The Washington herald., 1922-09-28


ventor Of the system of waving the
hair which has brought fortune to
hairdressers all over the world, the
BARRIERS of France. in their corpora
tions. have raised the money for a
great week of celebrations in Paris,
and in October will present their
celebrated fellow craftsman with
his bust done by q fashionable
sculptor. Marcel is a real person
and Is still living. not. like SO many
other inventors. in poverty, but the
proprietor of huge estate and the
historic chateau of Theil in the de-
partment of EEure. His seven
tieth birthday falls this month. lie
has the health to enjoy his riches
and Is happily married.
Father Was Stonemason.
He was born in 1852, his father
oeing a stonemason in the village
OF Chavigny. At l2 years old he
was apprenticed TO the same trade.
out, being far from strong, he was
sent to the village barber to learn
a more delicate craft. At II his
master could teach him no more and
ne came to Paris to seek a place
He was dismissed for awkwardness
from his first situation and after
some unsuccessful efforts to find an
other he set up for himself in n
little alley in the slums to cam
enough to keep himself. his wife
and his mother. his father having
died. Here he shaved for twopence
and curled the young coquettes of
the district On party nights for
threepence. His mother had beauti-
full hair and 1t was by contempla-
ton of her naturally undulating
tresses. separated by a fine division
rather to the side of the head that
Marcel had the idea of the famous
wave. Girl customers used to ask
him to curl their hair as his moth
er's was done. instead of in the
tiny button curls which at that time
were not only the fashion but the
only known method.
Date Is Vague.
History is vague about the exact
date when the superb and audacioIs
idea came into his head. but one
day and on a complaisant customer
he tried for the first time with what
tremblings only barber can i'm
agine) the device of holding the
curling tongs reversed, which until
that time no coiffeur had ever dared
to risk. The effect was immediate; ;
the young customer knew, with
awe. that her wish had come true
and that her hair was waves like
Marcels mothers. 1t cannot be
said that she or, at any rate, her
friends were pleased. The new
mode. which was to turn the heads
of fashion over the whole world.
was dubbed by the neighbors can
iche-that is, poodle fashion. A
year followed the first Marcel wave
without anyone coming forward to
have the experiment repeated. and
during 1875 only one. and she with
hair so stiff and bushy that Marcel
himself hesitated. Others followed,
however, for this tousle-headed Gus
toner was an actress. though but
petty one, appearing nightly in
the music hall of the quarter. But
! for long Marcel was obliged to
wave free of charge, none being
willing to pay for what was con-
sidered a joke, like backing the
nose.
Made Headway in 1852.
In 1882, however, he had made
headway, clients were numerous
and paying in the smaller music
hall world, and he opened a real
shop In the heart of Paris. Success
after so long dawdling came with
a bound. No fashion ever had such
a raging appetite. His shop was
besieged from morning to night.
and every day brought new Gus
toners and spread farther the pas
sion for the famous wave. Profess
sional beauties yielded first. and
from their world the Marcel wave
reached that of rank and fashion.
Nelba herself was one of the first
to submit to the operation. The
new mode became almost compul-
sorry for the stage.
Marcel in those years steadfastly
refused to initiate any other artist
into his secret. The ante-room of
his shop was jammed, impatient
beauties often being forced to wait
all day, and at night to 60 away
without being able to get near the
master barber. Countesses, mar
quiseS, princesses carried their
needlework to his shop. waiting for
the chance of paying ten. fifteen
pounds for the privilege of having
the iron applied before the others.
One paid f16 for the only time Mar
eel had free, and had her hair
waved at in the morning. Lady
Lennox, a rich English milady. paid
Gao and travelling expenses for Mar