The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-31
RIC II nj 0 ND, VA.
SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH 81, 1876

WIDE AwAKEs. ."--BEARps AND THEIR
WEARERs-The North British Review re-
marks that the subject of Hats is a melan-
choly one, 1t justly remarks that the ugli
est, the most inconvenient, the most uncom-
Portable article that ever could be devised for
the purpose, seems to be planted upon the
unwilling brows of man forever. Yet, says
the Review, Gin spite of the univ versal ac-
acknowledgement that the hard, ungainly cyl
inder with which we sffiict ourselves, is, in
every sense, an abomination, we have not
the courage to adapt anything more pleas ant
to wear and more comely to look upon
The Review comedies, however, that of late
wears, the hat movement has not been en-.
tirely without results. 1t says: The extern
sive use of those light, limp, low
broad .brimmed head pieces, known as wide
Awakes,' is an indication of the good sense
of the people. They are very comfortable,
very cheap, and very becoming. At the
seaside, in rural districts, in the railway
carriage, on the steamboat, they are worn
without reserve or compunction. There
are few men, be their status or their
dignity what it may, who have not in
vested half crown in q wide awake. But
the good sense of the people seems to stop
short of the towns The wide awake is as
vet only regarded as type of semi -civilizar
ton. 1t is still an eccentricity-an excess; a
thing rather tolerated than accepted, and
therefore of limited social application. We
SHALL rejoice when it surmounts all prejudice
and silences all misgivings. Perhaps that
good time coming is not very remote.
From hats, the Review passes on to the
consideration OF wigs; and thence to beards
and their wearers. In reply to the question
of the Dutch anti. beard philosopher, Van
Helmont, if we ever saw a good angel with a
beard, the Review answers by asking him IL
he ever saw a good angel without one. we
are glad to see the liberal and able writer IN
the Review taking decided ground IN favor
of "the beard movement. "We cannot help
thinking" he says, "on review OF all that
is commonly said on both sides OF the ques-
ton, that the advocates Of the razor have the
worst ofthe argument" "The unsparing use
vi Inc IdZUE Is uuuSCtSSdtJJ lASoA' SHASN-''
often painful 1t causes large expenditure
of time and Of patience. 1t is distressing to
see the gashes which appear on the faces OF
elderly gentlemen who are their own BARRIERS.
The modern style of clean-shaving cannot
| be conducive to health. On the other HAND,
there are many conditions in which the re-
| tention of the moustaches and beard would
| (demonstgably) promote health and prolons
| life. Both have, and doubtless were intended
to have, protective power, and were gwen
to US for wise uses to be worn. Indeed, 1t IS
above all things difficult to believe that all
this hair, which, at certain period of life,
grows about our faces, was designed by the
| Almighty only to be cut off, by process OF
| an affective kind. CoeteraS para6Ws, the loss
of time would decide the question against the
| razor"
The Eastern war no doubt will give fresh
| impetus to the beard movement. The Eng
| lish warriors will all come home from the
East with boards a yard long, and the fashion
of the army viii quickly find its way into civi
| life