THE CROPS.

A most unfounded report of the approaching demise of Colonel Sibthorp

reached town early last week. Our Leicester correspondent has, however,

furnished us with the following correct particulars, which will be read

with pleasure by those interested in the luxuriant state of the gallant

orator's crops. The truth is, he was seen to enter a hair-dresser's shop,

and it got about amongst the breathless crowd which soon collected, that

the imposing _toupée_, the enchanting whiskers that are the pride of the

county, were to be cropped! This mistake was unhappily removed to give

place to a more fatal one; for instead of submitting to the shears, the

venerable joker bought a paper of _poudre unique_, from which arose the

appalling report that he was about to _dye_!

Our kind friend the indefatigable "correspondent" of the _Observer_,

informs us from authority upon which every reliance may be placed, that

Mr. Grant, the indefatigable statist and author of "Lights and Shadows of

London Life," is now patiently engaged in researches of overwhelming

importance to the public. He will, in his next edition of the above-named

work, be enabled to state from personal inquiry, how many ladies residing

within a circuit of ten miles round London wear false fronts, with the

colours respectively of their real and their artificial hair, together

with the number of times per year the latter are dressed. Besides this,

this untiring author has called at every hairdresser's in the London

Directory, to ascertain the number of times per quarter each customer has

his hair cut, with the quantity and length denuded. From these materials a

result will be drawn up, showing the average duration of crops; and also

how far the hair-cuttings of every day in London would reach, if each hair

were joined together and placed somewhere, so as to go--when enough is

collected--round the world.

The _Morning Herald_ of Monday informs us, that the King of Hanover has

passed a law to regulate the crops not only of the army, but of those in

the civil employ of government. The moustaches of the former are to be, we

hear, exact copies of those sported by Muntz. The hair is to be cut close,

so as to be woven into regulation whiskers for those to whom nature has

denied them. The pattern whisker was lately submitted by Mr. Truefit, who

is to be the army contractor for the same. It curls over the cheek, and

meets the moustaches at the corners of the mouth.

In consequence of this measure, large sales in bear's grease were made by

the Russian merchants on 'Change yesterday for the German markets. A

consequent rise in this species of manure took place; this will, it is

feared, have a bad effect upon the British crops, which have already

assumed a dry and languid appearance.

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Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, November 13, 1841 · 第 41 / 73 题