Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-02
A BEARD THAT IS A BEARD
Nearly Five Feet Of Reddish, Sandy
COlOred Hair Plated and Adorned
With Ribbons.
New York Mercury.l

aNkN ANAA ANAAAAN
A few days since a Mercury reporter
sailed into an Eighth avenue store to
inquire what effect the reduction OF
the tobacco tax might, would or could
have upon three ten-cent cigars for a
quarter. There was a screen between
the cigar department and the moist
goods and before the Caledonian,
who keeps the place, could explain
about the cigars, or expatiate on the
quality of his Glenliyet, a wagon
rumbled up to the door, and the mid
dle-sized, sandy-complexiOned man
who had been driving the horse at
tached to the vehicle entered.
Hillo = DRIED mine host, here is
the man with the long beard"
Hepronouneedth the adjective long, y
"loong."
The inquisitorial, incisive eyes of
the reporter were instantly focused on
tho new conner. and I'VE" murmured
to ourselves, a la Sir Charles Cold
stream, "Ah, my dear fellah there's
nothing oft "0f" should be ''in;"
but never mind.
What, cried mine host, nothing
ofitl I'll bet you ten dollars his beard
reaches to his toes!'
The reporter approached the smil-
ing visitor, and gazed at the not over
abundant crop 0 fhair that hung below
his chin. 1t was of a reddish, sandy
color, a medium sized beard, and
somewhat Vandyked at the edges.
And so we asked the man, as Deli
lab had asked Samson when she was
bathing his temples with Eau de
Cologne, Tell me where thy great
beard lieth."
And behold, the man elevated his
chin, opened his vest, opened four or
five shirts, and hauled out what
seemed to be the plated Aotsam and
jetsam of a German maiden's hair or
a pound or two of struggled "lady's
twist chewing tobacco.
Good heavens! 1t was the mans
beard, plated with maiden fingers,
tied up with ribbons, perfumed and
beautiful, that thus astonished the
repOrtorial vision. The tapcring plat
hung down like
A HUNTING-WHIP,
till it touched its proud owners shoes
"a thing of beauty and a beard for
ever. The scribe touched it, and
pulled it, and opined that it was long
er than any mules tail he had ever
seen.
But you should see Mr.. Blake on
Sundays = said mine host then he
wears it all combed out, and is clothed
with it in glory
Having thus been innoculated with
beard on the brain, as it were, the
reporter has since been skirmishing
around for facts.
Mr.. Charles Blake, the gentleman
on whose facial estate this remarkable
hirsute crop has been raised, is at
present employed as a driver and
salesman by Freeman Brothers, the
bakers, of Newark avenue. Jersey
City. The beard is nearly five feet
long, and excites as much enthusiasm
in Jersey City every fine Sunday, when
on parade, as a walking match. Mrs.
Blake looks upon her husbands
beard with alteration and becoming
Jealousy. More precious than rubies,
longer than Aaron's oil soaked fringe
ever was, sweeter than honey or the
h%oney-comb, more odorous than the
rose of Sharon or the lily of the valley,
she, of course, objects to sew fresh
buttons on her husbands shirts every
night, especially when she knows that
they have been torn off by the many
admiring female hands which may
have c%aressed Charley precious beard
during the day. /.
Mr.. Charles Blake is a handsome
man. He was born in the North of
Ireland, and any ambitious beard
grower in the United States is hereby
challenged to grow as many hirsute
inches, either in a six days match or
three thousand consecutive quarter
hours. The black bearded Boniface
on the corner of Church and Court
landt streets, who has had his in
medium red hair combed through the
columns of the daily press more than
once or twice, is not excepted from
this challenge-nor any other man.