The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-05-05
Isccchcr Oh IInir-Dyo.

In the last LedgersMr. Bccchcr re-
plies to 4 question rs TO the morality
OF dvrin. the hnir. as follows:
We do not think tEat il lies in the
sphere Of morality at all. 1t is mere
matter OF taste, and every man has a
right to his own liberty, whether 10
dive or not to dye. But it il asked:
DOCS not God make hair black or
gray"
God does it, TO be sure; but in no
other Sensr thaa he gives the collie
after cucumbcrs, indigcstion after eN-
cc>sivc ratin. =. constipation after scd-
rn,nrv habits. rheumatism after expo
sure to cold and moisture. and prcma-
turr are TO men who have orrrtaNcd
themselves. Does anybody think it
wrong to take medicine. aS IL il were
un interference with Divine Provi-
acnce! Still more pnt is the question.
"Ouyht he not to wear it aS it grows"
How about cutting it. then? Has hea
right to mcdtllc with natures length Of
hair, but not with her color! Is it
wrong 70 comb aud part the hair? II
nature j. TO be- strictly followed, how
sinful the race has become by wearing
clothes. No man WAS ever born with
trowscrS on.
There il n vast deal Of nonsense
sprin.ing from incorrect notions OF
Nature. Men arc born into life with
powers and faculties susceptible. of in-
trtinitc development. The results to
which education brings men arc rs
rrnlly part Of Nature rs are the fac
ulties Themselves. An acorn IL no
- l,n
which springs from II. ~ gardener
may by skill and patience produce re.
suits la n vine which would have never
been reached had it been left alone. But
no gardener has power 10 do more
than 10 dcvclopc what God had stored
up in the vine. Tho susceptibility TO
development is part OF nature.
But let ny 20 back to hnir dye, If a
man is Young, and from some peculiar.
itv Of constitution, or by reason Of
sickness. is prcmaturcly gray, whether
he shall dye his, hair or not is matter
OF his own. II he will be the happier
for it let him do it. If his wife will
love him better, or If she will DO made
any hapHicr, in the name OF love let
him dye. Family happiness is o great
u. bottle OF hair dye.
But il it scemly for all old man to put
on the appearance OF youth. and NOT to
meet his fate bravely? That is ques-
tion Of good tastc. For ourselves, VIC
prefer gray hairs. 4 buckish old gcn-
tleman Of scycnty.iive, returning every
month from his barber with glossy
brown locks. IL not our style Of man
hood. But II he like II, he might do
things far worse. We admire the
bravery In n woman BY which, at 50.
she carries her lock full Of silver. And
vet. IL her happiness may DO promoted
by hiding the early gray, we sec no
reason for criticism. =.
We are iu favor Of bald heads and
n!so Of wigs and toupces. We are IN
favor Of wearing our own hair, and
Just "a much Of borro wing your neigh
boris, eu ckc out scanty supply, II
one chooses to do it. In short lot
every one have liberty OF hair.
1t would, however, be terrible 10
leave mon to full liberty OF dress. ana
no, to leave thcir neiSheors frce 70
poke fun ut them. But rs long as we
arc free to laugh, we may be safely left
70 the largest liberty or costume.
Shame is n moro general and active
restraint In this world than scicncc or
reason. a laugh can do what Nh srEu-
mrnt cannot.
We have bnt entered upon this sub
j"ct. Dycing tho hair IL not q begin
ming. Artificial teeth grin at US;
PAINTED checks and lips siuile at us,
and long forms aro made to look short.
iDnmpy people look long. Thin. and
lean people como forth plump and
comelr. Fat folks shrink to slender
ness. In the great world of Toilette
and Of Dress, there are, to be sure,
some questions Of morals, but far more
'"ttastc. How long the dress should
he at the bottom is n question OF taste,
OUT now long it should be at the top Is
A'so question Of morals. To discuss
'ns whole matter would require many
articles.