Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-28
MoUsTACHEs THAT HAD TO GO.
An Order to the Employees of an Old
Firm Recalled by Levi p. Morton's
Clean Shaver Face.

An Order to the Employees of an Old
Firm Recalled by Levi P. MOrtOn's
Clean Shaver Face.
Many years ago, says the Chicago Tri-
bitne, Levi p. Morton, the present Minis
ter to France, was the head of the whole
sale dry goods firm of Morton, Grinnell
& Co., lower Broadway, New York. One
morning, shortly after he entered the store,
an order was issued requiring all employees
wearing moustaches to remove them prior
to a date named, refusal to do so
TO be followed by dismissal. The
edict went forth and the moustaches
trembled, and the command s'ShaVe or
leavew was passed along the line. Some
young men there were who, having pre-
vioHsly pointed with pride to the gradual
discoloration of their upper lips as an evil
dence that the long lOoked-for had come
at last, now protested that they had not
yet reached the point at which RESPONSE
bility began. One young man, then about
10 years old, took counsel with his father
as to the course he should pursue. The
governor" coolly and calmly replied,
much to the chagrin of the sOnS that it
was only small thing anyhow and he
guessed he had better let it go. The SEN
sitive youth thought he discovered in the
upon his moustache. But protests were
all to no purpose; the mOustaches were
ordered to go, and 90 they did. That Is
to say, at the appointed time every man,
save one, appeared with smooth upper lip.
This one stubbornly resisted the mandate
and went abroad into the world to stare
the future in the face.
1t was an amusing scene when the bevy
of clerks appeared with their features
abOFn Of that -pnVnfc6 Qnnpn6Q0n-
Men who had been laughing for years I'M
der cover Of a m0ustache, now instinc-
lively placed their hands over their mouths
whenever they were forced to smile, under
sense Of apprehension that the upper
lip would split wide open unless this pro-
lection was afforded. They suffered in
this form a double disadvantage, for, as
every one knows, at such times and under
such circumstances a man always finds
special reasons for long laughing and is
never quite able to control his inclination
to do so. Men, too, with rosy or sunburnt
compilations were embarrassed on looking
in the mirror at seeing their mouths arched
by deathly white upper lip. Then there
were occasions of painful awkwardness,
as, for instance, when a man who had
been for months or years in the habit of
twirlinR his moustache would instinc-
lively put his hand to the corner of his
mouth, to realize suddenly that the object
of his special pride was gone. The only
exercise in which the men found genuine
relief and this, it may be said, afforded
something by way of compensation was
in eating soup and, consequently, there
was a run on soup such as the neighbOr-
ing restaurants had not experienced for a
long period.
All who have known Mr.. Morton will
remember him as tine-lOoking gentleman
with a handsome moustache and side
whiskers, and a kindly, genial counte-
nance. On the occasion of his recent visit
to this country he appeared with clean
shaven face. 1t was this fact that revived
the old story. A gentleman who was in
the service of the old 1irm Of Morton.
Grinnell & Co.. a% :i1 who, in accordance
with the mandate, parted with his NOUS
tache, asked the Minister, not long ago, if
he remembered issuing of the order. Mr..
Morton laughed heartily, but disclaimed
responsibility therefor. He said, how
ever, that in those times there was an OBJ
lection on the part of customers to being
wal,nad on by very young men wearing
moustaches and 'Estove-pipe" hats, and to
this fact he attributed the order for the
restriction.
1t may not be amiss to repeat what is
known to many-that the DelmonicOs long
ago required that their walters should not
wear mOustaches. AS rule the Del
mOnico waiter is a gocd-looking man and
in his evening dress might easily be mis-
taken for a foreign gentleman. The fire.
quency with which guests at their estab-
lishments inadvertently called upon other
guests to fill orders led to the adoption OF
the rule referred to, as it was thought that
thereby distinctive mark would be set
upon every waiter in their service, which
as it came to be known would result in
meeting the difficulty complained of.