Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-02-09
FESTIVE FIGAROS.


the glories of their toilets vailed by the
familiar trircd wrappers of the hair
dressers saloon, surrounded by hair
pins, bandeaux, and-but why expose
the secrets of the toilet? Enough tc
say that all was there necessary to the
erection of Il fashionable coiffurc. Be-
hind each stood Figaro, cxpcctant, tail
comb in hand, his snowy shirt-front and
resplcndcnt studs carefully protected Ey
sililcn kcrchief, now executing valsc
steps to the preliminary strains Of the
band, now combing the trcsscs before
him TO the same accompaniment. This
odd scene, says e Paris letter in the
Eew York Sun, WIS at the ball of the
Society of Progress in HairdreSsine, and
it was the outset of a prize competition.
The signal is given. With lightning
fingers the competitors proceed to
work. In a trice fringcs that lately
hung dank and straight assume Il 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 4
dozen skillfully placed pins add to fem
mime charms. It is all very serious.
The subjects" are models of gravity.
Mcssrs. Louis, and Augustc, and Jaques,
and llippolyte 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 palpitatinp
hearts.
With q last pat here, q final lingering
of the frizzes, and n farewell adjust
ment of feathers and flowers, the com
petitors whisk 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 q
murder case. All! the solcmnity of the
moment! There is no conversation, the
music ceases, the excitement of the fes-
tive Figaros is alone manifested in their
elevated eyebrows, upliftcd shoulders
and fierce mustachc ends, working like
the antennU of the lobster. The prize
is only to him who shall obtain seven
votes. But, alas and alas! no one gains
this number. No. % gets six, No. gets
three; the remaining four arc frittered
..
and again tho gentlemen of the Jury
'doyour duty" and just as twcnty-three
seems to have graSped the golden cross
of honor a wild crowd SEXES hold Ct a
diminutivc, black-beardcd individual,
with tail-comb protruding frcn his
pocket, upliit him shoulder high, and
No. l, it is realized, is, alter all, the
lucky man.
Then Il tremendous row ensues The
second prize has been handed to 30, but,
with flashing eyes and a face whittier
than shaving lathcr, he dashes it tray
ically to the floor, and with half-sroth-
cred yell, like tiger baked CT it's prey,
PUSHES ct the unfortunate lady, whose
trcSses have served him in such rocd
stead, and in another moment reduces
the coiifurc he has erected to
ruin. A confused mass Of hairpins,
"aWitchcs," narteauX curls, and IN
osprey alone remains of what was once
so dear. To a man the festive l'igaros
pursue the batilcd barber round the
saloon, and, with groans and Kisses, c:,.
pei him from the scene. The honor OF
thc society has been outraged a CON.
patriot and fcllow-craftsman has made
" SAD eNhlOltlou OF Jealous rage alt
disappointment, and insu1tcd the SO
cioty.
Meanwhile, hairpins and looking
glasses have been swept away, til,
1l3or is cleared, and the Gallic hair
dresser certainly does not take hi
pleasures sadly. for in the rcfreshmcrt
rcom where bottled stout and cigarette
appear to be most in request the friend
ut lucl1less No. 23 and the successful No
exhaust themselves in gcsticulation
c:'d arguments, while the paucity OF tn,
1uncrcal blacl-otlgcd programmes lash
eS many into exhibitions Of fury whicl
frequently threaten to develop int
pugilistic intcrludcs. AS the writer dc
parts procession Of ladies, who hav
hoon brought with hair already drcssc,
III various historical and faslrionabl
gtvIps ia In Of <>,,