THE POTTSTOWN TRAGEDY.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2997, 23 September 1878, Page 4

THE POTTSTOWN TRAGEDY.

This terrible event is thus described: by the JNeW York Times :—Justiafter the beginning .of Lent two youpg; men came to.Pbttstawn and announced that they: were the sole owners of a new process of : restoring brilliancy and softness to back hanyino matter what might befits age or condition. They began their operations by distributing t6 eTery house in the town printed circulars, setting forth their business, and naming a ridiculously-low price for their services* In this circular it was promised that the longest switches should be renovated for 110 cents each, while the charge'for renovating curls and "fronts " was even lower. The ladies of Pottstown were assured that the process of renovation should* be conducted with the utmost secrecy, and it would require in no,case more than three days. Copies of alleged letters signed by Mrs Anthony, Mrs Clara Morris, President Haye9, and Miss Clara Louise Kellogg, certifying that their, back hair' had been renovated lo their complete satisfaction, were annexed to the circular, and there was not a woman in all Pottstown who did not fully believe that she was exceptionally fortunate in having the circular brought to her attention. The next day the two young men, each carrying a larpe covered Casket, called at every house to receive orders and back hair. They had printed receipts with them, .which they; gave in exchange 'for hahv and which had an extremely genuine and business-like appearance. Before they had visited one-quarter of the houses their baskets were full, and they were obliged to return to their hotel -and to empty them before taking a fresh start. Judging 1 from the size of their baskets, a local scientific person has .estimated that they collected a ton and a half of back hair in the course of two days. There was not — so we are assured— a woman in Pottstown 'who did not trust her hair •to these audacious wretches, • with the exception of a few ladies of African descent; and each one believed that, within three days at the furthest, she would receive back her cherished locks; in a gre/itly improved 'condition;; For several days after the back hair of Pottstown had thus been placed in the keeping of the pretended hair renovators no ladies were visible pn the Pottstown streets. At the same time, every lady at whose house any young man ventured to make, a call was either " engaged " or " ill," and declined to receive visitors. On the fifth day the hotel at which. the two scoundrels had stopped was . visited by scores of excited husbands and brothers, who were horrified to learn that the' two hair renovators had left town five days before, carrying with them seven large and heavy trunks. Over the scenes which took place when this terrible news reached the ladie3 at Pottstown a veil must be drawn. Much may be forgiven in a woman who has been cheated out of her back hair, but it is impossible to approve of the want of judgment which several indignant wives evinced in trying to"replace' their missing hair by drawing iipon the > 'short and scanty hair of their innocent'husbands. 1 here wili be no parties'-in Pottstown for some time to come, arid so fair as the local young men are concerned they will have ilo female society whatever. The sudden revival of the back-hair business in this city and in Philadelphia, which Western statesmen are ascribing to the paßsage.of the Silver Bill, is due wholly to the demands of the Pottstown ladies. The two pretended haiv renovators have sailqd for' Europe with their booty, and the volume of back hair in this country will be for some time, too small for the demand.