Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-01

ions Of the times, the following dissertation upon
the philosophy of wearing it is apropos:
With very triAing differences in the dressing OF
the natural mask of hair about mans mouth, the
whole character Of his personal presence is changed
1t is wonderful indeed that for obvious and uni
versal want as the wearing of the beard, artists
have never yet given manual of first principles,
illustrated with drawings. 1t is book that would
| be eagerly bought up and studied. With daily
study of the boards of our friends and acquantanceS
becoming and unbecoming, We have of course learn
ed here and there an incidental lesson on the sub
jec and this in the lack of more artistic authority,
We propose now to jot down.
Where the beauty of face consists mainly in the
fine formation of the jawbone and chin, man loses
by growing his beard over this portion. Better
wear only the moustache.
There is now and then man whose severity or
sharpness of eve is redeemed by good-natured
mouth-the animal character of the person being
kindler than the ntellectual-and covering of the
lips, ia such case, is of course, mistaken hiding
of Natures apology, and needless detriment to the
expression Better wear only the whiskers.
\ small rcceding chin, and feeble jaw. may be
entirely concealed i,y full beard, and with great
advantage to the general physiognomy. So the op-
poSite of too coarse jawbone, or too long chin.
Too straight an upper lip can be improved by the
curve of a well-trimmed moustache. So can an up
per lip that is too long from the nose downward,
that is dSfgured by the loss of some of the up
per teeth. Washington in the prime of life, suffer-
ed frum this latter affection and (arsticaly speak
ing) his face. represented to posterity. would
have been relieved of its only weakness if he had
concealed the collapshs upper lip by military
moustache.
\ face which is naturally too grave can he made
to look more cheerfuy by turning up the corners
of the moustachc-as one which is too trivial and
inexpensive can be made thoughtful by the careful
slopng of the mouslache with strong lines down.
ward.
The wearing of the whole beard gives, of course,
animal look: which is no disadvantage if the
eyes large and the forehead intellectual enough
to balance it. But where the eyes are small SEN
sual and the forehead low, the general expression
is better for the smooth chin, which, to the common
eye seems Away less animal
What is commonly called an "impcral' "a tuft
on the middle of the chin is apt to lock like mere
botch on the face. to give it an air Of pettness
or coXcombry. The wearing of the beard long
short, iorked or peaked, physiognom"al adviSa-
bities upon which man of judgment will take the
advice of an artist as well an intimate friend
two but having once decided upon the most be-
coming model, he should stick to it. Alteration in
the shape of so prominent portion of the physiog
nomy gives an impression of unreliableness and
vanity.
Middle-aged men are apt to be sensitive with the
incipent turning gray of the beard; but they are
often mistaken as to its effect Black hair which
turns earliest is not only picu-scqucly embcllished
by sprinkling of gray but exceedingly intellectual
lied and made sympathetcay expressive. The
greatest possible blnnder IS to dye such beard
There is one complexion, however, of which the
grizzng is so hideous that total shaving, dyeing
or any other escape, is preferable to leaving it to
nature We mean the reddish blonde of which
the first banching gives the appearance of dirty
mat 1t was meant to be described perhaps, by the
two lines in Hudibras:
"The upper part thereof whey
The neither orange mixed with gray"
white beard is so exceedingly distinguished
that every man whose hair prcmaturely turns should
be glad to wear it, while for an old mans face it is
so sof,cning veil, so winning an establishment,
that it is wonderful how such advantage could
ever he thrown away. That old age should be al
ways long bearded to be properly yelled and vener-
able, Is the feeling. we sure, of every lover of
nature as well as Of every cultivated and delerential
heart