The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-12-14
From Beard to Worse.

But will 5eQFd him." IShaks.
To THE EDITOR OF THE REP. JOURNAL:
The remarks of Judge Kent, (Satb c0}one
condemning the wearing of a full beard,
have been SO extensively noticed and
commented upon by the press in and out
of our State, that it seems to me word
to the point is not only pardonahlc, but
imperatively dema AIDED III especially in
defence of those members of the bar, who
are now in danger, by preserving the
beard, of offending the Court.
The very high authority for the dctsm
as we'll as the gravity and Importance of
the subject, demand corresponding seri-
BUSINESS in the d .scussion Hence was
panied to observe the Boston Transcript,
generally so digniGed, refer to it in its
legal bearing, as chair splitting" and Civ
ing great offence to the younger members
of the bar by asserting that the discussion
was but giving to "(Mairy nothing a
local habitation and name"
In discussing this question (tpso 5We)
it is nothing to the purpose that the NOUS
tache is natural resplrator, defending
the lungs from dust and cold that black
smiths millers bakers, masons, those who
work on iron and steels, -traveller5 in
Egypt or upon our dusty roads, or those
who are exposed to our cold winter wealth
er, find, from actual experience, that full
beard promotes health and comfort. The
only point open is whether the dictum of
the learned Judge is supported by author
ity. This doubt. shall endeavor to show
that the weight of authority is against it.
Without indulging the imagination with
the picture of patriarch or prophet with
a razor in hand, [ lefer directly to the
earliest write upon lawn fact, the
founder of it. Not only did Moses wear
q full beard (see NJ. Angeles Moses) but
it was the universal custom of that age;
and while that learned and favored jurist
promulgated statutory regulation against
several improprieties, now very common
amongst us, (see commandments from lst
to 10th inClusive) he did not interdict the
wearing of full beard. Can you mag
inc how the hand of Angelo revelled in
the beard of Moses The gods were
bearded (see ancient pictures and statu-
ary). And if the illustrations in the fam
lily Bible are not to be received as author
tiles in point, let some irreverent stickler
for close shaving represent the apostles
with smooth faces, at the risk of causing
multitudes to doubt the authority of the
entire book.
Thou Shalt rise up before the hoary head and
honor the face of the old man. Leylticus xix
81
80 Neither shalt thou mar the corners Of
thy beard Ibid.
Lawgiver, priest, bard, King; to all
these full beard was Indispensable, and
by examples commended. Gray describes
the misery of his bard
''Loose his beard and hoary hair
Streamed like meteor to the troubled air"
The Thunderer was sitting in his ma
jesty, when the sea goddess appeared sup
plant
'sOne hand she placed
Beneath his beard and one his knees embraced
[Popes Iliad l. esd.
And when Achilles was impressed with
reverence for the form of sorrowing old
Priam--
ION his white beard and form majestic gazel
Not unrelenting"-
his reverence was, doubtless, greatly in
creased and heightened by this venerable
appendage of the old mans face.
History informs us that an insult afford
by Gaul to the beard of Roman citi-
zen on. Papirius) led to great slaughter,
SO sacredly was this facial appendage re-
spected. The beard was indicated though
the wearer fell 81 swear by the beard
of my father" was the most sacred oath of
the Arab. Diogenes is reported to have
said, on meeting man with smooth
face. 81 am afraid you think you have
great ground to accuse nature for having
made you a man and not woman"
''FOr now pray vou,uO YOUR DeafuS annoy you !,
Boards by which best youmay be known as men ;
Unless indeed, you are playing now some deed
Unworthy the character of men,"
Greece shaved after it lost its liberty.
Rome in its decline, in despair or phrensy,
clutched the razor. Gray, speaking of
an earlier and great hearted age. says
"Girt with many baron bold,
Sublime their starry fronts they rear,
And gorgeous danes and statesmen old
In bearded majesty APPEAR
Knight refer to the divine instinct, and
elaborate upon the wisdom of the Deity
as displayed in fashioning the full beard
for man the insignia Of strength and dig
nifty; but l remember the Bridgewater
treatise, and forbear.
"He that hath beard is more than a youth
he that hath no beard Is less than man"