Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-04
THE HISTORY OF Boards.
CHANGES AND FASHIONS IN THE
HIRsUTE APPENDAGE.
Sometimes Regarded as a s-ark of
seryitude, and at Other Times as
a BADGE of Liberty

tory. AT one time they were considered
a distinctive badge of old age and wis
dom, none but those OF advanced age
and philosophers being permitted to
wear them. Afterward they came to be
looked upon as one Of the requisites Of
manly beauty. Then both old and
young wed with each other in cultivat-i
ing luxurious specimens. The inhabit-
ants of what is now called Germany wore
long boards, as did also the Lombards, or
Largobards, OF Italy, from which circum-
stance they took their name. 0tha's
beard was famed for its length, and his
most solemn oaths were taken upon it.
scipio Africans. one Of the most
famous OF the warriors of ancient Rome,
who seemed to care little for the fats OF
fashion, ventured the bold experiment of
shaving off his beard. His example was
Immediately followed by all of his couu-
trymen. Slaves and servants alone were
commanded, under pain of severe pun
ishment, to wear boards, and thus the
adjournment deccnded from the high rank
Of being a badge OF honor and became
the distinctive feature Of the lowest
menials. It vas not until the accession
of Hadrlan that it was restored to its
original post of honor, and the slave
again became known by its absence from
their faces. This Emperors reason for
restricting the old fashion was that in
order to cover up some very disiguring
scars on his chin it was absolutely neces-
sary for him to cultivate the growth OF a
beard.
Prior to the time of Alexander the
Great, the Greeks wore full boards, bur
that monarch required his soldiers TO
shave So that their enemies could not
grasp them by that appendage during
battle, very ordinary proceeding in
those days in hand-to-hand conflict.
In the early days of France beard
was considered badge of liberty, and
great care was bestowed upon it, the
possessor of long curly beard being
looked upon with envy by his lessfavored
brethren. The pious monks and friars
regarded this as a mark of friyolity and
shaved off their boards. The Bishop of
Rouen, espousing their cause, hurled in
vectives from the pulpit at the custom
OF wearing them. He so impressed hun
dreds of the religious minded that they
Immediately followed the priestly OK
ample. Many, however failed to do SO,
aud, as consequence, there existed III
numerous localities two factions-the
smooth faced and the beardcd-and many
bloody meetings occurred between them.
In fact, these conflicts became so general
and sanguinary that Louis VII, in order
to bring about peace, removed his beard,
and thus for a time settled the vexed
question, hTo shave Or not to shave"
This marked another period in the
downfall of the beard, and it quickly
came into disrepute. Persons elected to
the office of magistrate, or who desired
to become members of Parliament, were
not allowed to assume their positions I'M
less their chins were clean sha7en. Thus
it was that many beard, but short
time before the pride of its wearer, fell
before the ruthless edict of fashion. In
the case Of petty magistrates, however,
an exception was made and they were al
lowed to retain this facial ornament.
1t was not until 100 years later that it
again become fashionable, and for the
self-same reason as that which caused Its
restoration in the days OF Tiadrian.
Francis l. received disfiguring cut on
his chin which precluded shaving, and
to conceal the scar he was compelled to
allow his beard to grow.
Louis XIII. became King at the age
Of nine, and, as matter Of course, was
beardiess. His willy courtiers, desiring
TO show tneir allegiance and respect, i'm
mediately scraped their chins and again
the beard was relegated to obscurity.
They did not, however, sacrifice all Of
this hilsutc a1ornnent, but grew mus.
taches and a small tuft of hair under the
lower lip. This was also done when
Philip V. assembled the Spanish throne.
The carly history Of tbs rise and fall
of the beard in England is somewhat
similar to that aleady detailed, and dur
ing the reign of Queen Elizabeth long
boards were interdicted by statute. Those
who had the temerity to wear one OIL
"above fortnight's growth" were fined
and lost many of their privileges. This
state of affairs lasted one year; then
fashion proved triumphant, and the
odious law was repealed.
Peter the Great rendered himself very
unpopular by levy tax on boards, re
curing any nobleman, gentleman, trades
man Or artisan wearing one to pay 10C
roublcs for the luxury. If any member
of the lower classes affected one he wa:
taxed one copeck and compelled to pay
it to a regularly appointed collector.
Upon refusal or derelictlon the beard
was summarily removed by public bar.
Der, who often performed the operation
with duh razor in the public street,
surrounded by a throng of indignant
friends of the victim. Many of those
who could not afford to pay for tht
maintenance of such an expensive APP
pendage, reluctantly parted with it, and
in numerous instances preserved tht
severed beard with the greatest care, di
rccting that it should be placed in theil
collins at the tire Of their decease. Thi:
custom was also observed by the Jew.
of the oldea time.
Among the Turks, Persians, Arabs ana
Mohammedans the removal of the beard
always was and is still looked upon as
mark of degradation. In ancient EgypI
the men were smooth-faced except il
time of mourning, when they allowed
their boards to grow,as distinctive sign
of grief.
The orthodox Jews Of the present day
still cling to tine mourning customs Of
their forefathers, and for thirty day;
neither Trim nor cut their boards.
In America, no edict has ever been is
sncd either for or against boards, it be
ing left to the individual taste whether
or not to cultivate this adornment. The
great majority Of men who became prom.
inently identified with the early history
of America were smooth-s haven, but al
present time the fashion among oul
statesmen and other noted personages i,
to cultivate, if possible, luxuriant mus
taches or boards. Detroit Free Press.