Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — The Women of Ushant. [ARTICLE]

The Women of Ushant.

In character the headdress is more Italian than Breton. The coif is small and' square-shaped, with a wide flap hanging down behind, and it is white when the wearer considers herself dressed and not in mourning. Bright colors, chiefly scar et and blue, are often introduced at the side of the head, especially in the case of children. But the strong singularity of the coiffure is the manner in wnich the hair is worn. It hangs loose unon the back of the neck to the length of six or eight inches. The first impression the w?men make is that they are recovering from a fever and a cropping. Their hair is generally lank and wiry, like a horse’s mane, and very dark. It is rare to see it really gray, even on the head of a very old wo i an. The short and thick locks are often without a Silver thread, although the face of the wearer may be as furrowed a? a block of sea-worm granite. Baby giris, young women) and old women have their heads dressed in exactly the same way/ After her swaddling wraps, the child is given the style of coif and other clothing that she will keep through life; consequently, as she toddles about in front of the cottage door, she is one of the oddest of little figures. In'full dross the gown is always black, bit a brilliantly colored handkerchief, in which scarlet predominates, is so worn underneath as to show a little down the front of the bodice. A small shawl, generally blue or red in the case of children and yonng completes the costume.—Temple