The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-08
CRIMPED AT LAST.
The Hairdresser Finally Called to
Treat Mrs. Smiths Mother.

The woman hairdresser has taken in q
way the traditional place of the barber who
carried the stories Of his clients from house
to house with him just as he carried his
implements. There many Of these
women in New York who go from one
house to another, and as they are fire.
Quently recommended by friends, it hap
pens that they are not averse to distribute
Ing information that they have acquired or
picked up by observation as they labored
with soap and water or the crmping longs
It has often been questioned how much of
the gossip and cackle Of New York social
life was disseminated by these women, and
1t has always been admitted that they were
entitled to good share Of credit for their
activity. But nobody ever thought of
shutting them out on that account They
are too useful. not to say entertaining, for
that. Nobody ever heard Of one of them
ceaslng her visits merely on account Of
something she had told to a customer. In
brought on actual trouble her services
may have been dispensed with. But these
cases were rare and they were prompted
not by the persons to whom she talked
but about whom. The Fifth avenue stages
usually contain one or two Of these women
during the day time, going from one place
to another. They a we'll dressed
contented looking lot, as the business is
profitable to those who have a good circle
Of clients. How much of that circle is
uepeHOeLt Oh tHelr dDllltleS as entertainers
and how much on their powers as hair
dressers Is uncertain matter But it
Is sure that some of them are able to amuse
their clients nightly.
One came to a house the other day for
her fortnightly session. and her expression
was solemn as she took off her hat and
coat.
such an experience as I had last week."
she began with a look of solemnity:
there was never anything like it. would
not go through it again for twice the
money I got. But 1t wasn't a money mat
ter you know, but sentiment. You re-
member Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Smith was known only by reputa-
ton. She had been Mary's star" custo-
ner for years. 1t was she who contributed
chiefly to Mary's support had her hair
dressed, shampooed or otherwise treated
nearly every day. Mrs Smith was re-
membered as sort Of a Mrs. Croesus, who
dWelt somewhere In a golden mist and got
shampooed whenever she wanted to.
well, I don't know If you remember
that Mrs. Smiths mother had a great OBJ
lection to me. It wasn't me personally as
much as what did. She didn't care for
Embarrassing, and it was a dreadful sorrow
to her that her daughter would do so much
of 1t. She thought 1t was sinful, and when
Mrs Smith started to dye her little girls
hair her mother thought that was dread
ful She would never be crimped. or
shampooed, or even washed She said she
mad gotten along for sixty years without
any OF those things, and she wouldn't start
In now You remember when Mrs. Smith
dyed her hair until it all dropped out,
and she had to be shaved? Well. that was
all the old lady needed to make her feel
that she was all right. After that she
talked more than ever about the bad eff
fects Of my business, and while she was
always nice enough to me, she couldn't
say enough about hairdressing. The poor
a
few wisps of gray hair, and for that rea-
son l always felt rather sorry for her.
was there only about two weeks ago, and
one of the last things 1 heard her say was
that she hadn't much hair left, but it was
gone, not through any rubbing and dyeing,
but from God and nature
Mary was holding her patient over the
bowl, and that temporarily closed her flood
OF narration. But she resumed it with the
brisk rubbing OF the towel.
Two days after that l got letter from
Mrs. Smith telling me to come around i'm
mediately to her house. l went in q great
hurry and found her in tears. Mary, she
said, mother Is dead. She died yesterday.
1t was dreadful. I sent right away for
you. want her crimped. She never had
1t done before Maybe she wouldn't have
liked 1t when she was alive. But l always
knew it would be becoming to her.
never did anything like 1t before, and
wouldn't have done it then. But you know
what a good customer Mrs. Smith was
1t was a dreadful shock to me. But she
was right about it. The old lady did look
better."-NeW York Sun