The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-11
THE LATEST In Boards.
Fashion Docrees Against tho Point
ed Style.
An Authority Gives Some Historical Points
on tho Subject - The Squareiy-
Trimmed Heard Return
Ing to Favor.

1t has boon dccrced by tho artistic
BARRIERS of Paris that tho pointed beard,
which has for SO long time held
popular favor. is no longer tho thing OF
fashion that il was. As has hanpcncd
before in the history of the world. says
tho Now York sun, it is to be suppant-
cd by another beard having many OF its
characteristics, but still different in it's
entirety. NJ. Henri Pouiol, lutc Of tho
Paris Jockey Club, and tho greatest of
American BARRIERS. gives this reason for
the change:
"Thc pointed beard" he said, has
certain advantages over all others, and
that is the reason why it has SO long
boon popular. 1t is style OF beard
that was invented by King Henry III.
OF Franco. 1t requires less training and
care than any other, and. therefore, in
this busy country, where mon do not
caro- to waste moro time than is ncces-
sary in attending to their personal ap-
pearancc, it has naturally been widely
adopted. But because of its popularity
it must now go. The gentleman of fash
ion refuses longer to wear beard which
has become so common that cvory dry
goods clerk wears it. That is the reason
why it has hcen discarded by the high
toned gentlemen of Paris. They found
that everybody was wearing IT,: that 1t
had become too popular. They said:
This will not do. We must have somo-
thing moro exclusive Tho cry is re-
echoed in this country. and the begin
ming of tho end has come. Tho now
beard resembles the ono now about to
he discarded in some respects. 1t is
like pointed beard with the point cut
off. 1t is very thin and closely cut on
tho checks.
ut is peculiar fact that the adoption
of this style after discariing the other
is but repetition of history. After
Henry II. had mado tho pointed beard
80 fashionable, the Due de Guiso intro
duccd the present beard. Tho Duo dc
Guisc, as You will remember, was tho
instigator of tho IIugucnot massacre on
st. Bartholomew day. IIo lived in tho
sixteenth century, and was assassinatcd
in his forty-third year by order of Henry
III. Tho now beard is not likely to DO
so universally adopted us tho other was,
because it requires more caro- and at
tcntion"
There is another reason for tho popu-
larity Of tho pointed beard which Mr.
Poujol did not refer to. That is, tho
fact that 1t assists the busy man in re-
Election. Unlike any other beard,
this one can be seized at its apcx and
twisted and pulled and fondlcd without
in tho slightest degree Interfering with
its good appearance. It's no uncommon
thing 10 sec man with n pointed beard
twisting tho point or it with satisfied
air while lost in reflection.
Many prominent citizens who wear n
pointed beard have not vet, apparently
learned the decree that has doomed
it. They still go on wearing it
rs though the mandate of fashion
was not tho terrible thing that every
body realizes tito be. They will undoubt-
edly all como around. however, to tho
conclusion that it is better To be in style
than to DO happy. In the meantime tho
fortunate gentlemen who are in tho van
guard of tho fashion arc undoubtedly
rejoicing over that fact.
The square beard which is divided in
Che conter continues to hold favor with
those gentlemen who do not feel that
their faces will permit their wearing
any other. Their action is highly APP
plauded by Nj. Poujol, who lays down
the fundamental principle that III grow
ing heard one must not go against
nature. II the latter insists upon hay
ing the hair grow in certain directions,
1T is merely tho part Of folly to attempt
TO turn them any other way. But thc
fortunate man who can train his beard
III the way in which he wishes it TO go
is not bound by any such restrictions.
He can always follow the style.