Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-05-29

I
point of view, Paris is the center
of the fine manufacture Of human
hair. OF course the reference
here is to woman's hair, for mans
hair is worthless for any industri-
al purpose. Aside from the hous-
es that manufacture exclusively
for the export trade, the city
numbers about 1000 hair dressers
and 5000 workmen, about half of
whom are engaged in the manu-
facture properly SO called. The
source of supply Of the hair may
b9 divided into three categories.
The hair of the first category Is
furnished by foreign countries,
India and China being the largest
suppliers. This hair is exclusive
ly black and gray, and comes in
boxes carefully packed. In addi-
tion to these countries, Italy, Ger
many, Spain and Russia supply
small quantities. The hair from
India and China undergoes quite
a lengthy preparation. 1t is first
matched, sorted and combed and
then immersed in solution of
soft soap and carbonate of soda,
in order to scour it. Upon coming
from this bath, it is united root
end to root end, and formed into
locks that are tied near the roots.
It afterwsrd remains to render the
hair thin and flexible. To this eff
feet it is first placed in earthen
pans filled with chloureted water
and water mixed with hydrochlor-
ic acid, which renders it thin and
decolorizes it. Then it is immers-
ed in a solution of soft soap and
chlorate of potash, in order to rem
der it less brittle. Finally, a def
mite color and shade are given to
it.
A light or blond shade is obtain
ed with oxygenated water or a
saturated solution of carbonate of
potash. To dye it black it IS boil
ed for a few hours in solution of
nutgalls or Campeachy wood, in
which sulphate of iron is dissolved
and into which little sumac is
put, in order to give it "a lustre and
remove the blush tint peculiar to
the hair of the dead. Finally it Is
bleached by immersing it several
times in baths of oxygenated wa
ter to which few drops of ammo
MIA have been added. Thus pre-
pared, the Chinese or Hindoo hair
is sold to the hair dressers, who
work it to their fancy, and after
ward sell it at more or less reduced
prices. The finest hair, forming
ktte second category, is that of
France, and comprises a variety of
shades exceeding hundred. The
most beautiful is furnished by Lii
mousin, Brittany, Normandy and
Beauce. Some lots are derived
from young ladies' boarding
schools and from converts. All
of this is collected by travelling
men called Cutters" who make
their circuit along toward spring
and visit the villages TO gather
their crop.
In some localities of Brittany
and Auvergne, on certain market
days, the damsels who desire to
sell their head of hair, get up on
cask, undo their hair and allow it
to fall over their shoulders. An
auction soon begins and every lot
as soon as cut, is delivered 20 the
highest bidder for spot cash. This
product does not pass into the
bath, but is simply combed and
then secured with buckwheat -four.
Finally, the third category COM
prlses HAIR, which, il must be con-
fessed, is cIassed among the most
esteemed, but is derived from the
sorting of eombings collected by
rag pickers, who stuff it into bags
just as they find it, soiled by dust,
felted by water, and adhering to
the sweepings of houses, and sell
it to small manufacturers, who at
tempt to utilize it,-Scientifc
American,
DR.. Donaldson Smith, of Phila-
delphia, is to lead an exploring ex-
peditiou into Africa, starting from
the Gulf of Alden.
The first Egyptian National Ex-
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