The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-03-23

"AbOut Hair.D

we have been considerably interested
of late in reading the discussions on the
propricty Of shaving-the face, We mean
as to the propriety of shaving in the
way of trade, that matter seems to be
pretty generally settled. We have
heretofore thought the matter getting
along very well without our taking any
part in it, and have therefore been
rather locker on, holding ourself as a
sort of Judge as to the merits of the dis
cussion pro or con, and thus far we are
decidedly of the opinion that the pros
have it. But as our friend Putnam Of
The (Middletown) Rainbow has come
out very strongly in opposition to the
fashion of wearing the beard, we have
concluded to spread ourself on hair.
Putnam is very sensible sort of fellow
generally, but we think he has made
himself rather ridiculous in the follow
lowing remarks. He says
"No American whose talents have
commanded the respect Of his country
men, has ever appeared with NOUS
tache. There is an old saying that the
larger the moustache, the smaller the
brain ) and in most Of those who wear
them, this would appear to be the case.
Still, this may be an error. There may
be some persons of sound sense who un-
dertake to beautify their looks by keep
ing. their faces unshorn but we doubt
their good taste.
"Would Washington ever have risen
to the great position he occupied, if he
had worn a moustache No distn-
guished man ever wore one, nor do we
believe ever will.
" A good pair Of whiskcrs are to most
men an ornamen,rather than otherwise :;
but when the face, clear up to the eyes.
is covered, VIC can see but little differ
ence between a human being and a
monkey. Indeed, we think that of the
two, the monkey is the best looking.
We never hoard lady say that she liked
the looks of moustache, and until they
become favorites with them, they will
be no 60.
1t is perhaps we'll enough for for
eigners to wear them. 1t is a habit of
their country, and suits their tastes /;
but Americans who boast of their indie
pendcnce, should be above apeing for
eign nonsense. If we must initiate any
thing let it be good Nothing in our
opinion looks so we'll as cleanly shaven
face. Moustaches do not belong to this
soil, and no American should wear
them. With all due Difference to our
friend of the News, and not caring a
copper for that of old short trousers, and
dirty-boots Greeley, these are our SEN
timents."
"No American whose talents have
commanded the respect Of his country
men, have ever appeared with a NOUS
tache," SC. That may be very true,
because there were no Americans until it
it had become almost a universal fash
ion to shave the chin. The same might
have been said with respect to the queue
a few years since. But it amounts to
nothing f; because Americans have here
tofore seen fit to deform themselves by
improving on nature, that is no reason
why they should continue to do so. The
sneer that, +" the larger the moustache,
the smaller the brain," it seems to us
is not at all applicable when we look
back to the long line ofprophets, priests,
apostles, sages, philosophers, poets, and
venerable men Of past ages. Who ever
pictured to himself beardless Moses,
Aaron, David, Isaiah, Paul, Peter, or
John, Plato, Socrates, Shakespeare, j can
Paul, or, indeed, any of the good and
wise, the talented and true, of former
age, who appeared like men as we'll as
acted like men, and yet, our friend
Putnam says, "no distinguished man
ever wore the beard" We doubt not
Washington would have been quite as
great man had he devoted the uears
that he spent in shaving to the farther
impr ovement of bis mind. To say that
boards were made to be shaveu, is to
say that one thing was made in vain.
Such was not the opinion of Moses, who
said to the children of Israel" Thou
shalt not mar the corners of thy beard, !"