Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-02-20


A LADY ON BEARDs.-A fair correspon-
dent Of the Home Journal has the following
sensible remarks on the wholesome habit of
wearing the beard, which has lately come
into fashion,
1T is astonishing what change few years
has wrought in regard to shaving. Once,
everybody shaved, but now, | much mistake
if every gentleman has not found to shave
or not to shave, a question suggested by his
morning toilet. Alas for the razor strop man.
His occupation is nearly gone. hope he
will succeed in finding another, for the pres
ent generation will be a bearded race.
Twas quite interested last winter in read
ing a "Natural History of the Human Spe-
cies," by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hamil-
ton Smith, in which he states that the beard
ed races are the conquering races. For this
reason the beardless races are averse to the
union with them. This aversion he states
to be the result of experience, proving the
Superior activity of those who have sprung
from such races Jenghis, Timur and Nadir
Shah, were directly, or in their ancestry, de-
scended from Caucasian mothers, and hence,
also, the jealous exclusion of European wo-
men from China. The progressive nations,
he tells us, are bearded and hairy race
Samson's strength lay in his hair. Bereft of
that his mighty power was gone. The lion
is king of the forest How much of his
proud beauty he owes to his magnificent
manc. Shave him, and he is king no longer.
cannot imagine why beard is given to
man, unless it is to try his patience, if he is to
spend his time in daily cutting it off, as it
daily asserts its right to manifested exist
ence. The beard is an emblem of manly
power and dignity, and is certainly an ele-
ment of manly beauty. The Father of the
Faithful and all the old Patriarchs and
Prophets wore a beard; SO did our Savior,
when he dwelt as a man among the hills of
Judea. So, too, most of the venerable di-
vines who have transmitted to us their
schemes of theology. 1t is modern inno-
vation to shave 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 ambassadors were insulted by Ha-
mans shaving off one-half their boards, per-
mitted them to tarry at Jericho till their
boards had grown.
While the beard, properly worn, is an orna-
ment, it is sometimes rendered hideous by
the manner in which it is trimmed. A
round mass of bristles on the chin is never
becoming, yet sometimes thin-cheeked, long
faced gentleman elongate their countenances
in this way; often these tufts impart low
animal expression; they never confer dignity
nor beauty. Some few are greatly improv.
ed by full whiskers, others by moustache
Some look best with the beard trimmed rath
er close. 1t requires an artists eye to de-
eide on what is most becoming. Nature
leaves varying outline to the beard which
is more perfect than any semi-circle cut by
q razor.
"Perhaps you may think have wandered
from my proper sphere in writing about
boards. had no idea of doing SO when
commenced this letter; you must charge i
all to the snow-storm. | must leave the sub
ject of ladies dress for another day."
Yours &c GAMMA Hope"