The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-24
FACTS ABOUT FALSE HAIR.
This Aid to Feminine Beauty Was
Not Unknown to the Ancients.
From the Health and Home.


From the Health and Home.
History records the fact that in 1862, in
this country, long haxen hair was pur-
chased from the head at 10 shillings an
ounce, while other fine hair fetched from
3 shillings 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,
afterwards oiling the skull of each bere1t
person." That the use of false hair as an
aid to feminine beauty was not unknown
to the ancients Is well proved. The Greeks
Romans and Egyptians, long before the
dawn of the Christian era, resorted to the
wearing of tresses obtained from other
persons heads; they even went so far as
to paint bald heads so as to represent
them as covered with short hair also mar
BILE caps, so painted, were worn. valu-
able merchandise in the blonde hair of
German women is mentioned in ancient
Roman history.
A question that has doubtless often pre-
sented itself is; Where did all this hair
come from? This question l will endeavor
to answer With the coming of spring, in
the midlands and west of France, appear
ed what may fifty be termed a singular
class of nOmadic individuals armed with
long, iron-tipped slaves, and bearing
heavy packs of merchandise upon their
backs. At first glance one would have
taken them to be ordinary hawkers; yet
merchandise was but an accessory to
their strange industry. They were the
coupeurs, the reapers of hirsuite harvest
Armed with long, keen shears, they went
their way seeking the tresses of willing
victims dwelling in outlying hamlets and
villages of peasant France and a labori-
Gus business ii was. From "dewy morn
until the shadows of night gathered thick
ly, they did their ten or fifteen miles a
day-often fruitlessly and with empty
stomachs, their only bed the wayside. In
Auvergne these seekers after hair were
known as chimneurs. The Bretons called
them margoulins, which terms have no fit
English parallel.
These curious journeymen exerted every
effort to gain their ends-a good head of
hair; the former preferring the local fairs
as workroom, the latter choosing to
visit the dwellings of their possible
clients. In summer the Brittany mar
goulin was often seen going through the
streets, carrying his long staff, from
which hung twists of hair, while he cried
in doleful tones the well konwn "Piau!
Piauv at the sound of which the cot
tagers, with an itching desire to possess
some of his gew-gaws, attracted the wan
derer's attention. He was only too
pleased to dazzle their eyes with his
many-colored wares, and the bargaining
was not slow to begin. While the woman
fingered his goods the margoulin weighed
her tresses with his banda proceeding
at which he was adepr through long
practice. The bargain ended, the woman
yielded her abundant locks in return
for few yards of cotton stuff, or a
gray petticoat. to which-thanks to the
progress of civilization-the coupeur had
to add small sum of money. Sometimes
the transaction was not completed with
out much discussion on both sides. Very
Otter the coupeur had to return to the
charge owing to female indecision; and
he was more than happy when sure that
a tardy remorse would not rob him of
half his coveted trophy.
Until the authorities intervened, cutting
was conducted in public as an amusement
for on-lookers, it being considered highly
entertaining to hear ten or twelve rival
coupeurs eulogizing their wares, each pro-
testing his to be far superior to his fell
lows. The prohibition of this custom
drove the hair harvesters to erect tents.
rent for the day unoccupied shops, cell
lars and stables, or any corner they could
find wherein to establish themselves.
Sticks were then stuck up, from them be-
ing suspended petticoats as lure, as an
indication of what could be had in ex-
change for tresses; to the petticoats were
attached twists Of hair as trademarks.
The ruse succeeded; peasants halted, cast
ing envious glances at the multi-colored
garments; they we're handled. and even
tried on, thus affording an opportunity
to the coupeurs to hatter thier fair custom
ers--who did not long rest-and victory
rewarded the cute buyers. In Auvergne
where the coupeurs We're most numer-
ous-the greatest harvest was reaped on
st. Johns day. The ingathering extended
from April to September. during which
months the butchers, bakers, locksmiths.
etc, forsook their ordinary avocations for
that of the coupeur. returning to their le-
climate trades with the coming of the
dead season. The hair of different coun-
tries was distinguished by certain quail
ties; for instance, that of Auvergne was
the coarsest; the finest and most fiaxen
came from Belgium; the blacklist and
longest from Italy, while that procured
in Brittany was the most beautiful, though
least well cared for.
Mr.. Robert Barrett Browning Is es-
tablishing a school at Asolo, Italy, for
he s.T rteI~ Is. LII