The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-01-29

~ fsJ1< while other fine
6t/f}ti3fS9 ~ hair fetched from
TWO = 8 to shillings for
4 M the same quantity
says Health and
Home. and within the present century
the heads Of whole families In Devon
shire were lei out BY the year al no
much per poll. a periwlgmaker Of Exc
TOR going round at certain periods TO
cut the locks. afterward oiling the
skull OF each beref. person. That the
use Of false hair as an aid 10 femin-
Inc beauty was not unknown 20 the
ancient "a well proved. Tho Greeks,
Romans and Egyptians, long before the
dawn Of the Christian era. resorted 70
the wearing OF tresses obtained from
other persons heads; they even went 30
far as 10 paint bald heads 70 as TO rep
resent them as covered with short hair.
also marble caps. 30 painted. were
worn. A valuable merchandise In the
blond hair Of German women Ia men-
toned IN ancient Roman history.
A question that has doubtless often
presented Itself ls Where did Oh this
hair come from? This question I will
endeayor 10 answer With the coming
Of spring. In the midlands and west Of
France. appeared what may be htly
termed a singular class Of nomadlc In
dlyiduals. armed with long. iron-lip-
ped slaves and bearing heavy packs Of
merchandise upon their backs. AZ first
glance one would have taken them 10
be- ordinary hawkers. yet merchandise
was but an accessory to their strange
industry. They were the coupeurs. the
reapers OF a hlrsute harvest Armed
with long. keen shears. they went their
way seeking the tressea OF willing vic
tins dwelling In outlying hamlets and
villages Of peasant France. and a la
hori0us business Il waa From "dewy
morn" until the shadows Of night gath
cred thlckly they did their ten or a.
teen miles a day-often frultlessly and
with empty stomachs. their only bed
the wayside. In Auyergne these seek
ers after hair were known a. chin
ncurA The Brotons called them mar
goulins. These terms have no n
English parallels.
These curious journeymen exeried
every effort 10 gain their ends-a good
head Of hair: the former preierring
the local fairs as a work room. the lat
ter choosing 10 visit the dwellings o.
their possible clients. In summer the
Brittany marFoulln vas ofien seen 60.
ing through the streets. carrying hli
long stan. from which hung twists VI
hair. while he cried ln do.eiul tones thi
voli-knoWn "piaui Piauw az ihi
sound Of which the oo,tagors. with a.
itching desire 10 possess some Of hil
gew-gaUa. attrs tied the wanderers a.
tention. lie was only too pleased Q,
dazzle their eyes With bis many-col
orcd wares. and the bargaining was no
slow to begin. While the woman an
gcrcd his goods the margoulln weighe.
her tressos with bis hand-a proceed
Ing AZ which be was adept through Toni
practice. The bargain ended, the won
an yielded her abundant locks In re
turn Tor a few yards OF cotton stun o
a gay pettiooat. 10 which. thanks TO tn
progress OF civiliEatlon-the coupeu
had 20 add a small sum Of money
Sometimes the transaction was no
completed without much discussion Of
both sides. VERY often the coupeur hal
70 return 10 the charge owing 20 femal
lndecision: and he was more than hap
py when sure that a tardy remors
would no, rob him Of half bis coveiel
trophy.
Until the authorities interviewed. cut
ting was conducted In public as Al
amusement for onlookcrs. Il being con
sidorod highly entertaining TO hear tei
or twelve rival coupeurs euloglzln
their wares. each protesting bis 10 b
far superior TO his fellows The pro
hibitlon Of this custom drove the hair
harvesters TO erect tents. rent for n
day unoccupled shops. cellars. stable
or any corner they could ind wherei
j 10 establish themselves sticks wer
then stuck up. from them being sul
pended pettiooats a. lure. a. an IN
dication OF What could BE- had In "a
change for trcsses. 20 the petiicoai
were attached twists OF hair "a trade
markA The ruse succeeded. peasant
halted. casting envlous slances At n
multi-colored garments; they were har
died. and even tried on. thus affordln
an opportunity TO the coupeurs TO fal
ter their fair eus,omers-who ala nc
long rest-and victory rewarded n
} cute buyers. In where n
coupeurs were most numerous-th
I greatest harvest vas reaped on s
| Johns day The ingatherlng extende
: from April 10 September. during whlc
81 month the butchers. bakers. loci
! smiths. ETC.. forscok their ordinary ay,
. cations Tor that OF the coupeur. return
lng TO their legitimate trades with N
! coming OF the dead season. The ha
, of different countries was distinguish
, cd by certain qualities. Tor iniianc
h. that Of Auyergne was tie coarscsii q
b finest and most haxon came from De
glum: the blacklist and longest troi
Z italy. while that procured IN hrliia7
\ vas the most beautiful. though lea
b ven cared for