Evening journal., 1897-03-10
HARVEST OF HAIR.
HOW THE coUPEURs GATHERED IT
FROM THE HEADS or THE POOR


ways a Sure Market. Tor FaIse Hair Was
Worn by All Fashionable LadiAi'
History records the fact that in 1852,
in England, long, flaxen hair was l'uf-
chased from the head at 10 shillings in
ounce, while other fine hair fetcheo
from D to = shillings for the same guam
tity, and within the present century the |
heads of whole families in Devonshire |
were let out by the year at so much per |
poll a periwig maker Of Exeter going |
round at certain periods to cut the locks,
afterward oiling the skull of each borctt
person. That the use of false hair as an
aid TO feminine beauty was not unknown
to the ancients is we'll proved. The
Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, long
before the dawn Of the Christian era
rcsortod TO the wearing II nesses OBJ
tainod from other persons heads Ihey
even went so fer as to paint bald hNads
so as TO represent them as covered VIII
short hair, also marble caps sopainted /
were worn. A valuable merchandise IN
the blond hair Of German women is
mentioned in ancient Roman history.
A question that has doubtless often
presented itself IS, Where did all this
hair come from? This question / will
cndeavor 20 answer With the coming
of spring in the midlands and west OF
Franco appeared what may fifty Le
termed a singular class of nomadic indi-
viduals, armed with long, iron tipped
slaves and bearing heavy packs of mer-
chandise upon their backs. At first
glance one would have taken them TO
be ordinary hawkcrs, yet merchandise
was but an accessory 70 their strange
industry. They were the coupcurs, the
reapers of a hirsute harvest
Armed with long, keen shears, they
went their way seeking the ucsses of
willing victims dwelling in outlying
hamlets and villages of peasant France,
and a laborious business IL was. From
"dewy morn" until the shadows Of
night gathered thiczly they did their 10
OF o miles q day-oiten fruitlossly and
with empty stomachs, their only bed the
wayside. In Auvergno these seekers
after hair were known as chimneurs
The Bretons called them margoulins.
These terms have not flt English paral-
lels.
These curious iouinoymcn exorted
every effort 20 gain their cnds-a good
head of hair-thc former profeuing the
local fairs as q worlroom, the latter
choosing TO visit the dwellings of thcir
possible clients. In summer the Brittany
margoulin was often seen going through
the streets, carrying his long siaii, from
which hung twists of hair, while he
cried in dolcful tones the well known
"Piau, piaul" at the sound of which
the cottagcrs, with an itching desire e
possess some of his gcwgaws, atructe,
the wanderers attention. He was onll
too pleased to dazzle their eyes with In
many colorcd wares, and the bargaining
was not slow TO begin. While the womcI
fingered his goods the margCulin weigh
ed her tresscs with his hand, a proceed
ing at which he was adept through long
practice. The bargain ended, thc woman
yielded her abundant lccfs inrciun ioi
O few yards Of cotton stuff or a gay pet
ticoat 10 which, thanks 90 the progress
of civilization, the coupeur had to add ,
small sum Of money. Sometimes th'
transaction was not completed withou
much discussion on both sides. Yer.
often the coupcur had TO return 10 th
charge owing 10 female indecision, an'
he was more than happy when sure tina
a tardy rcmorse would not rob him O
half his coveted trophy.
Until the authorities intorvCncd, cut
ting was conducted I'm public as 'ai
amusement for onlookcrs. 10 being con
siderod highly entertaining to hear II
or ~ rival coupeurs culogizing thei
/ wares each protesting his 20 be far su
: porior TO his fellows The prohibition
+ of this custom drove the hair harvester
? TO erect tents, rent fer the day unoCcu
pied shops, cellars, stables or any corno
they cOnld find wherein 90 ostablis
themselves. Sticks were then stuck uT
= from them being suspended petticoat
{ as a lure, as an indication If what cuul
e be had in exchange for trCsscs; 10 th
. petticoats were attached twists of hai
81 as trademarks The ruso succeeded
s peasants halted. casting onvious glance
b at the multicolored garments. Tie
8 were handled and even tried on. thu
| thNiNlNh du NlINt NtNuiiltf AN tAN ''Nl'NW
q 20 flatter their fair customers-whod di
d not long rest-and victory rewarded Oh
= cute buyers. In Auyergnc-v here tl
b coupeurs were most numerous - Oh
- greatest harvest was rcaped on So. John
p day. The ingathering extended ho
% April to September, during which mont
D the butchers bakers locksmiths, etc
7 forsook their ordinary avccatiCns f'
e that of the coupeur, returning TO the
- legitimate trades with the coming
& the dead season. The hair Of dinCrel
countries was distinguished by cCrtai
e qualities. For instance, that of Al
e vergne was the coarscst; The finest ai
d most fiaxen from Belgium; the hlacke
and longest from Italy, while That pr
cured in Brittany was the most hoaut
ful, though least well cared ior.-
IA Hearth and Home.
Is Classical Boston.