The labor world., 1899-09-23
Y + had looked into the barber shop

had been some one before US con-
tinually. We remarked to DR.. Penrost
that for some months we had been more
and more delayed in barber shops. Eli
ther BARRIERS were slower in their ton
serial manipulations, or they had much
more business than formerly.
The Doctor answered the question al
once by remarlng:
"Why, Mr.. Williams, you ought to un-
derstand that they have more work than
formerly. They probably do not have
many more customers, but they have
more surface to cut hair FROM
'Why, is that Doc .or?' we replied.
"Because," said he. Hundreds of thou
sands of men row shave the entire face
who, a few years ago, grew either a full
beard or more or less beard on the face
dn the shape of nlustache, cnin iwhiskers
Or side w1liskers.
"Well, come to think CT =, Doctor, we
notice 4 great preponderance Of smooth
shaven faces. Hadn't. thought of it be-
fore, but it is a fact that large share of
the male population have absolutely clean
faces
eyes" he replied, land where there is
no hair on the face a two or three days
beard is SO noticeable as to necessitate
shaving in order to keep the face pre-
sentable''
'But, Doctor, what is the reason for
this universal shaving Of faces within the
past year or two?'
Come over this way,' said the Doctor.
''to this photograph stand and I will show
you. Pick OUT he continued, 1.-TWO of
the most distinguished men in this coun-
try today
We singled out Mckinley 1nd Wm J.
Bryan, both having smooth shaven faces.
"Yes'' said he land you might add
Mark Hanna, German, Hoar and a num~
ber of others In fact, a large share of
the male population in Washington city
at the present time shave the face
smooth
faces, Doctor?"
t'Most people are imitarors,' said he.
every few people are original or strong
ly Individual. Louis KossutlSa came to this
country some forty years ago, wearing a
soft felt mat. That introduced that style
of hat into the United States. The craze
became so general for felt hats as to
build up several great soft felt hat fac
tories, while the silk hat business, for a
time was ruined. = 4-izs.
''1'he idea you would convey, Doctor; is
that a few prominent men set the style
and the masses follow"
'tThat is true, Mr.. Williams. The con-
stantly seeing of the pictures of Bryan
and Mckinley in smooth faces has it's ef-
feet on men in general. They almost in
stinctively adopt the style.''
when did the habit OF shaving begin,
Doctor? AL pictures of men in the olden
time represent them in full Boards"
Shaving, as a style, came into vogue
in the seventeenth century. One of the
members of a royal household was I'M
able to grow a beard. His smooth face
exhibited such contrast with the fuli
boards as to excite ridicule. To overcome
the embarrassment resulting from a
beardless face he induced several of the
courtiers around him to shave their faces.
That introduced the fashion of shaving
which, since that time, varies according
as prominent men shave or wear full
Boards"
'What was the fashion in the early his
tory of this country?"
'fShaving was universal. All the pres
idents down to Grants time shaved their
faces smooth. Taylor indulged somewhat
in side whisl1ers, but he was not long
enough prominently before the people to
Influence the fashion. Grant made a
-i,,1S Of
the United States. He almost killed the
barber business by wearing full beard;
but the BARRIERS that were compelled to
quit their shops saved themselves by go
ing into the cigar business. Grant was a
great smoker, and the tobacco and cigar
trade owe their great success, in the past
few years, to the fashion Of smoking set
by Grant,
But Grant died form smoking, Doctor
CO habit
Eyes, we'll, it injured the business
somewhat, but the fact that most of his
successors in the presidents chair have
been smokers, coupled with the fondness
for smoking. after the habit is acquired
pretty we'll a-going.'
"How did the barber business flourish
after Grant died?'
1T continued hard. Gran. was idolized
even in his death, and full boards con-
tinued in fashion. Hayes came in with 8
full beard. Garfield and Harrison fol
lowed. with unshaven faces, while the
BARRIERS stuck to their cigar business
Cleveland, however brought them bacl
to their chairs in his last administration
smooth faces again becoming the fashion
excepting the mustache. Latterly tht
n,ustaGhe is coming off and men Of full
figure are complimented by people saying
You look SO much like Mckinney whil'
the raw-boned democrat is happy in hi
smooth face to be told You now look hk'
Bryan"
What is to be the future of the beard
Doctor?'
THAT depends entirely upon the habi
of the man who is elected president o
the United States. If BARRIERS understand
which side their bread is buttered on the.
will sustain the smooth faced candidate
Ii looks now as if the BARRIERS would b
all right. If Mckinley is reelected, al
right and if Bryan is elected. it will b.
all right SO far as barbering is concern
ed"