The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-11-26
THE WEARING OF Boards.

Edward 0. Leigh, writing to the Padu-
cab Standard from Frankfort, has the fol-
lowing reflections upon the wearing of
boards:
l have often wondered what caused the
change in fashion whereby Americans of
later years allowed boards to grow on
their faces. The pioneers who distin-
guished themselves sufficiently to hand
down their pictures to succeeding gener-
atiOns, almost without exception, had
cleanly shaver faces and flowing locks.
Abraham Lincoln was the first President
who wore a beard, and l believe Gov.
Powell was the first Executive of Ken
lucky to be so marked. The busts of CLAY
and Jackson and the oil portrait of Isaac
Shelby, which beam down upon me as I
write, show clearly the lineaments of the
face without the mark of beard. OF the
many faces preserved Of men famous in
Kentucky history, in the earlier books, in
portraits in different parts of the capital
or craven on the tOmbstones in the GENE
tery,-of Boone, Clark, Shelby, Kenton
and Stewart, the explorers; of Humphrey
Marshall and Butler, the historians; of
Prentice and Penn and Bradford, the edi-
tors,-all alike show the absence of that
hirsute adornment which is the pride of
the men Of the present day, through
which the wind is popularity supposed to
continuously blow in mournful cadence.
Even John G. Breckenridge, whose luxu-
riOus mOustache makes his picture easily
distinguishable among a thousand, ap-
pears in earlier pictures devoid of this
adornment.
l remember to have asked my father
when was a child what caused the
change Of fashion, and he replied that ct
was in his younger days the mark of a
gambler to wear beard;" but this answer
did not satisfy me, nor have 1 ever been
able to get what l deemed a sufficient
reason. Gov. Knott told me few DAYS
ago that the wearing of a beard first be-
came prevalent in Kentucky Just after
the Mexican war. The young Kentuck-
ians who went out to serve their country
in that brief but eventful war, deserving
the customs Of their fathers, came back
with boards on their faces, made more
luxuriant by the years growth in the
land OF the Montezumas Being the flow
er Of the State, it was little wonder that
the younger men should begin to ape
their youthful cavaliers, until there grew
up race of bearded men.
Whether there be other reasons for this
/ am not prepared to say, and if there are
any OF the Standards readers consumed
with a desire to find out more on this
subject, they may look for it like l did
1t is in the Valley of Tennessee. a
name synonymous with the 'rich plant
ers before the war;" that the greatest
developments in the new South are ap-
parent. Dayton, a city of 5000. sur
rounded by an inexhaustible supply of
coal, iron and timber, is the 'Gem CITY
OF the Valley" and offers unparalleled
opportunities TO Northerd men, money
and brains. Two furnaces are now.in
full blast and behind in orders" Among
the other industries now in operation
are two -four mills, pump works, planning
mill and brick works, with cast iron pipe
works, a stove foundry and huge roll
ing mill under way. A strong northern
syndicate has been formed to promote
the interests Of Dayton, and under their
auspices a grand public auction sale of
lots viii occur at Dayton Dec 8, and 5.
To accommodate those desiring to at
tend the sale, the Cincinnati, Hamilton
& Dayton R. r. viii sell excursion tick
cts at one fare for the round trip from
all points on the line on Dec. and 3.
For rates and further information call on
or address any c. H. & D. Agent, or E.
o. Mccormick, General Passenger
Agent, Cincinnati. Send for hand
some album Of Dayton. Ample accom-
modations ut the hotels tor all.