The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-07-28
BEARD AND MUSTACHE.

ne Oearu anu muStdCDe dS an dp-
pendage to the face is of comparative
recent date IN the United States. Thirty
years ago beard was an exception,
and thirty five years have scarcely
elapsed since the wearer of beard
was either an object of ridicule or sus-
picion. When boy the writer listened
to sermon IN which the smooth faced
preacher descanted on the sin of the
beard, and conclusively proved that
Adam was not endowed with this facial
appendage until after his tall, and that
it constituted the actual thloke behind
which he sought to hide himself from
the sight of his maker.
1t is quite evident it was at least as
difficult for the ancients to keep down
the growth of the beard as it is for the
modern youth to raise one. Before
the invention of the razor, which dates
back less than two centuries, the hair
was kept from accumulating on the face
by rubbing the skin quickly with pumice
stone, which gave it that peculiar polish
and hardness of outline noticeable in
old paintings. BARRIERS are first men
toned in English history about the year
1929, during the reign of Charles 1,
when number were ordered to be
punished by having their "beards shaven
from their faces with sharp knives, and
the hair to be cropped close to their
heads therewith, in addition to having
their ears cut off and tongues bored
with red hct iron, and to be there
after stood in the pillory."
A SUBJECT OF RIDICULE.
About 1885 boards and mustaches
began to make their appearance in this
country on the streets of the cities,
and were everywhere the subject Of
ridicule, so much so that few we're vain
| enough to cultivate them. In 1898
the fad for wearing hair OIL the face
was given a great thrust forward by a
picture of Count D'Orsay, published IN
| F1aSer's Magazine. illustrating how
copiously a chin could be cushioned,
and which, it was conceded reached the
climax of hair arrangement i'll that
quarter.
Still for number OF years later long
| boards were considered disagraceful !;
as masks behind which criminals and
outlaws sought to hide their identity.
As late as 194S the writer remembers
to have seen Jew with long hair and
| beard "bated" on Beaver street, in this
city, by crowd of boys, who chased
him with sticks and stones through the
streets and alleys of what was then one
of the most attractive portions of New
York, and tor no other reason than the
| great mass of hair which concealed his
features. And on this occasion the
sedate business men of that part OF the
city gathered at their doors and cheer
ed the boys with their expressions of
approval.
One or two judges about that time
began to make their appearance on the
bench with whiskers. This the public
took as an offense, and the papers dis
cussed it as matter of prime impor-
tance. "Whiskers," says the Demo-
cratic ReD1e70, care bad enough at the
bar, and even then they are pestilent
accompaniment for counsel. There is
no gentlemanly managing jury with
them. Men are not open to reason OF
pathos that might issue from any part
of a face thus cultivated. They con-
tinually, and for good reason, suspect
those whose talk to them in mask.
But to carry whiskers up to the tribunal
is unbecoming the judge as it is unfor-
tunate for the wool-sack. What would
men have US think2 Do they mean
to enforce decisions by the ferocity o.
their countances1 To make us fear
instead of honor them? Or would
they, wherever they may be, have us
understand that their strength, like his
of old, lies in their hair2"