San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-24
HOW TO BECOME BALD.
A GERMAN PHYSICIAN GIVES SOME
SARCASTIC ADVICE.
He Speaks OF Many Dangerous Practices
That Are Very Common, Especially
Among People Who Pride Themselves
on Being Cleanly-Hints to the Wise.

| Among People Who Pride Themselves
on Being CIeanIy-Hints to the Wise.
| A clever writer, the possessor in all prob
ability of a bald head, has proved that
badness is a product and sign of culture.
According to this savant mans growth
of hair lessons in proportion to his advance
ment in civilization. He declares that
every anthropologist could prove this as
| sumption by examining the races of man
kind. The old Romans then looked upon
the bald head from wrong point Of view
when they only paid half price for ''slave
with a shining pate"
If badness is sign of culture, some
thing "devoutly to be wished" we shall
perform n public service in showing how
this condition can be quickly reached.
Non-scientific people will possibly study
our advice in order to do the opposite, and
yhus keep their hair as long as possible.
We protest at once against such misuse of
ouri wisdom.
Before enumerating the ways to become
bald, it may be better so say a few words
regarding the necessity of an art TO accom-
plish that end. Doubters might say that
there was no art in becoming bald: that
time and age would accomplish that de-
sideratum without other aid. I'VE lose,
in the course of time" said Voltaire, 'our
teeth our hair and our ideas"
That may be true as far as the teeth and
ideas are concerned, but we cannot always
depend upon losing our hair There are
many aged men with heavy heads of hair.
The hope, therefore, that age will make
one bald is deceptive.
Persons who long for the proofs of cul-
ture must resort at once 10 methods of art.
1t is not even possible to depend upon loss
of hair after sickness, as it usually grows
again when health has returned. But art
accOmplishes other results.
EFFECT OF HEAD COVERINGS.
The first good rule is to keep the head
warm In summer if you wish to become
bald do not wear a straw hat. On the con-
trary, let your headgear be "a felt or cloth
hat, derby or Il stOvepipe. In winter al.
ways wear a fur cap. While in the house
at all times of the year do not fail to wear
fez or an oil cap. Women, whose light
hats do not wear off the hair rapidly
enough, may accomplish that end by using
heavy switches of false hair
A roll of false hair will work even more
rapidly than fur cap, as the hairs will
fall ont by the hundreds when the roll is
heavy enough. The beloved nightcap, so
dear to our grandmOthers, is to be highly
recommended also The helmet of the of
ficer and policeman is also a splendid in
vention
What is the effect of these head cover
ingS? They make the head perspire.
Moisture is the deadly enemy of hair. On
the temples and the back of the head near
the neck, usually untouched by the hats
ami caps, it is seldom that one sees bald
ness On the other hand, the hair usually
falls ont on the parts of the head which
are covered a bald ring often marks the
position of the hat or cap.
A. perspiration destroys the hair, fire.
quent use of steam baths is to be highly
recommended. The habitues of the Rus
sian and Turkish baths can show, almost
without exception, beautiful bald pates.
As stated above, moisture is the deadly
enemy of the hair. Consequently, diving,
when one is in bathing or swimming, is IL
praiseworthy practice. The douche is even
more effective ! cannot praise it too
greatly.
RAPID MEANS EASILY AT HAND.
The custom of many women of allowing
their wet hair to dry in the air also deserves
to be mentioned here. The moisture re-
mains longer in the hair when allowed to
dry, and acts accordingly. The widespread
practice of washing the head is good
thing also. A comb with moderately mar
row teeth will clean the head if properly
used.
However. as it does not destroy the hair
rapidly enough, it is advisable to wash it
frequently Ellinger has proved from sta
tisl zeal reports that eighty-five out Of every
hundred fortunate pOssessOrs of bald heads
have been accustomed to washing their
hair from curly childhood. That is really
encouraging
The various hair waters, hair oils, pO
mades, cOlOring substances and other in
ventiOI.s of the BARRIERS and perfumers
must be considered also. They are all
praisewOrthy. The pomades and hair oils
accomplish their purpose in various ways
The warmth of the head makes them ran
cid and sticky The scalp becomes irri.
tated and makes washing necessary The
other cosmetics for the hair contain poi
sonous chemicals.
The fluids for coloFing the hair for in
stance, are made almost invariably, in
part, of salt of lead, which not only poi
sons the roots of the hair, but the whole
body in the course of time. The materials
supposed to aid the growth of hair are
usually admirably adapted to destroy the
bits that may be left on the head of the
user
CoMBING, BRUSHING, SINGING, ETC.
All pulling, tearing, rubbing and toss
ing of the hair aids it in falling out rec
ommend, therefore, the frequent use of
hard brushes, such as steel brushes. Our
young dandies who curry" their heads
every morning with two brushes, and in
the course of the day comb their hair when
ever they see a mirror, are on the right
road to badness.
That is also true of women who allow