Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1919 — RIDICULOUS FAD OF FASHION [ARTICLE]

RIDICULOUS FAD OF FASHION

Description of Head-Dress Worn by Women Some Centuries Ago Appears Almost Incredible. Fashion plays constant pranks with a woman’s hair. Addison says in the Spectator of 1718: “There Is not so variable a thing in nature as a lady’s head-dress; within my memory I have known it to rise and fall above 30 degrees.” In the reign of Henry VI, ladies wore horns, having on each side ears so large that when they would pass through the door of a room it was necessary to turn sideways and stoop. It was judged necessary to enlarge tbe doors of the Chateau d£ Vincennes. The correct angle for the hair was 45 from perpendicular, which entailed great strain upon the hall growing from the forehead. Little thought of what we call cleanliness or even decency was present at the hairdressing of that day. Not only was the hair left untouched for a most revoltlngly long time, but materials were used In the dressing of the hair and making the rolls (as Anna Green Winslow related), which were most Incredible. The Boston Gazette of May, 1771. tells of a young woman driving In Boston streets who thrown from her carriage and her high tower partly torn off. It proved to be stuffed with yarn, tow, wool, curled hair, and even hay. i