Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11

greatly. Pope congratulated Addison on
having good share of envy and calumny,
telling him that "to be uncensured and to
be obscure were the same thing"
But to be smart and to be "red head" was
enough formerly to give flame to envy and
voice and point to the approbrious name of
"brick top" with the advice thrown in to
keep their heads away from haystacks and
out of the sight of bulls. To become an "old
maid" was the doom vindictively and unre-
lentingly predicted for the "red head" by
the other girls, if she happened to 60 up head.
A girl who was ''real smart" and brick
top beside could not, it was supposed, find
favor with any man. But now, when red
hair is esteemed the most beautiful and be-
coming for those who possess it, and is now
much more Of beauty than a calamity,
there comes new attempt to discount it in
favor of golden blondes and brunette beau
ties.
Red Hair and Disease.
A recent account asserts that medical ex-
aminers for life insurance companies con-
slider q red-haired subject greater risk
than others and some will refuse certificates
to all applicants who have Titan red, or
sandy locks, on the score that red-haired
people, especially women, have more deli
cate constitutions than others in general,
and are more liable to pulmonary diseases.
But when it is considered how many peo-
pie grow gray and live to a good old age
who have been "red-heads" in their youth,
this seems to be a conclusion not we'll sus-
tanned by facts. Plenty Of cases will come
up in everybody's mind where the Titan
tresses, the auburn locks, the sandy top
knot, have faded into the silvery white of
age, with the moderation of mind, the
sweetness of temper, the philosophical ac-
ceptance of the crosses of life, that culti-
waited intelligence, q good conscience and
sound powers of reasoning insure. It may
be that the insurance men have information
and statistics to 60 upon to support the
statement that red-haired people are bad
subjects for insurance, that they are more
liable to disease, and more likely to die
young than others by reason of high-strung
tantrums and fiery tempers, but it is more
than probable that these notions are due
less to science and the census than to super.
stition.
why She Didn't Marry.
Of the origin OF this prejudice against
red hair but little is known, but that it has
existed for centuries is shown by the state
ment of one of Queen Elizabeth's biogra-
pliers, who, in attempting to find some good
reason for her being an 'old maid, says /:
ut was certainly not for lack of those
charms and accomplishments that would
adorn and beautify wife. Her person was
graceful, her stature queenly and her bear
ing noble. Her eyes were lively and spark
ling, her complexion was beautifully fair,
but the COLOR of her hair was against her. /"
But who does not know this is all bosh;
that Elizabeth had dozens of proposals; that
she declined alliance with the royal families
OF France and other countries in Europe;
that Catharine de Medici was very anxious
\ TO become her mother-in-law; that Philip of
Spain, the "tyrant of the Netherlands," {"
would fain have hung up his hat in her hall
at Windsor Castle. or her palace in London,
as her husband? Moreover, in contradiction
of the insurance idea that red headed people
are liable to die young, is the fact that
Elizabeth reigned over A years and lived to
the allotted three score years and ten. 1t
| must be admitted that she gave some color
to the statement that red haired women are
more quick tempered, more vehement and
irritables than other, more prone to let theii
| fiery passions rise.
Wasn't Slow to Anger.
| She scolded the great men Of her court al
| if they were schoolboys. She met the inso-
| lence of Essex, as Greene tells us, with a
box on the ear, she swore at her minister on
occasions, and the envoy o. Philip of Spain
| wrote to his royal master, "this woman il
possessed of a hundred thousand devils, u
but she possessed to the full the love, loyalty
| and admiration of her people. In society
she might be vain coquette, but she was
the coolest and hardest of politicians at the
council board. Unlike Eugenie, she lived
simply and frugally, and her policy was
simply that of common sense.
By her political tact and diplomacy, we
| are told, "she hoodwinked and outwitted
every statesman in Europe" for nearly halt
| q century. She could read men so well that
no sovereign Of England ever had 80 wise
and great Cabinet as that composed of the
councillors she selected by her quick appre-
citation of merit and character She gave
/ peace and order and golden days to England
during her long reign, and, with all hel
faults, showed that as to wisdom and ability
in ruler there is no distinction of sex.
Another illustrous 'red head' was
/ Isabella Of CASTLE, whose sagacity, power
| and capable administration of public affair
| is the boast of Spain to-day. In the face Of
the timidity and weakness Of her councillors,
she had the enterprise and energy to assume
the responsibility of the voyage Of Columbus
that led to the discovery of America, and
which has filled the earth With her fame.
Intelligent and Great Brick-Tops.
Although in writing of famous women
and men, the fact of their being "red
heads" has been generally omitted, there are
| enough known to show that they are not q
| whit behind others in what constitutes su-
perior intelligence and greatness. Wshavs
| gone through the lives of the women OF the
| White House, but none Of them so far al
| accounts 60 were "red heads" but neither
on the other hand have any of them been
distinguished for Intellectual greatness OF
remarkable talents. But in the domain of
letters, there are two famous "red heads
Julia Ward Howe and Frances Willard.
Mrs. Howe's hair has faded into white and
thus plays havoc with the insurance idea,
but she furnishes testimony ito the FACT
that brains and red hair 60 we'll together.
Miss Willard, with her.ssndy locks, is born
leader, woman gifted with genius for ad-
ministratIon, a talent for politics, and power
to sway the multitude.
! Thousands of red-naired women are in the
front ranks to-day engaged in every good
work, and these give token that it is time
for the old superstition as to red hair to be
laid out dead. BESSIE BRAMBL4.
SNOW AND ELECTRIC CARS.