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 sensl-
lercmarks on the wholesome habit Of wear
ing the beard, which has lately come into fash
ion -
ssIt is astonishing what change few years
las wrought in regard TO shaving. Once, ey-
erybody shaved, but now, l much mistake, II
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 will be a bearded race.
81 was quite interested last winter in read
ing a 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 eN-
perience, proving the superior activity of those
who have sprung from such races. Jenghls,
Timur and Nadir Shah, were directly, or IN
their ancestry, descended from Caucasian mo-
Tiers, and hence, also, the jealous exclusion of
European women from China. The progress
sve nations, he tells us, 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 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 a manifested exist
ence The beard is an emblem of manly pow
er and dignity, and is certainly an element of
manly beauty. The Father of the Faithful
and all the old Patriarchs and Prophets wore a
beard so did the Saviour, when he dwelt as
man among the hills of Judea. So, too, most
of the venerable divincs who have transmitted
to us their schemes of theology. 1t is a mod
crn innovation 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 IIa-
mans shaving off one-half their boards, per-
mitted them to tarry at Jericho till their
boards had grown.
s.While the beard, properly worn, is an or
nament it is sometimes rendered hideous by
the manner in which it is trimmed. a round
mass of bristles the chin is never bccom-
ing yet sometimes thin-cheeked, long-faced
gentlemen elongate their countenances in this
way; often these tufts impart a low, animal
expresson; they never confer dignity nor
beauty. Some few are greatly improved by
full whiSkcTs others by moustache. Some
look best with the beard trimmed rather close.
II requires an artists eye to decide on what Is
most becoming. Nature leaves varying out
line to the beard which is more perfect than
any semi-circle cut by the razor.
s'Perhaps you may think / have wandered
from my proper sphere in writing about boards.
j had idea Of doing when | commenced
this letter; you must charge it all to the snow
storm. must leave the subject OF Ladies' dress
fer another day. Yours, &c,
GAMMA UoPE.''