The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-22
MEN AND THEIR Boards.
IN ANCIENT ROME MEN WORE THEN
LONG.

Sc2pto AAEicanus ShbNcu, anu IhHt
Set the Fashion for the Romans
The Beard Formerly a Badge of
Liberty in Frnnce-IHOw Boards
Have Been Regulated by statute.
The French WhisISer.
From the Philadelphia Times
In ancient Rome before the days of
Caesar and the smooth-faced race, the
men originally wore long boards. A beard
ed man meant one Venerable for his age
and wisdom. Scipio Africanus was the
first among the Romans who ventured
upon the bold experiment of shaving.
The novelty pleased the multitude, and
smooth chins became the fashion. Ser
wants and slaves were forbidden to shave
themselves. Thus the beard, once the
mark of honor, became degraded into a
badge of servitude. The beard was not
redeemed until the time of the Emperor
Adrian. His chin was disfigured by nat
ural scarcs, and he was content to allow
his beard to grow. Thus his example
again brought the beard into fashion
among the Romans.
Like the Romans the ancient Germans
wore long boards. The Lombards, or
longobards. are supposed to have derived
their name from the peculiar length of
their boards. The Emperor Ohio pos
sessed a famous long one, by which he
used to swear upon all solemn occasions.
Thus arose the saying, By my beard"
In France the beard was formerly es-
teemed a badge of liberty. The monks
and friars who despise the vanities of the
world took it into their heads to shave
their boards A bishop of the church be-
ing extremely offended with the laity for
not following so good an example, began
to preach against boards in the pulpit,
and by degrees worked himself up into so
high state of opposition, that he excom-
municated all those of his diocese VINO
would not consent to be shaved The
bigOts, in consequence of this procedure,
soon permitted their boards TO be trimmed;
but the more worldly minded, accustomed
to join the idea of privilege to that of their
boards, ccnceiving their liberties and their
proper at stake, went to loggerheads
like II patriots, and had their brain
beat out in defense of the hairs on their
chins. The commotiOn at last grew so
general and so much danger was threat
ened by 1t, that Louis VII found himself
under the necessity of taking part with
the clergy, and to have his own beard
taken off and to bring smooth chins into
fashion in order to overcome popular
prejudice.
In 1886, Francis Oliver was not permit
ted to enter Parliament until be engaged
to cut off his long beard. Francis |
happening to amuse himself with his
courtiers one day, was accidentally
struck on the chin with a fragment of
tile which had been taken up with snow
ball AS the wounded part could not be
shaved he let his beard grow, and thus
boards came again into fashion from a
cause exactly similar TO that which re-
stored them among the Romans during the
reign of Adrian.
When Louis XIII succeeded Henry vi at
the age of years, the courtiers because
that they should have none themselves,
and every wrinkled face appeared as
was the only courtier who was hardy
enough to appear in royal. presence with
his beard in the form of the preceding
reign. The young courtiers laughed at the
duke nettled at the affront put on his fine
beard remarked to the king:
Sire. when your father, of glorious
memory, did me the honor to consult me
on his great and important affairs, the
first thing he did was to send away all the
buffoons and stage dancers of his court"
In the time of Queen Eliza beth the
growth of boards was regulated by a
statue at Lincoln's inn, when ut was or
dered that no fellow Of that house should
wear a beard of above a fortnight's
growth" Transgression was punished
with fires and explosions, but fashion pre-
vailed and in the following year all pre-
vious orders respecting boards were re-
pealed. Much displeasure was caused
when Peter the Great laid a tax upon
Boards He ordained that noblemen, gen.
tlemen, tradesmen and artisans (priests
and peasants excepted should pay a hun
dred roubles to be able to retain their
boards; that the lower classes should nav
one cooeck for the same liberty and he
established clerks at different gates at
the cities to collect these duties The or
der disturbed the whole empire of Russia.
Religion, manners and fashion were
thought in danger. Complaints were
heard upon all sides, and the populace
even went so far as to write libeis against
the sovereign. However, the decree
against boards was rigidly inforced and
the most unlawful violence was publicly
committed. Many persons. to avoid more
cruel extremities, obeyed the oFder with
reluctant signs. Some of them carefully
preserved the sad trimmings of their chins.
and in order never to be separated from
their favorite locks, ordered that they
should be placed with them ia their collins
The Rev. John Moore, worthy cler-
gyman of Norwich in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, is said to have had the longest
and largest beard of any Englishman
of his time He used to give as a reason
for it that no act of his life might be
unworthy of his appearances"
The Bishop of Clermont, who built the
college of the Jesuits in Paris. was re-
markable for the fineness Of his beard
1t was indeed deemed too good a beard
for a bishop, and the canons of his ca
thedral in full chapter assembled came to
the barbarous resolution of shaving him.
Accordingly when he came to the choir
the DEAN the prevot and the chanfre APP
preached him with scissors and razors.
soap. basin and warm water. At the sight
of these implements the bishop took to