Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1895 — A Thousand Dollars for a Curl. [ARTICLE]

A Thousand Dollars for a Curl.

Lady Harriet Dorsay was presiding at a stall at a vente de charite, a bazaar, held in aid of the funds of some asylum or another, when there came up the young Duke of Orleans, son and heir of King Louis Philippe, writes George Augustus Sala, the English journalist. The Duke, after some polite talk, began to extol the beauty of her hair, and, indeed, her Henrietta Maria coiffure had never looked glossier and softer than it did that day. “Oh,” said His Royal Highness, “if I could only possess one of those entrancing ringlets!” “How much would Monseigneur give for one? A thousand dollars?” “A mere bagatelle!” “Two thousand?” “Anything so charming a lady chose to ask.” “I will not be extortionate. We will say one thousand.” Then she very composedly produced a dainty little pair of scissors, snipped off the adorable ringlet, wrapped it in silver paper, and handed it, wiih a smile and a curtsy full of graceful dignity, to the Duke. His Royal Highness looked very straight down his nose, and, returning Lady Harriet’s salute, stalked somewhat gloomily away. But his privy purse duly forwarded the money the next day.