splendid hair. After a very small and very merry party in the
Empress's private apartments a few nights ago, the Imperial hosts and
their guests sat down to an exquisite "little supper," this lady being
one of the party. During the supper one of the Empress's ladies began
playfully to tease Mrs. ---- about her hair, declaring that no human
head could grow such a luxuriant mass of lustrous hair, and inviting
her to confess to sporting certain skilfully contrived additions to
the locks of nature's bestowing. Mrs. ---- modestly protested that her
hair, such as it was, was really and truly her own; in right of
growth, and not of purchase. All present speedily took part in the
laughing dispute; some declaring for the opinion of the Lady of Honor,
the others for that of Mrs. ----. The Emperor and Empress, greatly
amused at the dispute, professed a strong desire to know the facts of
the case; and the Emperor, declaring that it was clearly impossible to
get at the truth in any other way, invited Mrs. M---- to settle the
controversy by letting down her hair, and giving ocular demonstration
of its being her own. The lady, whereupon, drew out the comb and the
hairpins that held up her hair, and shook its heavy and shining masses
all over her shoulders, thus giving conclusive proof of the tenure by
which she held it. As Frenchwomen seldom have good heads of hair, it
is probable that some little disappointment may have been caused to
some of the ladies by this magnificent torrent of hair, displayed by
Mrs. M----, but the gentlemen were all in raptures at the really
beautiful spectacle, the lady's husband, who worships her, being as
proud of her triumph as though his wife's luxuriant locks were his own
creation.


_March, 1864._