Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17
PORTALS new YORK LETTER

New York, May 14..-"Its the hair,
said the Cyric, MS he and i sat at Q
table 10 the Palmroom of the Waldorf,
Yesterday evening, watching the women
come 10 from the theatre. 49,. =!
"Yes, | admit that ii is the hair and
the great attention that New York
women give to their coiffour that gives
them the chic air that most other
women lack. " a..
That the Cynic should notice this
was rather odd, for SO few men analyze
or know the why Of the destinations
of woman's toilet. They simply know
she looks we'll; we'll put ups, we'll
gowned or well-groomed, as they put
It, but they seldom know why. !
imagine they think it Is lust the
woman; but, in reality. it is the little
things that make the well-groomed
woman, and MT the least OF THESE IN
the attention she gives her hair. NO
woman can afford to neglect this part
of her toilet.
So much has been thought Of the
beauty of hair, that Ovid says, Venus
herself, bald, would bring a look OF
disgust to Vulcan's face. " Inc
Japanese, who are in SO many things
divided from the rest OF us, are the
only people with whom badness -
considered o beauty. They pluck out
the hair from every part OF the heau.
except small spot on the back. where
it is allowed TO grow to great length
In regard TO arranging the hair, one
should consult becomingness rather
| than fashion. In the shape OF the hair
the varieties OF fashion have been quite
endless, and in medieval times II has
been the subject OF the most arbitrary
interference. Gregory Of Tours states
| that in the royal family OF France It
was for long time the peculiar mark
and privilege Of kings and princessess
of the BLOOD to wear long hair, dressed
i and curled, and every other person was
Obliged to have the hair cut to mark
their inferiority. Under the first race
the French queens who cnt oil the hair
Of sou Of France, declared him cut
of from the right of succession, hence
the memorable conduct Of Clotilda,
who chose to allow the heads of her
younger sons to be cut off, rather
| than have their hair shaven: preferring
they should suffer death rather than
live to dishonor.
Before the eleventh century the
wearing Of the hair long has ceased
to be the peculiar privilege Of royalty.
1t then became the general custom for
men to wear long hair, and this being
contrary to the precept Of st. Paul.
it was strongly opposed by the bishop.
In 1l04, in sermon preached before
Henry |, against long and curled hair,
the king and his courtiers were so
much affected that they consented to
resign their flowing ringlets. The
prudent prelate gave them no time to
change their minds, but Immediately
pulled Eair of shears out Of his
sleeves and performed the operation
himself.
Women make a mistake in blindly
following fashion Of HAIR dressing
which may be unbecoming. Now the
pompadour, which frames SOME faces
with so much beauty, is positively an
eyesore on some others. A woman
should closely consult her mirror before
adopting any particular style. The
exaggerated polnpadour, whose gigan.
tic tower made many woman's face
look like spot en- penny, is con
sidered bit passe, and the hail
should now be arranged loosely abou
the face with only suggestion OF the
puff.
just now tho Marcel wave Is th,
thing. This is not easily obtained q
. ones own dressing table. 1t is Iathe
J an art TO understand Just tho RICH
twist and curve" to GIVE the curlinI
iroEs to obtain this unduiating way,
that is so much worn. But to b.
thoroughly "in it" one must have tn,
J Marcel wave, which means series O
waves in the pompndour so unlike tn,
! old-fashioned, kinky curls. that th
hand OF the amateur is bound to shoy
at once. The mammoth pompadou
has had its day and its proportions ar
slowly shrinking TO slight puff abou
the face. Tho hair should simply b
raised gracefully and loosely. The day
Of rats and rompadour stuliinR is past
Portia