The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-09-04
rhe Longest nenrd in the world.

A correspondent of the Detroit Post
and Tribune writes from Adrian, Mich,
of a certain Edwin Smith, who is the
possessor of q remarkable beard. The
correspondent says: Ordinarily MIR.
Smith and his beard would not attract
especial attention. He does not let it
sway at its own free will ut all times, but
keeps it tied in a compact bunch under
his chin, holding it fast with thread and
hairpins, When thus ",done up"it does
not appear to be of unusual length unless
the observation is close. So while it has
come to be generally known in the vi
cinity of Mr.. Smiths residence that his
beard is unusually long, but few people
have seen 1t in all its enormous length
except as hereinafter stated. He is forty
seven years of age. He is about six feet
high and weighs 145 pounds. His hair
and beard are sandy and tinged with
gray He has u pale face, blue eyes,
high forehead, and an intelligent and
pleasant appearance. AT thirteen years
of age he began to raise a beard, and
while yet young schoolboy was pos
sessed of light silken covering to face
and neck, rivaling in length that of many
of his seniors. But he became tired of
this, and shaved almost daily. for
several years, keeping his face smooth
and beardless. He continued to attend
school in what used to be known rs the
Sherman district, Huron county. The
growth of his beard was not, however.
sufficiently rapid to attract any special
notice. In 1853 he came to Michigan,
where he married His health from
boyhood has not been of the best, bilious
and lung troubles being most common.
In 1861 his health failed, and he went
to California in the hope of regaining it.
1t was the fashion among the 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 see which
could at the end of that time boast of 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 tie or fasten
the beard under the chin. In this way
| Mr.. Smith first became accustomed to
wearing it long, with the superHuous
length tied up out of the way. "And
now," said he, "you see what it has
grown to-" And as your2correspondent
looked from the smiling face of the man,
and then turned to go 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
of it. There could be no mistake about
it. Each individual hair stretched its
silken, wavy length from face to floor.
Now l will show you how long it is. -
said Mr.. Smith, and he stepped upon Il
chair 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 it is of even weight and size to
the very end. Unrolling little paper
which was laid away in drawer, he
said, "That's its length last'winter," )" and
unwound seemingly endless hair
When measured it was found to bC
seven feet four inches long. Nov W.
will measure--the beard us it is to-day
said he, and looked for tn yard-stick
Seven feet six inches and haif was the
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