Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-30
Boards AND MUsTACHEs.
Y. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor,

a correspondent OF tue DOnuOu OioDc
supplies to that journal the story follow
ing:
Boards have been one OF our national
weaknesses, and the taste for mustaches,
though comparatively modern, is rapidly
becoming as characteristic of us as it is
Of our French neighbors, from whom we
are said to have derived it. The par
tiality OF the old Greeks for smooth
shaven faces is as unintelligible to an
Englshman as that of the Romans for
low foreheads; and if modern Dana
seppus, who had dash of fashion about
him, pleased us, and we wanted to please
him. we should probably reverse Hor-
aces prayer that Heaven would send
him barber. Popular as these grace
full appendages are, however, when it
vas announced in the newspapers that
there was to be an exhibition of boards
and mustaches at the North Woolwich
Gardens, and that a prize would be
awarded 10 the owner of the largest
beard and the finest mustaches who
cared to exhibit himself, no doubt most
people thought the said exhibition was a
hoax or a joke. |, however, had the
resolution TO believe that, after all, there
might be something in it, and buoyed up
with the hope, faced the broilinG sun, the
boring railway journey, and the hustle
of a crowd devoted to shrimps and riot.
On arriving at my destination l
discovered that all was well, and that
thirty bona ide competitors had en-
tered the lists, and that the exhibition
would come off at nine o clock precisely
in the large ballroom which stands in
the center of the gardens, The gardens
themselves were, as usual, full Of people,
and the minds OF all OF them we're evident
Iy full Of boards and mustaches. The
whole place, in fact seemed kind Of
perambulsting exhibition-a spot sa-
cred to none but possible competitors
for the great contest aRd their female
admirers. Every other man you met
had mustache or beard preternaturally
developed, an unpleasant way OF staring
at those who had not, and an insoIently
critical air when he regarded those who
had. The Importance assumed by these
men, many Of them fine, martial looking
fellows who carried IL en- we'll enough,
was assumed by others who had not the
same pretensions TO support such Dig
nifty. Feeble shadows, with watery eyes
sod tottering legs shameful wrecks OF
-1ep, HaaudIin and miseEsble, plqcked
m sort Of ladicrous courage bec9use
t5sv banneS cd to DO bearded, and ,syag-
spTs gsysd pappf 4 With the hest As nine O'Clock
drew near, there was genera fasn W
the pavilion; tea parties were ot0No" Ip
as If by magic, the gardens were oe
serted, streams of people kept pouring
in from the .toll-gate, and by $40 there
was scarcely standing room in the build
ing. At the conclusion ofa sort OF monde
script play a gentleman made his appear
auce on the stage -himselfthe proud ideal
that he sought-and announced that
the exhibition was about to commence
The assignment of the prize he lett en-
tirely in the hands of the ladies, adding,
however, that in spite OF his own superb
mustache, he did not intend to compete
himself, and must be considered alto
gether out of the question. Thirty com
petitors had entered themselves for the
beard prize, though only eight had the
courage TO present themselves. One OF
these heroes, who was too modest to face
an audience of critical ladies, sad
written letter inclosing small hand
ful of his beard, just to show what he
could have done had he chosen to APP
pear. The hairs measure ferty inches
and the writer added that he had cult
vated some Of them ap 10 forty-hve
inches, and had hopes of being able TO
excel even that. The competitors we're
then told to appear-to pass slowly over
the stage, fronting the audience and Civ
ing them full view Of their faces. The
excitement now became intense; aimless
bursts of applause echoed through the
buildipg; eager faces and straining eyes
peered froE, every corner; staid old gen
tlemen with faces radiant with excite
ment, and bathed in perFpiretiOn-the
heat was intense-craned their Reeks
forward TO see. As for the ladies', they
scarcely knew what to do, and
one or two seemed springing of
their chairs with enthusiasm, and
were quite hysterieal; one actually
tainted, and added 10 the general mad
ness by being carried out in the open air.
AZ last the FIRST competitor made his
anpearanos. His claims were based on
q very iair blsot beard, which was appa-
rently about a foot long. He looked
rather foolish, and tried 10 persuade bin
self that be was not nervous By indnig'ng
in series Of short convulsive laughs, and
10 hs disappeared. numbering about i've
votes. Tha next was q young man.
dressed up 70 The roots Of his hair, ~ u me
taste peculiar 10 those vho are OF ihe
,hop. SLOPPY. With . hae bor Re con
fr,.1ted the audience and made 3 Ea1re
n a. (, middle Of The platform. There be
ev;5snt' " intended 30 reueiH, but as ne
b..si Ia urete1tions on nothing uoTe
-I.I 49,. verv ou7inarr beard of the