The National tribune., 1890-11-06
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
GAPS AND SUAWJq.

tree-top5." An equally remote period, accord
ing to tho impression of many of our country
men. must have been the age of bareheads-the
time when our ancestors followed their outdoor
pursuits without hats and caps. And yet, aside
from the influence of established CUSTOMS 1t
would seem evident that the upper head of a
normal human being is less in need of artificial
cover than any other part of the body Nor
need we go back to very remote period OF
antiquity to find records of time when the
most civilized nations of the world dispensed
with artificial headdress. In war both the
Romans and Greeks wore metal helmets-Often
heavy enough to turn the stroke of the heaviest
sword--but in peace they went bareheadod the
year round, and men made n full beard serve
the purposes of shawl. Shaving had, sOme-
how, become fashionable in the East, but the
Romans left that matter to every mans private
predilectiOn, aud the Emperor Julian wrote q
satire, "The Mis0pogon" (beard- hater), to Tidi-
cue the prevalence of the Oriental prejudice.
The paitium or outer toga being worn up to
the nape OF the neck, very long hair was thought
superfluous, and had gone quite out Of fashion
during the first century Of the Cesars. On one
occasion, when the citizens OF Rome were fright
ened by the appearance of a large comet, the
augurs pretended to connect the phenomenon
with an evil omen TO some member OF the i'm
peral family. at may be an omen," said the
do with it. 1t must concern the King of the
Parthians, who wears his hair long"
But even without wigs or theatrical treSses,
the conquerors Of tho world brayed the
weather of every accessible cline. In seven
years the Emperor Hadrian travelled 2S000
miles on what we would call journeys of in
spection, and during all these expeditions he
never wore helmet or a cap, and rarely
mounted horse, to avoid the temptation of
neglecting his duty by an excess of hurry.
Only 300 years ago caps were worn merely
for ornamental purposes on ceremonial occa-
sions, and now and then as an advertisement
of the wearer's political sympath ies-as q sort
of badge, in fact. A relic of that custom is
still found in the parti-colored skull-cap of
the German Universities, where 10 or IL diff
fereut associations recognize their members at
first glance by tho color Of their head cover
generally n mere fat piece of cloth with the
narrowest possible rim, and bit of elastic
string to hold the cOntriyance in place. Chill
dren wore caps only in cold weather, and Sir
John Sinclair, in his O. Code of Health aud
Longevity" informs us that the founder of
| Christ Church Hospital, London, made special
stipulation to the effect that the wards of the
establishment were TO 90 bareheaded altogether
the year round, and the author adds that the
| hospital youngsters were remarkable for their
| healthy appearance.
There is no doubt that the habit of dispensing
mature bsl1ucss. But il may be asked; What
| harm can there be. if nature accepts the COM
| promi5e1 Can a well-iitting hood not be made
quito as comfortable ms q shock of tangled hair
| But. in theft place, the fact remains that
| the loss OF no part of the living organism can
| be wholly compensated by the best artificial
substitute. In the course of the last 30 years
| European and North American dentists have
| patented some 20 different methods for fasten-
ing fetal teeth but for practical purposes tho
| pTettlest set Of that sort IS not worth a couple
| of stumpy rudimeuts OF the original edition.
| The best spectaces ever manufactured are only
pitifui makeshIfts compared with Is sound pair
/ OF sharp eyes. And oven the ugliest shock of
| tow hair can claim two advantages which. TINS
! far have not yet been united by any kind of
artificial head cover. It keeps the scalp warm,
| aud gives free scope to the exhalatiOns by
/ which every portion of the skin supplements
| the work OF the lungs
We breathe through our pores, but that proc
! oss of cutaneOus respiration is checked by
| warm clothes. and for that reason alone it
would be worth while to dispense with articles
of dress thai help TO limit the already so
narrowly circumsCribcd surface of active ibe-
cause freely exposed) skin. A simple expert
| ment will illustrate the difference in that ro-
| spect between artificial fabrics and natural
| head of hair. A person who wears his hair
| long enough 10 comb il back. may thus get the
Of locks without feeling anything like discom-
fort. oven ii the weather should be exceptionally
warm. \ cap, hat, wUolen or silken skull
cap put on directly after the hair has been
clipped close To the skin, will produce that
feeling OF discomfort even on moderately cool
days. The exhalations of tho seslp have been
| obstructed and the change Ton u small scale) is
analogous 10 tile effect of removal from the
free outdoor atmosphere 10 a stuiy, overheated
| chamber.
The case of the "Seven Sutherland Sisters "
and similar phenomena would seem to Justify
the conclusion that vigorous growth of hair
! is to a large degree a hereditary blessing. But
tho correctness of that theory would by nc
means warrant the inference that premature
badness, too, is an inevitable doom, and that
in spite OF all precautions man may expect "a
lose his hair about the time his father or grand.
father lost theirs. / could enumerate quite q
list of cases where that doom has been averted
by the simple precaution of going bareheaded
on all practicable occasions, and thus as il
| woro giving Nature motive for granting an
old deuadent head of hair new lease OF life
On the Same principle person afflicted with
hweak teeth may prevent at least the rapid pro.
gross OF their decay by chewing on purpose the
toughest and dryest crusts of old bread he can
get hold OF, and thus giving the organism
motive for reconsidering its purpose oil dispens
ing with its masticating apparatus. Warn
headcOver, especially the absurd habit of wear
ing night-cap lin bedrooms secured against
every draft of cool airl never fail to hasten the
progress OF badness, aud the manufacturers oi
Magic Hair OILS" etc, best know the diificulty
Of retrieving such consequences Hair lost az
the after. effect of certain debiIftatng disease:
(eXhaustimg fevers, etc.) may reappoar on thu
recovery of general vgor, but hair forfeited by
the use Of substitute head covers is generally
lost forever. The bleaching of the natura
hair-cOor is generally premonitory symptom
of impending badness. Years before such hail
turns absolutely white il assumes a neutra
tint, chestnut, brown turning to gray brown and
blonde to a curious straw-gray, on noticing
which phenomena the proprietor of the scalI
may conclude that 1t Is time to chose between
Nature and artihce: tho latter alternative inn
| plying more and more gu lie amount O
trouble, the former little more than the courag,
TO defy the despotism Of fashion. Persons whC
have once got used to the plan of relying OF
the protective properties OF their native head
dress, would smile at the idea of its discom
forts Indoors under all circumstances, anC
outdoors during such occupation MS garden
work or woOdpile matmees hats and cap
can easily be dispensed with, and will ever
come To seem II troublesome encnmbrance
tending to neutralize tho bruoing and refresh
ing effect of outdoor exercise.
10 be e0HtiHusd0
A Correction.
EDITOR NATIoNAL TRIBUNE: In your Per
sOnals," short time ago, you have got the his
tories of two III. II. Sibleys mixed Henry
Hastings Sibley, OF 81 Paul, Mnn.. was loya