Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-09-03


WhW finger Of a new
~ - born baby, it is
easy to see the truth in Voltaire's say
ing: "God made the finger of man and
then fell asleep. While he slept the
devil, always awake, placed On the tip
Of the finger a beautiful jewelAa nail. +"
But how this lustrous, opalescent
jewel can deteriorate What is more
ugly than the human nail in its degen-
eracy?
Manicuring is a comparatively new
profession. Ii has scarcely been popular
more than dozen years, and the prices
commanded at first by the work made it
luxury to be indulged in only by those
with well lined pockets.
The pioneers in the field easily re-
ceived 81 for treating the nails As
profession for women it had plenty Of
elbow room then, but the salaries re-
ceived were not unusual, because the
number of customers at these rates were
few.
Gradually it became a fashionable
thing to have nails giving evidences OF
more care than could be had from mere
cleaning and trimming. Many women
who found the services of a manicure
too expensive bought sets of implements
and the necessary unguents for home
use and struggled on as best they could
with only layman's knowledge Of the
art Those were days when the cuticle
was cut all around the nail, so that the
finger looked sore, when crimson dyes
were used and polish was desired to
outrival the diamond in brilliancy.
The dictates Of fashion have changed.
Only the top is filed and shaped, the
cuticle left undisturbed except for a
gentle pushing down all around. No
dyes are used-in fact, even an accentu-
ated polish is now considered vulgar by
the ultra fastidiOus
Most women have their nails mani
cured at least once a week, as the prices
now charged are very moderate. In
sumptuous parlors and in the fashion
able districts Of ell l2--So cities you can
have your nails done for 30 cents. In
quiet side streets and plain rooms mani
cures are found plying their trade for
25 cents This fall in prices shows how
crowded the profession has become and
that, to quote a manicure's words TO me
when questioned her, "its best days
are over \"
Still, manicuring pays as well as many
of the callings open to women. In
large establishment where a number of
assistants are employed good manicure
makes on an average $8 per week.
Going into a fashionable manicure
''parlor" recently. was impressed by
the fact that all the girls had remark
ably good skins even for Americans,
and this is saying good deal, for, while
our women lack the exquisite coloring
Of the English and Irish beauties, they
outrival them in the texture Of skin.
When was seated by an open win
dow through which a delicious breeze
courtesied and she had taken my hand
into a loose, gentle clasp, we began
chatting.
"How j. it all the girls here have
such beautiful complexions?'' l asked.
''Is it necessary to have a good. com
plexion in order to be a manicure, or is
it the result of being one?'
''It is necessary here, and in every
place, presume, where cosmetics are
sold," and she smiled little cynically
as she piled file and brush.
"But your good skin is not the result
of cosmetics, I'm sure. What do you
mean?"
"Well, this is betraying confidence,
suppose, but as you want to know truth
fully some Of the little quibs and tricks
in the business I'll tell you. You see
there is a counter devoted to cosmetics
and lotions. My gracious, there is every
thing there-skin tonics freckle washes,
wrinkle removers, bleach, blooms and
heaven knows what else. When a Gus
toner comes in, circular of these
things is handed to her. and nothing
more is said, but as her nails are being
done she has chance to study the man
icure's face-in fact, there's nothing
else for her to do-and in nine cases out
Of ten she begins wondering if any Of
these wonderful appliances has been
used by you. On being questioned you
are to let her suppose this is so. In
reality / never touch anything here ex-
cept the powder, and very little Of that,
although hear they are all good if you
need them. F"
''Tell me something about this bust
ness" said. ''Do you like your work!
Would you advise young woman look
ing about for profession to adopt it:
What are its advantages? What are its
drawbacks?"
at is pleasant work in many ways"
she said, but without much enthusiasm.
"It becomes dreadfully monotonous, but
/ suppose all daily work does. The be-
ginning is difficult In order to learn it
you can either pay $50 to some good es-
tablishment or else give your services
for nothing for six months. A girl who
has enough to live on and gives her
services for nothing is never taught as
well. think, because in many places
she is sent ont to do the hands Of Gus
toners before she is fit. She is never
really taught. She learns by her blum
ders. Sometimes a customer complains
here that her nails have been badly
done, her fingers left sore. She is not
told that the girl has been practicing
upon her, but that is really the case. "
"You think it's better, then. for girl
10 pay the amount down if she canG"
Eyes, because in that way she is
taught rapidly and thoroughly and is
fitted to take position in few weeks.
Soon she makes up the $50 spent, where
as in the other case six months services
for nothing show an expenditure of
twice that amount. |"
How much does she make in the be-
ginning?"
In place like this. which il not the
best paying. she would commence on $5
or $6 per week. But there's light
ahead of her. Let her do her work with
excellent care. take an interest in il.