The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-03-19
TIE LONG HAIR or GENUS.
Stories Of Famous Men, Whose Locks
Were in Demand.

! Inc late Sir August MSnnS bad a
lo"rri2nt growth Of hair, which,
when lie first came to England. many
years since, was Jet black. On its ac-
count he was sub5,c.ed TO no little
c.sM Week after woad," lie saIl, IN
/ the course Of an interview, did the
latuaa bring me big letters with
tUI'-i~ycrs Of every description, ac-
ccG.1A.cd 10y neatly written advice
how to use them, and tiny pink let
tets with enclosures OF three penny
Diis, with the request to so to the
barber and have nay hair cut"
The celebrated yiolinist, paganini,
was economical in all LIS ways, even
to the disposal Of his hair. Of which
admirers would at times request
lock as a memento. The demand
was never declined. but the lock sent
was Of the most scant description.
ana never without a strongly-wcrd-
ed request for a handsome subscrip-
tion towards some rather indefinite
charity in which the musician was
Interested With Paganlni charity
often began at home and enGca
thcse. too.
y pretty story Is told Ct Mendels-
sohn. Once, when in Paris. he was
approached by a poor woman with Il
prayer for aims. He was about TO
accede to tho request when he rem
embercd that he had no money upon
his person. He had sharp kniie,
however, and producing this he cut
OF lock Of his hair which he hand
ed 10 the suppliant. Much surprised
was he latter, and sill more 80 'whta
a p2rsor by, who had recognized the
musician, rushed up and offered her
for The hirsute piece OF gold, when
il is needless to say. was gladly ac-
cepted.
On one occasion says Tit-Bits,
. when wagner paid visit to the hair
dresser he was accompanied By his
wife who carefully collected and
made into parcel the shorn hair,
preparatory to removing ii from -
shop. The barber was aghast, for
he had already sold. and received
payment for, the masters clipped
loc6s. He implored Fraw Wagner to
reconsider her intention, but the la
dy was obdurate, only relentng so
far as to remark that her butchers
hair was very similar in color to that
of her husband. The hint was taken.
IN the cause of deserving chari-
ty Verdi agreed to part with a num-
Der of his locks, for which demand
was to be made by letter only. Many
applications, accompanied by remit
taEces, arrived, and were duly hon
ored, much to the benefit of an ex-
cellent cause, and by no means to
the detriment of the composers hair,
which, despite the many calls upon
its growth seemed as thick and long
as ever. A most unaccountable phe-
nomenOn. his friends thought, but
they gradually changed their minds
and exchanged smiles when they not
iced how very bare certain servant,
whose hair much resembled his mas
ters was becoming about the pate.
Mario, the great tenor, on being
asked by pretty put rather bold
member of the fair sex for lock of
his hair, laughingly proposed a race,
stipulating that, in the eventNof his
being the victor, he should receive a
kiss from the losers lips, but that
should fortune decide against him, he
would agree to submit his head to
the conqueror's cissors. Off the pair
started, and the victory seemed tn be
in Mario's grasp, when he tripped
and fell, allowing his fair rival to
reach the goal first. He at once cal
lantly paid forfeit, and the lady with
equal courtesy awarded him the prize
that, had he won, would have been
his due.
The barber of Indianapolis who,
CHANGING to possess one of President
Abraham Lincon's razors, drove a
brisk trade of charging those of his
customers on whose chins it operat-
ed an extra half dollar must yield the
palm for originality to a West-end
Figaro into whose shop Gounod once
CHANGED to stray for the purpose of
having his hair trimmed. BY Fig
aro, who was of musical turn, this
good fortune was duly appreciated
He preserved the hair cutting cloth
as it came. plentifully besprinkled
with hair, from the composers neck,
to be used thenceforward only by
such customers as We're willing TO
pay handsomely for the honor.