Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-03
CHARACTER IN HAIR.
Profound observations Made by
Learned Barber.
ZION a OAtcaqo W..

From tie Chicago Re1oS
''ft is a fact" said the barber ''that a
better idea of character is expressed by
the beard ottentimes than by the coun-
tenance. The art Of reading character
by the beard is taught as a science in
Paris under the name of photography
and l understand a book is shortly to be
published in which the principles of this
science will be given in detail. Did you
/ ever notice that people Of very violent
! temper have always close-growing hair?
I 1t a fact that every man having close
! growing hair is the owner Of a decided
/ temper. It's easy enough for me to note
/ at a glance how a mans hair grows.
I Then ] know how to handle him. Men of
strong temper are generally vigorous, but
/ at the same time they are not always fixed
in their opinions Now, the man with
coarse hair is rooted TO his preiudices.
Coarse hair denotes obstnacy. It's not
good business policy to oppose man
whose hair is coarse. The eccentric man
has always fine hair, and you never yet
saw man OF erratic tendencies, who at
the same time had a sound mind, that was
NOT refined in his tastes. Fine hair indi-
Gates refinement. You may have no.
ticed that men engaged in intellectual,
or especially in aesthetic pursuits, where
delicacy Of taste is required, have inVari-
ably fine, luXuriant hair and beard.
These same men, as class, particularly
painters, are always remarkable for their
personal peculiarities. Take Oscar Wilde,
for example. His hair is as fine and soft
as a child's, and you remember how much
fun was made Of him because he persisted
in wearing knee-breeches. Oscar Wilde
couldn't help that, however. He had to
act different from other men. because his
mind had an erratic bent. l went to see
him when he lectured here, just to satisfy
myself whether he was a humbug. The
moment | caught sight of his hair, which,
you remember, he wore down his back, l
was satisfied the man was in earnest,
though very eccentric. The brilliant,
sprightly fellow, who, by the way is al
most superficial, has generally a curly
beard. II not, his hair is curly. It's easy
TO bring smile to the face of a man whose
hair is curly. He laughs where colder
natures see nothing to laugh at. But that's
because his mind is Duoyant and not
deep enough to penetrate the bottom OF
things.
"rhere is a good deal of difference be-
tween coarse hair aud hair that is harsh,
though 1t requires an expert to distinguish
it. For example, mans m0ustache may
be of texture as fine as silk, and yet can
not be trained to grow into a graceful
curve. That's because the hair is harsh.
Now, people whose HAIR is harsh have
amiable but cold natures. They are al
ways ready to listen, but it's difficult to
arouse their feelings. In men of this dis
position the hair on their heads is gen.
orally, in fact almost always, of a darker
shade than their boards. When the beard
is full, covering the entire face, the color
varies from dark shade near the roots to
red, which colOrs the end of the hair.
These men have very rarely good memory.
They forget easily, and often leave cane
or an OvercOat behind them in a barber
shop. They are great prOcrastnators,
and are bad at keeping appointments.
Think over your acquaintance and see If
the man who is habltually slow has not a
moustache or beard of lighter shade than
his hair. It's always the case. These are
the men who come in late at the theatre
and get to the depot in time to miss the
train. But photography is a science. 1t
takes years of study and observation to
acquire it. From long practice and a
natural liking for the art, have at
tanned considerable skill in discerning
character