Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-05-22

hence has some very excellent remarks
upon the propriety Of shaving or let
ting the beard grow, besides an histor-
lcal dlsqulsition upon the same. 1t is
not historically considered in reference
to medicine, but in reference to the
changes it has undergone from the fash
ions and customs Of the past. But e.
ven IN this point OF view, correlative
to other points Of medicine bearing,
the remarks may not be deemed inap-
proprlate upon the page of medical his
tory. Though the beard and its func-
tons can be probably judged only up
on phyiscl gel and pathological
grounds, yet its extraneous history, in
reference to the habits of the ages
through which it has passed, may be
read as not altogether inapt in the an
nails of medical lore. The summing up
Of the writer, without any reference to
the medical bearings Of the beard, is
that it may be said that the law of this
matter should be for every man to
shave or not to shave, as his age,
ci 'cumstances, pursuits and incl.na-
tons, might renderthe most convenient.
On the side Of the boards, it has been
argued that nature must have bestow-
ed such an appendage for the purpose
Of being worn; and that, as Turtullian
affirmed, it is blasphemy against the
face to reject it, 1t is certain, also,
that a well kept beard adds greatly to
dignity ofappearance, land finely sets off
the other part Of the countenance, and
in particular gives great expression to
the eyes. q comparison of bearded
and beardless portraits is generally
much to the advantage of TIE former.
It is difficult to suppose that Leonardo
da Vlnci, or Cordinal Bembo; or Gran
mer, or the shah of Persia, would look
so well without their boards; and in
Turkey, it is impossible to compare the
men who have been sharen, and other
wise Europeanized, with the bearded
civilians in their flowing robes, with
ou. feeling that the former are, TO use
an Oriental smile, 'pIucked pigeons
in comparison. We have heard much
of the dtgnifed and stately appearance
Of the Turks, but such a comparison
enables us to perceive that most of their
dignity is in their boards and their
dresses. Then we must take into ac-
count the trouble of shaving, which
made Seume, German writer, says
in lis Journal To-day threw my
powder apparatus out of the window.
When will come the blessed day when
shall send the shaving apparatus after
it:'
The practice of shaving, probably
originated at first from its being found
that the beard afforded too good a hold
to an enemy in battle. This is the
cause assigned for It's origin among
the Greeks, about the time of Alexan-
der; and in most countries we find the
practice is first adopted by military
men, and that men ofpacihc and learn
ed pursuits retain their beds much la
ter. The Greeks continued to shave
till the time of Justinian, in whose
reign long boards became again fash
ionable, and remained in use till Con-
stahtinople was taken by the Turks
The Romans appear to have derived
the custom of shaving from the inhabi-
tants of Sicily, who were Of Greek Or.
igin; for we find that number of bar
bers were sent from thence to Rome in
the year 1875 B. G. At the expiration
of the Republic, boards had become
very rare. Even in Greece the beard
was always worn Except among the
Macedonians) until the time of Alex
ancer, and in Rome until the year 300
B. c. In both nations the philoso-
piers and priests retained their beard
after it had been relinquished by the
body of the people. But among that
singular people, the Egyptians, it was
the priests that shaved, and they shay
ed not only the face, but the head and
the whole body. But they let their
boards and hair grow in time Of mourn
ing; and so did the Romans when they
became shaver people; while the
Greeks in the time of boards were ac-
customed 10 manifest their grief by sha-
wing. Indeed, these opposite signs
Of mourning may be considered to
have prevailed respectfully in bearded
and shaven nations. On a similar
principle beard was token Of bon
dage among shaver nations, and the
want Of beard had the same signih-
cation among bearded people. The
slaves Of the Romans wore their beard
and hair long; and when they were
maEumitted they shaved the head in
The temple Of Feronia, and put on cap
AZ ths badge Of liberty. On the other