BISMARCK'S HAIR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10417, 22 March 1912, Page 2

BISMARCK'S HAIR.

CHANCELLOR'S BARBER GETS RICH.

Doubt has been cast on tho genuineness of tho locks of Bismarck s hair which a. barber bv Jjio numo of Ernest Roohrig is now selling throughout Germany, and efforts are being mado to stop" the flourishing business he has established. Roehrig was tho Iron Chancellor a barber, and during the years he attended his famous employer ho was wise enough to collect the locks he clipped. Now no has fashioned them into small curls, affixed a email bronze bust of the Emipire-makor, and is offering them at constantly increasing prices to the public. At first tho supply was limited to 100 curls, but since tho patriotic Germans have been clamouring for the relics of his illustrious patron Roehrig has discovered that he has an almost eindless supply of silver locks, .ill of which,' of course, carno from the head of Bismarck. BOGUS WAGNER LOCKS SOLD. But some Germans have long memories, and tho case of Wagner is recalled. The great composer's barber did a thriving business in his patron's locks until Frau Wagner, hearing of it, mado it her practice, to accompany her husband to tho barber shop. When his hair had been clipped to her satisfaction, Frau Wagner produced a small hag, into which she gathered all tho hair that had been cut.

Noticing the look of chagrin that camo over tho barber's face, when lie saw his profits disappear, Frau Wagner took pity on him, and remarked that her butcher had the same-coloured hair as her husband. Tho barber lost no timo in following no tho hint, and tho salo of " Wagners locks " went merrily on.

YERDT SUSPECTED OF TRICK. The hair of composers seems to havo been in great demand at nil times. Verdi was prevailed upon to part with a limited number of his locks for charity. Applications were to bo inado by letter, and hundreds of requests wero complied with in the first few days. His admirers noticed, however that his hair remained as long and thick as ever, despite the extraordinary demand, and also that the hair of 'his attendant, which was of tho same colour, became thinner ami thinner. From that timo the applications ceased.