National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-02
MISCELLANEOUS. =
THE LONGEST BEARD IN TIE WoR1
A Michigan Man with WHISPERS Seven and
One-Half Feet I'm Length.

A Michigan Man with WHISPERS Seven and
One-Ialf Feet I'm Length.
| correspondent of the Detroit Post aud
Tribune writes from Adrian, Mich of a GER
tain Edwin Smith, who is the possessor of o
remarkable beard. Tho correspondent says:
Ordinarily Mr.. Smith and his beard would
not attract especial attention. He docs not
let 1t sway at its own free will at all times,
but keeps IL tied in compact bunch under his
chin, holding 1t fast with thread and hair.pins
When thus done up IL does not appear to be Of
unusual length unless the observation is close.
SO while II has come TO be generally known Ia
the vicinity of Mr.. Smiths residence that his
beard is unusually long, but few people have
seen IL in all its enormous length except as
hereinafter stated. lie Is forty.sovon years of
age. lie is about six feet high and weigs las
pounds. His hair aud beard are sandy and
tinged with gray. He has a pale face blue eyes.
n high forehead aud an intelligent aud pleas
ant appearance. At thirteen years of ago lie
began to raise q beard, and while yet young
school-boy was possessed of q light silken
covering to face aud neck, rivaiug in length
that of many Of his seniors But he became
tired Of this, aud shaved almost daily for sew
eral years keeping his face smooth and beard
less. He continued TO attend school in what
used to be known rs the Sherman District
was not, however sufficiently rapid to attract
any especial notice. In 1858 he came TO
Michigan, whore lie married. His health
from boyhood has not been of the best, bill
iousness and lung troubles being most common.
In 1861 his health failed, aud he went to Cal
ifornia in the hope of regaining it,
ut was the fashion among miners of those
days to allow their boards to grow. 1t was
agreed among several of them, Mr.. Smith
among the number, that they would allow
their boards TO grow for six months, and sec
the longest Mr.. Smith outstripped all rivals
and allowed his beard to grow from then
ON. The nature of the miners work made it
convenient to tic or fasten the beard under
the chin In this way Mr.. Smith first became
accustomed to wearing it long, with the SUI
perfuous length tied up out OF the way. And
now, said he, you sec what ii has grown to-
And rs your correspondent looked from the
smiling flcc Of the man, and then turned TO 20
on a search for the other end Of the beard he
thought Of the story of the steeple which was
SO tall that you had to look twice TO see the top
oft. There could be no mistake about it,
Each individual hair stretched its sillSon,
wavy length from face to floor. Now l will
show you how long it is said Mr.. Smith, and
he stepped upon II char, and stood erect. Still
its length was so great that the foot could be
placed on the ends, which touched the floor.
The beard has been carefully trimmed, so that
1t is of even weight and size TO the very end.
Unroling little paper which was laid away
in drawer, he said: That's its length last
winter and unwound a seeming endless hair.
inches long Now we will measure the
beard as it is to-day said he, and looked
for the yard-stick. Seven feet six inches aud
u half was the length"