The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-04
WILD
Odd Scene Of skill and Riot ut - Com
petitiXe ExhlblAi0n In Harla.

An onu scene III Skill ana 1fjDL III ~ ION.
petitive Exhibition in Paris.
Before twenty~seven t~ooking-glasses sat
twenty-ssven disheveIied Paris maidens,
the glories Of their toilets yelled by the fa-
mihar striped wrappers OF the hairdressers'
saloon, surrounded by hairpins. bandeaux,
and-but why expose the secrets Of the tot
Ieta? Enough to say that all was there nec-
essary to the erection of a fashionable
couture. Behind each stood q Figaro, ex-
pectant. tail comb in hand, his snowy shirt
front and Respondent studs carefully pro-
tected by II silken kerchief, now executing
yalse steps to the preliminary strains of
the band, now cotnbing the tresses before
him to the same accompaniment. This
odd scene was at the ball of the Society
of Progress in Hairdressing, and it WAS
nal is given. With lightning fingers the
competitors proceed TO work. In a trice
frinQes that lately hung dark and straight
assume a fluffy appearance. The spectator
cannot fail to note the careful powdering Of
the models faces, for the electric light is
trying, and observe how speedily a twist
here, a curl there and half a dozen skilfully
placed pins add 10 feminine charms. It's
al very serious. The "subjects'' are models
Of gravity, Messrs. Louis and Auguste and
Jaques and Hippolyte indulge only in the
facial contOFtlOns 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 pockets"
cries the president.
With a last pat here, a final lingering Of
the ~friZzes, and a farewell Adjustment Of
feathers and flowers, the competitors whisk
of the wrappers and the twenty seven ball
gowned young ladies are revealed to us in
all the glory of their elaborate coiffures.
'tientlemen Of the jury, will you do your
duty?" il the stentorian command.
1t sounds az If they are trying q murder
case. All. the solemnity of tine moment!
There is no conversation, the music ceases,
the excitement Of the festive Figsros is
alone manifested in their elevated eye
brows, uplifted shoulders, INT fierce mons-
tache ends working like the antenne OF the
who shall obtain seven Votes. But
alas and alas. No one gains this number.
No. 23 gets six, No. L. gets three; the
remaining four are frittered away between
other competitors. Again and again the
gentlemen of the jury do their duty" and
just as twenty-three seems to have grasped
the golden Cross of honor a wild crowd
seizes hold of a ~diminutive black bearded
individual, with a tail comb protrudin0
from his pocket, uplift him shoulder high,
1AA AVE- . ~ DO hhAA M hkbSs ubtg IA
lucky man.
Then a tremendous row ensues. The Sec
ond prize has been landed to twenty three,
but, with flashing eyes and a face whittier
than shaving lather. he dashes it tragically
to the floor, and with half smothered yeII.
like a tiger baked or its prey, PUSHES ut ths
unfortunate lady. whose tresses have served
him in such good stead. and in another
moment reduces the couture he has
erected to ruin. A confused mass of hair
pins. switches" marteaux curls, and an
osprey alone remains of what WAS once so
deay. To a man the festive Figaros pursue
the bafiled barber round the saloon, and
with groans and misses expel him from the
scene. The honor of the society has been
outraged. A compatriot and fellow crafts
man has made q sad exhibition of Jealous
rage and disappointment and insulted the
society.
Meanwhile hairpins and looking glasses
have been swept away, the loor is cleared,
and the Gallo hairdresser certainly does
not take his pleasures sadly. for in the re-
freshment room, where bottled stout and
cigarettes appear to be most in request, the
successful No. l exhaust themselves
III Re%sticulations and arguments, while
the paucity of the funereal black-edged
programmes lashes many into exhibitions
OF fury which frequently threatens to de-
velop into pugilistic interludes. As the
writer departs q procession of ladies, who
have been brought with hair already
dressed in various historical and fashion,
able styles. il In course of formation, and
suggests the idea that the revolving waxen
dummies have escaped from the various
hairdressers' windows to take part in the
revels. But the last impression of the
Grand Concours International and Bali"
is of a haggard, CHASTITY apparition, hugging
Il brush aud comb. u cardboard box and q
striped wrapper. and peering through the
swing doors with wild eyes at the revsls
within. 1t was the fallen angel hoyering
around the gates of Paradise, the hapless
No. %.