The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-05-30

NN~NNS Il while other fine
IN ~ hair fetched from
y y 20 Z shlllings for
the same quantity. /
and within the I.
present century the heads OF whole /
families In Deyonshlre we're let out .
by the year al 90 much per poll. /
periwigmaker Of Exeter going round AZ .
certain periods 20 cut the locks. after .
ward oillng the skull Of each berett /
person, says Health and Home. That /
the use OF false hair as an aid 10 fem /
mime beauty was not unknown 10 the f.
aneients 10 well proved. The Greeks.
Romans and Egyptians. long before the
dawn OF the Christian era. resorted 20
The wearing OF tresses obtained from
oiher persons heads They even went
10 TAR as 10 paint bald heads 80 as 20
represent them as covered with short
halr' also marble caps 20 painted were
worn. A valuable merchandise In the
blond hair OF German women is men
TONED In ancient Roman history. A
question that has doubtless often pre-
sented itself Is. Where dld all this hair
come from? This question I will en-
deayor 10 answer. with the coming OF
spring In the mldlands and west OF
France appeared what may MY be
termed a singular class Of nomadlc In
livlduals. armed with long. iron-tlpped
slaves and bearing heavy packs OF
merchandise upon their backs. a. hrst
glance one would have taken them 20
be ordinary hawkers. yet merchandise
was but an accessory 20 their strange
Industry. They were the coupeurs. the
reapers Of hirsute harvest. Armed
with long keep shears. they went their
way seeking the tresses OF willing vic
tins dwelling In outlying hamlets and
villages Of peasant France. and a labo-
rious business u was From "dewy
morn" until the shadows OF night gath
cred thlckly they did their ten or a.
teen miles a day-ofien frultlcssly and
with empty stomaehs. their only bed
the wayslde. In Auyerrne these seek
ers after hair were known as chin
neurs. The Bretons called them mar
goullns These terms have not % Eng
lish parallels. These curious Journey
men eXerted every effort 10 gain their
ends-a good head Of hair-the former
preierrIng the local fairs as a work.
room. the latter choosing 20 visit the
dwellings % their possible clients. In
summer the Brittany margoulln was
often seen going through the streets.
carrying his long stan. from which
hung twists of hair. while he cried In
| doleful tones the well-known "piau.
piau" az the sound OF which the cot
iagcrs. with an itching desire 20 pos
sess some % his gewgaws. attracted the
wanderers attention. Tie was only
too pleased % dazzle their eyes with
his many colored wares and the bar
gaining was not slow 70 begin. While
the woman fingered his goods the mar.
goulin weighed her tresses with his
hands. proceeding az which he was
adept through long practice. The bar
gain ended. the woman yielded her
abundant locks In return Tor a few
yards Of cotton stun or a gay petti-
coat. % which. thanks % the pror-oss
% civilization. the coupeur had 10 add
a small sum Of money. Sometimes the
I transaction was not completed wlthou,
much discussion on both sides. Very
often the coupeur had 20 return 20
the charge owing 90 female lndecislon
and he was more than happy when
sure that a tardy romorse would not
rob him % half his coveted trophv.
UntIl the authorities interviewed cutting
was conducted In public as an amuse-
ment Tor unlookcrs, Il being considered
highly entertaining 20 hear ten or
twelve rival coupours euloglzIng their
wares. each protesting his 10 be far
superior 10 his fellows. The prohlbl.
ton OF this custom drove the hair har.
vesters % erect tents. rent Tor the dav
unoccupicd shops. cellars. stables or
any corner they could find wherein IA
establish themselves Sticks were then
stuck up. from them being suspended
pcttIcoats as lure. as an Indication
% what could be had IN exchange N,
trcsses 90 the peitlcoats were attached
twists o. hair as trademarks. The russ
/ succeeded. peasants halted. casting en-.
vious glanccs az the multIcolored ear.
ments They were handled and even
tried on. thus anordiug an opportunity
90 the c1upaurs 10 1attor their fai- ems.
tomers-wh' dld not long res,-and
/ victory rewarded the cute buyers. In
Auyergne whore the coupeurs wer.
most numerous-;he greatest harvest
vas reaped on ST. Johns dav. Tn,
.ngathering extended from Aprn ia
September. during which months m,
butchers. bakers locksmiths. etc for,
sock their ordinary avocations Cor thai
% the coupeur. returning 10 their lcgl.
Innate trades with the coming OF IN,
dead season. The hair Of different
countries was distinguished by certain
qualities. For instance. that OF Au.
yorgne was the coarsest. the finest ant
most haXen from Belgium. the black
est and longest from Italy. while thai
procured from Brittany was the mos
beautiful though least we'll cared for