The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-31
BAKING POWDER.
THE BARBER's COLLECTION.
Clippings From the Hair and Boards
of Famous Men of His Day.


From the New York sun.
Il read in the newspapers the other
day said the learned French barber. ''of
a gentleman who died leaving a wonder
full collection of butterflies. 1t was said
to be worth more than $4,000 Ny! Ny
That is a good deal of money-l5O.OoC
francs. With that. madame and I could
live in Paris. wonder what 1 could get
for my collection? 1 assure you that It
is more unique than that Of this gentle
man"
COLLECTION" repeated the Harlem
doctor. incredulously. Il never knew
that you were an entomologist."
what is that. monsieur"
why, one skilled in the science Of in
sects."
"Oh, I see. No, I know nothing Of in
sects. unless snails come under that head.
You misunderstood. monsieur, I did not
say had a collection Of insects"
"Oh. well, what does your collection
consist OFF"
"Wait and will show you. Just look at
your hair in this hand mirror. monsieur.
nificent, monsieur. Your bald spot is not
so noticeable when I trim the hair that
way. VIII you have anything on? No?
Well, a little twist of the mustache? Oui?
Francois, bring me the curling iron"
While Francois was testing the irons
monsieur turned to a shelf and brought
down little cabinet fun of drawers. He
opened one which contained some small
envelopes. Each was carefully tied with
a silk cord and labeled.
There" he said, as he took the irons
and applied them carefully to the ends
Of the Harlem Doctors mustache. lis
my collection. I'll wager you. monsieur,
there is not another such in the world"
What is in those envelopes?" asked the
Harlem doctor, cycling them curiously.
"Those," said the learned barber con
tain bits of the beard or hair of some OF
the most famous gentlemen of the world.
They are the accumulations of lifetime.
There, monsieur, you will find curl from
the head of NJ. Capoul. the famous tenor;
a bit Of hair from NJ. Bressant, of the
Theatre Francois; the tip OF the mus
tache of Louis Bonaparte; the point OF
the beard of my lamented patron, the Due
de nt-Caderousse-the most ele-
giant member Of the Paris Jockey Club OF
his day; clippings from the hair and also
from the mustache of the Grand Duke AL
exis, and even a trifie from the beard OF
the Prince of Wales. All of these, except
the last mentioned, 1 took myself, mon
sieur and that one 1 received from a
compatriot who dressed the princes hair
when re was IN New York in 1859. He
gave it to me as a special mark of friend
ship.
around each CT these cluster memo
ries most sacred. They are all mute me-
mentoes Of my prpgress in art, and some
of them mark distinct stages. Do 1 not
remember as if it were to-day how proud
I felt when ] removed that point from
the beard of my most gracious due?
I had won his favor only a short time be-
fore, and when he SAID to me that day in
his beautiful chambers. Henri, l feel
sure you have great future before you,
l was seized with such an emotion of
intense delight as / never felt before or
since, except, possibly, when madame
consented to wear my name. / was de-
termined to show my gratitude and,
in my then exalted state of mind, it
was easy for me to grasp the inspiration
which comes only too rarely to even the
gifted, 1 saw, as if in a trance. that
the dues beard would be greatly beau
tilted if the point were removed without
destroying the symmetry. 1t was a dar-
ing act and I trembled for hours after
it was accomplished At the time, how
ever, l had not the slightest misgiving,
but worked with the confidence of genius.
When the due saw me clip the point he
cried aloud in alarm, but my manner
must have treasured him. for he made
no further remonstrance. When he saw
the result his joy knew no bounds. Ever
thereafter / was his greatest favorite.
Can you wonder, monsieur, that I am I'M
able to look at the souvenir of my tri-
umph without sincere emotion? From
that time on I never knew fear or timid-
my strength.
so, too, all these others are reminders
of experience that had important infiu-
ence upon my artistic career. When one
is so devoted to his art as / am to mine
you will readily perceive the interest
such things have for him.
Lately I have added to my collection
specimens of the hair of BENJAMIN Con-
slant, the painter. and of Victor Maurel
the singer. I have also souvenirs of
many noted Americans who have been my
patrons. There they are. all of them,
blond, chestnut, brown, red and black
1 keep them in these envelopes, each of
which is carefully dated and labelled.
so that when the time comes for sorting
them in chronological order I can do
so.
Some day shall write a sketch of
the circumstances under which each came
into my hands, and then I am sure thew
will be highly priced by every lover of
the interesting and artistic. When I
spoke a moment ago of their. value. You
understand that 1 was joking OF course
I could never part with them, but per-
haps when I am gone to my rewards
some Vanderbilt or Astor will offer nv
heirs fortune for them, out of which
they can build a suitable monument
to my memory. What say you, mon
sieur?"
81 quite agree with you, Henri" said
the Harlem doctor. land if 1 were rich
enough I would buy them myself ana
present them to some museum. That
is where they really belong.'
LOOK OUT FOR HIM.