SELLING DEAD PEOPLE'S HAIR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

SELLING DEAD PEOPLE'S HAIR.

Tun keeper pf the Morgue at New York is often troubled by applications from pi-ople auxious to tempt him to sell to them the hair on the heads of the girls and women taken to that institution. For long tresses he has been offered from 10 to '25 dollars a pound; aud so great is the demand that in spite of the keeper's Spartan virtue, he is being tempted anew nearly every week. It is well known that the hair goes on growing after death. Iti the. eases of bodies exhumed some days alter death this has been conclusively proved. The hair cut from the heads of the dead is, therefore—save in certain diseases —as good as that cut from the living ; but there is a belief abroad, which may or may not. bo the outcome of mere superstition, that the hair cut from a corpse loses its gloss and lustre after it has been worn for a year or so. Probably this is a mere popular delusion, for the inevitable interviewer, who has been busy in coosequei.ee of the statement of the keeper of the Morgue, has been calling upon wigmakers and hairdressers, aud t.'iey are ready to admit that the hair of dead people is used to a considerable, extent. One wig- maker, who has retired from business, says iie could mention several operatic stars whose wigs are composed of dead people's hair, and bis explanation is that very poor people, are somolioiK.s tempted to sell tho liair, of a dead child it may be la one ease he mentioned, some parents in circumstances of great want were tempted to sell their little girl's fl ixen curls by an offer of no leS3 than 7o dollars.