Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-12

! A LADY on BEARDs.-A fair correspondent
| of the Home Journal has the following sensi-
! Bile remarks on the wholesome habit of wear
| ing the beard, which has lately come into fash.
/ ion
| ssIt is astonishing what change few years
| has wrought in regard to shaving. Once, ev-
! erybody shaved, but now, l much mistake, il
every gentleman has not found to shave or not
to shave, question suggested by his morning
| toilet. Alas for the razor-strop man. His oc-
cupation is nearly gone. hope he will sue
ceed in finding another, for the present gene
ration viii be bearded race.
81 was quite interested last winter in read
ing Natural History of the Human Species,
by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles III. Smith, in
which he states that the bearded races are the
conquering races. For this reason the beard
less races are averse to the union with them.
This aversion he states to be the result of ex-
perence, proving the superior activity of those
who have sprung from such races. Jcnghis,
Timur and Nadir Shah, were directly, or in
their ancestry, descended from Caucasian mo-
theirs, and hence, also, the Jealous exclusion OF
European women from China. The progress
sive nations, he tells us, a bearded and
hairy race. Samson's strength lay in his hair.
Bereft of that his mighty power was gone
The lion is the king of the forest. How much
of his proud beauty he owes to his magnificent
name. Shave him, and he is king no longer.
81 cannot imagine why a beard is given TO
spend his time in a daily cutting it of, as it
daily asserts its right to manifested exist
ence. The beard is an emblem of manly pow
and dignity, and is certainly an element of
manly beauty. The Father of the Faithful
and all the old Patriarchs and Prophets wore 4
beard so did the Saviour, when he dwelt as
man among the hills of Judea. So, too, most
Of the venerable divines who have transmitted
to Us their schemes OF theology. 1t is 4 mod
crn innovation to share off the whole beard.
1t was not common before the commencement
of the last century. Moses forbade the Jews
to mar the corners of the beard, and David,
when his Embassado-s were iaSuIted by Ha-
mans shaving off one-half their boards, per
mitted them TO tarry ut Jericho till their
boards had grown.
''While the beard, properly worn, is sn or
uaIueHJ, II Is sometimes rendered hideous by
the manner in which il is trimmed. A round
mass of bristles on the chin is never becom-
ing, yet sometimes thia-checked, Iong-faced
gentlemen elongate their countenances in this |
way; often these tufts impart 4 low, animal
expression; they never confer dignity nor
beauty. Some few are greatly improved by
full whiskers, others by moustache. Some |
look best with the beard trimmed rather close. !
IL requires an artists eye to decide on what is !
most becoming. Nature leaves a VARYING out !
line to the beard which is more perfect than |
any semi-circle cut by the razor.
'iPerhaps you may think l have wandered |
rom my proper sphere in writing about boards |
had no idea of doing so when | commenced !
his letter; you must charge il all to the snow |
storm. must leave the subject of ladies dress |
.or another day. Yours, &c,
''AXNA UoPE."