimple in her left
cheek. The maj Ority of my patients
however, young girls who consider them
selves handsome, but not bewitching
enough. [ have had five men come to me
for dimples, four wanting them in the
chin and one in the cheek. Do 1 ever
make scars? Well, not very often. [
have refused to make dimples for two or
three people in Paris because they had
such tough skins, but Americans are more
fortunate in that respect"
The reporter noticed several boxes
filled with short curls of hair, some jet
black and others a golden brown.
II get that hair from the barber shops"
he said in answer to an inquiry sit
comes from the curly pate of some young
fellow and is then used by me to make
long curling lashes on some fair maiden"
1t may not be amiss to suppose that a
young lady might be wearing her lovers
hair for eyelashes and he be none the
wiser.
Making long eyelashes is much more
delicate and dangerous operation than
making dimple. II seldom disturb the
underlid," said the little man, because it
is apt to injure the eye. First remove
the old eyelashes one by one, and as each
one comes out put in It's place a long
curling one; then when they are all in [
trim them off evenly, and put little
vaseline about the edges. If the lashes
are not there at all l have to puncture
little holes in the lid to insert new ones,
and then the operation is far more pain
full and requires greater skill"
AS the reporter rose to take leave a
young lady of handsome appearance en-
tered the room. She had auburn hair,
snowy complexion, and would have been
beautiful but that her blue eyes were
shaded by lashes almost white.
II want to know" she said, IF I could
have dark lashes put into my eyelids in
place of these?"
eyes, madam, I can do that" said the
little dimple maker, ''but it will be pain
full operation"
'The costa
swell, 81 for each eyelash, but would
attempt to touch the under Ones but you 4
can easily keep them darkened with char
COAL"
The bargain was made, the young lady
agreed to come next day for the opera
ton.
"Do you think such business as
yours is likely to fiourish?'' asked the re-
porter.
''As long as dimples and long eyelashes
are considered beautiful. l don't expect
to make my fortune out of it, but enjoy
in making people beautiful and then I
have monopoly in New York, and
whereas in Paris [ had several comnet=