The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-03-05
FESTIVE FIGAROS.
Hair-Dressing in View Of the Pub
lie for Prizes.
The wild Scene Witnessed at Tonsoriai
Exhibition in Paris - A Tremendous
Row Caused by One of the Los
ing Competitors.

ing Competitors.
Before twenty-seven 1ooking-glasses
sat twenty-seven disheveled maidens,
the glories of their toilets vailed by the
familiar tripod wrappers OF the halr-
dressers saloon, surrounded by hair
pins, bandeaux, and-but why expose
the secrets of the toilet? Enough to
say that all was there necessary to the
erection of fashionable couture. Be-
hind each stood a Figaro, expectant, tall
comb in hand, his snowy shirt-front and
Respondent studs carefully protected by
q silken kerchief, now executing valse
steps to the preliminary strains OF the
band, now combing the tresses before
him to the same accompaniment This
odd scene, says Paris letter in the
New York Sun, was at the ball OF the
Society of Progress in Hairdressing, and
it was the outset of prize competition.
The signal is given. With lightning
fingers the competitors proceed to
work. In trice fringes that lately
hung dank and straight assume puffy
appearance. The spectator can not
fail to note the careful powdering OF
the models faces, for the electric light is
trying, and observe how speedily a
twist here, curl there, and half a
dozen skillfully placed pins add to fem
mime charms 1t is all very serious.
The subjects" are models Of gravity.
Messrs. Louis, and Auguste, and Jaques,
and Hippolyte indulge only in the facial
contortions peculiar to their trade.
Their young ladies and professional
friends solemnly promenade to the
music and await results with palpitating
hearts.
Gentlemen, the combs to the pock-
ets," cries the president.
With last pat here, final lingering
of the frizzes, and a farewell adjust
ment of feathers and flowers, the COM
petitors whislS off the wrappers and the
twenty-seven ball-gowned young ladies
are revealed to us in all the glory of
their elaborate coiffures.
Gentlemen of the jury, will you do
your duty?" is the stentorian command
1t sounds as if they were trying a
murder case. All! the solemnity of the
moment! There is no conversation, the
music ceases, the excitement of the fes-
tive Figaros is alone manifested in their
elevated eyebrows, uplifted shoulders
and fierce mustache ends, working like
the antenn@ of the lobster. The prize
is only to him who shall obtain seven
votes But, alas and alas! no one gains
this number. No 80 gets six, No. gets
three; the remaining four are frittered
away between other competitors. Again
and again the gentlemen of the jury
''doyour duty" and just as twenty-three
seems to have grasped the golden cross
Of honor wild crowd seizes hold of a
diminutive, black-bearded individual,
with tail-comb protruding from his
pocket, uplift him shoulder high, and
No. 1, it is realized, is, after all, the
lucky man.
Then tremendous row ensues. The
second prize has been handed to 23, but
with flashing eyes and face whittier
than shaving lather, he dashes it trag
ically to the floor, and with half-smoth
cred yell, like tiger baked of its prey
rushes at the unfortunate lady, whose
tresses have served him in such goot
stead, and in another moment reduces
the couture he has erected K
ruin. A confused mass of hairpins
Switches" marteaux curls, and al
osprey alone remains of what was one,
so DEAR To man the festive Figaro
pursue the bafiled barber round tn,
saloon, and, with groans and Kisses, ex
pei him from the scene. The honor o
the society has been outraged. A com
patriot and fellow-craftsman has mad
sad exhibition of jealous rage an
disappointment, and insulted the sc
ciety.
Meanwhile, hairpins and looking
glasses have been swept away, tn
floor is cleared, and the Gallo hail
dresser certainly does not take HI
pleasures sadly, for in the refreshmen
room where bottled stout and cigarette
appear to be most in request, the frient
of luckless No. 80 and the successful n,
l exhaust themselves in gesticulatioI
and arguments, while the paucity of I'll
funereal black-edged programmes lasl
es many into exhibitions of fury whie
frequently threaten to develop I'M
pugilistic interludes. AS the writer
parts procession of ladies, who ha'
been brought with hair already dresst
in various historical and fashionab
styles, is in course of formation, al
suggests the idea that the revolvir
waxen dummies have escaped from Il
various hairdressers' windows to tai
part in the rev By7t the last il
preston Of tho Grnu onccars Int
nationale and BAL Is tHa haggar
ghastly apparitio !, h IS "a rush al
comb, card-boh q * Y q strip,
wrapper, and peer.nE rough Il
swing doors with wild eyes a.the reve
within. 1t was the fallen angel hove
ing around the gates of Paradise, t
hapless No. 23. .s..
WONDERFUL LITTLE THINGS