Chicago eagle., 1898-03-05
rHn CHICAGO MAaLH.
THE ETHICS OF WHISPERS.
Character Indicated by the Beard
American Libera1ity.

NuuTuCueT IuO1C0veO Nv Vuc bc0fu-
American Libera1ity.
The question of boards has always
been one I'm which men have taken the
greatest interest. by turns 1t has been
popular or unpopular for men to adOrn
their faces with hair, but a greater sig.
nificance las always attached to 1t than
to the mere changing of any other fash.
Ions. In ancient times beard was
mark of honor and dignity. In Oriental
countries IL Is still regarded with rev.
erencc, and to pluck man by his beard
Is the deadliest of insults. The willy
Turk who sells the American.made
Turkish rug of commerce always
swears by his beard and the beard of
his prophet when he makes an affi.
davit to Its being genuine oriental
prayer mat. He Is talking through his
whlskers and Is not to be believed.
After the period when every man was
bearded like a pard there came a time
when any hair on mans face was con.
sl,iered rowdyish, and n mustache indi-
Gated a dashing soldier, just as chrys.
nnthemum hair labels the football en-.
thusiast. With characteristic liberal.
ity, 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 80
many varieties Of architecture In wills.
kers be seen. In Kansas good wind.
proof set of wliskers Is considered ono
Of the prime qualifications for a pOlit.
ical candidate. In many rural com.
munitics beard Is still worn as sat.
isfactOry substitute for 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 hair
line. Others who incline to the Charles
Dana Gibson school of looks are cleanly
shaved and wear tired and far-away
look. There are still other men who.
nppreciatlng how little opportunity
their sex have for adOrnlng themselves,
give variety to what would often be an
expresslOnless cOuntenance by wear.
Ing their boards In queer little patches.
which suggests that they have had
their faces laid out by landscape gar.
dencr.
1t is the Importance Of the beard that
makes u lawsuit recently tried In New
Jersey Of general interest to all men. "A
respectable citizen Of that State. the
happy pOsscssOr of beard to which he
was tcndcrly attached, undertook n
short railway journey. Upon the trip
he was set upon by u gang OF rOughs
who cruelty mlsused him, and especial.
~ vented their fiendish mallgnity upon
his beard. which they tore out and dis.
figured. making It totally useless and
valueless rs means Of adOrnment
The man brought suit against the rail.
road company. putting the injuries to
his beard ut the modest sum Of 5000
sum entirely Inadequate to pay for the
time and labor and rhOught he had be.
/ slowed upon It, rs every boy who has
ever gone through the tribulatiOn Of
raising his first mustaclie will agree.
The railroad set up the plea that they
were rot engaged In the business Of
| carrying whlskers; that the complain
ant could produce no bill Of ladlng ia
show that their company received the
beard In good order and condition. and
finally that they were not responsible
for any baggage over the value Of 800
The case was tried by a jury Of six
clean.shaven men and six bearded ones.
aud they finally decided In favor OF the
heartless corporation. This will doubt.
less constitute u precedent, AMI II Il
just as well for men to Ike warned In
time that when they travel they take
their boards In their hands.-New Or.
leans Plcayunc.