Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-01
SOMETHING ABOUT Boards.


when tho wcarcr Of q moustacho was
supposed 10 advertise bimself rs q
rowdy, and when to allow tho faco to
go unshavcn-savo perhaps small
portion of tho checks, which social
morality excluded frcm tho general
law-was 10 suffer voluntary ostra-
cism from all clrcIos which paid due
regard TO their own character or that
of their associates. As TO profcsscd
Christians, not to mention ministers,
wearing full boards, or tho scmblance
Of hair on tho uppor lip, tho thought
would havo bccn too horrible to con-
template.
"rimcs change and we change with
them" Boards have for somo reason,
become fixod fact, and arc quietly |
accepted as,such, though, perhaps, not
without somo mental protest. Posi-
lily California had something to do
with this, perhaps the Mcaican war,
and Col. Mays famous charge at Ros-
aca do Ia Palma-who knows, or who
can follow tho riso ana fall Of any
fashion? An English writer nttri-
butcs the change Of scntimontin Eng.
land 10 tho roturn Of the bearded he
rocs from the Crimca but in America
tho fashion datos anterior to that
event. This writer gives, in CusselrS
iNuga=inc, tho results of some antigua
riun study on tho subject of boards,
from which we condcnso few passn-
, ges:
} "Tho history of the beard is not an
. unintcrcstins subject of research, con.
8 sidcring tho important part it has
! played in tho world. Most likely Tu.
e bal Cain drove a good trade in razors.
: At all events, wo read of shaving at u
}, very early period as an established
i custom. Joseph, released from pris
c on, could rot think of going before
Pharaoh until he had shaved his
beard.' Herodotus tolls US that lht
i early Egyptians always shaved, ane
It nude their slaves follow their exam
'. pie. Yot, with singular inconsistency
i thcso people woro false boards as ;
A. Distinguishing badge of rank. Grea
n pcrsonasos-kings and gods-wor
,c great boards; tho former hug
IS square miracle Of curling tongS, the latte
u a large one turned up at the end. Lit!
Or people had little boards according TO thei
M little ness, a small tuft at the extremity {
IT. tho chin willie slaves, who were thougl
fe nobody, had, very properly, no boards t
d, all. In their sculpture, the Egyp,ians d
rs, pict their enemies with slovenly, untid
ng and contemplate boards. But the Min
ly vi,es grew the finest boards Of rcmote al
he .iquity.
ou "The Hebrews wore hair on their chil
pie lut not on their upper cheeks. :.
They resented all outrage offered to l.
Ut, beard as the most bitter iLsulf possible
a enuity. The Turks would
nc. thcr bo publicly whipped and brand
ON with a hot iron than be shaved, while
arc Arabs protect their boards as an article
10 religious faith, because tho Prophet ne,
I'm. cut his. Hence sultan has never kno
me razor to his head, though lie is very p'
his licular about shaving his slaves in the
Ird. raclio rs a token Of their servitude.
nc. "The beard has been worn as badge
oo- ROYALTY, of ecolesiastioal distinction, aut
am; certain professional attainments. The
a'o' French kings were great on boards. Sc
'ay' even wore theirs, like the old kings of
ads' sia, kno,ted with golden thread, and
10 toned with gold. Being permitted
MI touch kings beard was long held by
inc Gauls as pledge Of protcction; and f
ard long while tho sovereign used to p
A. three hairs of his beard in tho seal Of
hoy letters, in witness OF lis own hand
lltcr chin.
ceN ."King Robert of France, in tue t
"'.n WIN century, used to wear his long white b
u " in battle displayed over his cuirass;
'"oi' W. the sight of it frequently nerved his
o' giug troops, and secured him victory
''.' his enemies. Henry the Fourth Of Fr
W was renowned for his beard.
oo When Louis the Fourteenth adopted
l., new mode, the fashion grew general,
ei1''s became usual for beaux Of the perio
VIM carry whiskerw wax in their pockets, to
ONES er with small comb and brush, wi
o'ner With their mattresses might arrange
tur- ,o,,,acbes
~ "The church has always had some
o" to say about boards. Sometimes it,
GNU lowers have been enjoiDed to wear
to give an air Of gravity aud ratris
viz wisdom to it's ecclesiastics; at other
enyious beardloss divines have been
o'o' think that pride lurked behind hant
locks on the chin. The
sA'ui and Komish Church have long b.
times issue on this very question. At the
Of their separation, the Ronani,ss
down stringent rules about shaviug,
arked, the Greeks retained their old patri
ired to practice Of beard wearing, and indee
ply re- fessed themselves much scaIdaljzed