The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-21
ETHICS OF WHISPERS.
American Liberality on Beard Ones
tion-A New Jersey Lawsuit.

The question of boards has always been one
in which men have taken the greatest inter-
est. BY turns il has been popular or unpopu-
lar for men to adorn their faces with hair, but
a greater significance mas always attached to
il than TO the mere changing OF any other
fashions. In ancient times beard was mark
of honor and dignity. In Oriental countries
1t y still regarded with reverence, and TO
pluck man by his beard is the deadliest or
insults The willy Turk who sells the Ameri
can made Turkish rug OF commerce always
swears by his beard and the beard of his
prophet when he makes an affidavit TO its
being genuine Oriental prayer mat. He Is
talking through his whisxers and is not to be
believed. After tlH period when every man
was bearded like n pard there came time
when any hair on a mans face vas consider
ed rowdy ism, and "A mustache indicated a dash
ing soldier, just rs chrysanthemum hair labels
the football enthusiast. With characteristic
liberality, America has always conceded to
every man the right TO wear beard or not,
as he pleased, and the result has been that in
no other country can so many varieties OF
architecture in whiskers be seen. In Kansas
good wind.proof set Of whiskers is con-
sidered one Of the prime qualifications for
political candidate In many rural commun
tiles beard il still worn ~ satisfactory
substitute for n necktie Among swell young
men there is a great variety of opinion in
regard TO the subject. Those who desire TO
look French and wicked wear sharply
pointed beard trimmed down TO "a hair line
Others who incline 10 the Charles Dana Glib
son school OF looks are cleanly shaved and
wear n tired and far-away look. There are
still other mon who, appreciating how little
opuortunity their sex have for adorning
themseiv give variety 10 what would often
be an expressionless countcnance by wearing
their boards i'm queer little patches, which sug
gests that they have hal their faces laid out
by a landscape gardener.
IL Is the Importance of the beard that makes
a lawsuit recently tried In New Jersey Of
general interest 60 all men. A respectable
citizen of that state, the happy possessor of
beard 10 which he was tsnderly attached,
undertook "A short railway journey. Upon
the trip no was set upon by gang OF roughs
who cruelty misused him. and especially
vented their hondish maligni,y upon his
beard, which they tore out and distgured,
making u totally useless and -valueless n
means 90 adurnment. The man brought suit
against the railroad company, putting the in
juricS 60 his beard AT the modest SUN ~ $2O)-
u sum entirely inadequate 60 pay FOR the time
and labor and thought ho had bestowed upon
~. a. every boy who has ever gone through
the tribulatiuns OF raising his brst mustsche
will agree. Gho railroad set ny the plea that
they were not engaged in the business of
carrying whisSers; that the coinIlsinant
could produce no bill ~ lahing 10 show that
their company received the beard IN good
order and condition, and finally that they
were not responsible for any hfgeagc over
the value Of siO0. The ease was tried Nv n
jury o. siS clean shaven men and sir bearded