The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-02-27
LONG-HAIRED DUDES.
An Fra of Them Predicted as Already {
Its Way Hither.

An Era OF Them Predicted as Already on
Its Way Hither.
The newest fad among the young
men in New York is to let their hair
grow long. 1t seems that in a certain
set in London there has arisen sud-
den rage for those lengthy locks which
not great while back were looked
upon as effeminate and ridiculous.
A club man standing in the window
OF his favorite club house the other
day, and tartly commenting on the
passers-by, noticed one of these
smooth-faced, abundant locked young
fellows. and began to examine the
question in the leisurely, minute man.
ner that only club loungers have time
to bestow upon trihes. Said he: "See
that thing out there, with bang all
over his head! l didn't know that had
gotten to this side. It's the first one
OF the sort I've seen here. Over in
England last spring saw a lot of them.
They are the signal of new ideal
among the young men-those long
locked fellows are. When Twas young
the military type was what we all pat
termed after. Hair cropped close, big
mustache. square shoulders, and all
that sort of thing. Later the
Prince of Wales set a new model,
which had less OF the military
air and more the type of the society
man about it. The hair was still short,
but the martial mustaches dropped
their points, and a Vandyke beard was
added. 1t was very unpicturesque
type, and was better suited to the mid
dle-aged men like the Prince than the
young fellows who, nevertheless, en-
deavored to conform it. They weren't
satisfied, though, and when l was on
the other side, few months back, I
saw the enormous influence Of the
stage, which seems to be paramount
just now, was appearing even in this.
Both the beard and mustache had dis
appeared, and most of the young swells
had faces as free of hair as a girls.
They claimed that man looked moro
distinguished with clean face, and
don't know but there is some truth in
the claim. l never had any thing but
annoyance from the big mustache /
wear. and think nature tripped up
when she gave man hair on his face
anyhow; it isn't of the slightest use,
and it's an awful lot of trouble. Well,
but, as | was saying. the real reason OF
the young fellows clean shave was the
influence of such men as Irving, Wilson
Barrett, and the young beauty men on
the stage, who, by the nature of their
profession, and often much against
their will, are obliged to keep their
faces clean-shaved. 1t is curious fact
that when a man takes all the hair of
his face it Immediately becomes neces-
sary he should let it grow on his head.
il he still keeps his head cropped he
gets prison convict, a picked chicken
kind of air that is eminently unbecom.
ing. II you will notice our ancestors
OF the past generation, who used to
consider hair on the face an unforgiv-
able vulgarity. wore their hair not less
than two inches long. You'll see it in
all the portraits of judges and Sena.
tors of that day. And, indeed, If you
will look over any book of costumes
you will find that in every period
smooth face and long hair, mustaches
and close crop, have always gone to.
gether. So as result of this shaving
of countenances the locks began ia
sprout again, and now here's speci.
men of the fashion among our own
gilded youths. Kyrle Bellew has
helped on the style. Henry Irving be.
gan it. OF course there will always be
a lot of red-faced or turnip-nosed or
stocky young fellows who will always
fight shy of a fashion such to be un.
becoming to them, and of course old
fogies like myself will stick to our old
ways, but predict an era, and long
one, of smooth faces and plentiful
hair. "-Brooklyn Eagle.