Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-14
Mr.. PROCTOR'S WHISPERS
They Were Lost Somewhere Up Around
West Point.
The Dangerous Innovation Made by
the Vermonter-Was He Haxed
by the Cadets.

A new departure has been made by SEN
ator Redfleld Proctor of Vermont, ex-Secre-
tary of War. Mr.. Proctor was quite un-
known In national politics when IL was an
nounced, during the winter OF 1850. that he
was a possibility for the Harrison cabinet.
He proved to be an actuaiity, and the prints
showed his portraits at once. announcing
him as one OF those typical downeasters
with chin whiskers, but no mustache This
picture was instantly stamped upon the
public mind, and today the name of Proctor
at once summons a mental picture of a
benevolent-lookins man, with full grayish
beard, falling from the lower part Of his
face. So strong was this impression that a
western woman with talent for physiog-
nomy and taste for prognostication-per-
haps mania for advertising-wrote a note
to President Harrison, warning him to be-
ware of his Secretary of War, for il was an
established rule in the philosophy of faces
that man who wore chin whiskers could
not. by any possibility. by any freak of ma
ture's laws, be honest. She inplored the
President 20 demand the military portfolio
from the tall Vermonter with the deep, bass
voice and the keen eye for marble quarries
for she was sore afraid of some national
disaster IL he should remain in the cabinet.
Gen. Harrison ignored this wall of wis
dom and retained his Secretary Of War to
good effect. No one was murdered, no
plots were formed, no public funds were
stolen, no jobs were -un through, as a re-
suit of Mr. ProCtors service at the head
of the War Department So well did he
serve. indeed. that the people OF his state
promoted him TO be a Senator. Yet the un-
pleasant remarks of the Presidents cor
respondent annoyed his sensitive soul and
the Secretary surprised mis- friends I'm NASH
ington on his return from a long western
trip by appearing with his upper lip fully
grown over with hardy mustache. Some
Ii. IL la
he had entered the public arena he had no
right to alter his personal appearance in
any way. and at last he yielded to their
protestations and resumed his OLD habit Of
closely shaving his lip and dcfying fate.
as outlined by the nervous woman. once
more.
Looks Like Evarts.
And now for the latest chapter in the his
tory of Mr.. Proctor's beard. Il is gone
Absolutely gone, Not vestige of that once
luxurious growth now remains. Just wher
and where and why this violence was dons
no one now knows-save perhaps the Senator
himself-but II is known that ne left
Washington last week 10 make the officia
visit to West Point the happy possesso- Of
a beautiful beard and he returned Tucsda,
evening unadorned. His colleagues have
since his return. lost all their former inter
est in the problem of when the tariff bin 1,
| 10 be passed, and have taken turns Ques
| tioning the grave Senator from the iCrth
east as to the details of the operation. A,
Mr.. Proctor sits in the Senate chamber
now he bears striking resemblance Il
| ex-senator William NJ. Evarts. very great,
magnifed- His large nose adds to the illu
| sion. which, however. is speedily dispeilec
when the tall Nermonter rises to his fee
and straightens out his great frame.
1t remains to be seen whether Mr.. Proctor
will persist in his latest style OF wearing his
hair. Should he follow the example of Sen.
/ ator Mitchell of Oregon. who once shaved
or his beard but soon relented. he will lose
little time in coaxing back to view his lux
| uriant chin locks.
| 1t will be remembered, doubtless how ex.
| Vice President Morton fooled the public
| about his beard. When he was nomina ted
| in 1883 the papers simultaneously burst in to
glory of side whiskers rivaling the cele-
b-ated adornments OF Lord Dundreary Sc
the side-whiskered Morton became a fxei
fact in the eye of the people. and ii re-
quired several months of persistent litho.
graphing to convince the voters that Mr.
Morton had shaved.
So. also. in the case OF DR.. Talmadge. who
once boasted of lovely locks flowing from
his cheeks, and who thus was known
throughout the land. When he bade adieU
/ TO his whiskers he became greatly handi.
capped in the race for reputation. for hs
was forced TO begin anew in his work OF
introducing himself to the American audi.
ences.
Senator Proctor has taken a great risk
| but he is probably much cooler than be-
/ fore.