Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-12-16
MILITARY Aulss.
The MustAehes % British Soldiers
Must Not ee Shaved on.

The war with the Beers Is likely to
prove far more effective than the re-
cent circular OF Lord Wolseley. the
British commander-in-chief, In putting
an end to that practice of shaving the
face clean. which has for some time
past been fashionable, not only in Eng
lish society. but also in the British
Army. For during the campaign
neither officers nor men will have
much opportunity Of INDUCING In such
luxuries as a looking-glass. q razor, q
shaving brush and shaving soap. those
being, l am informed, the impedimenta
which the sterner sex stand In need
of in order to shave their physiogno-
mics. The military authorities strong
~ object to clean-shaven faces as un-
soldier-like, and the recent general
order exacts that no officer nor private
should presume any longer to shave
the upper lip, the hair on which be-
longs, in Official parlance. to the
Queen. This rule was first establish
ed about 40 years ago, shortly after
the Crimean War, and several officers
who declined to obey the regulation.
on the ground that their wives would
not permit them to wear a mustache,
were given the alternative OF letting 1t
grow or OF leaving the army.
In the navy a different rule prevails
There an officer Is not permitted to
wear a mustache, save in conjunction
with a bearded chin. Unless full
beard, closely cropped. however, is
worn, mustaches' are forbidden. and
mere side.whiskers or clean-shaven
face are de rigeuer. believe that the
same rule prevails among the common
sailors of the royal navy. The Prince
Of Wales is, so far as know. the only
officer in the army who wears a full
beard, and General Sir Evelyn Wood,
who wore a beard when out in Egypt.
as well as other Generals on foreign
service, who INDUCED in similar hir-
suite adornments, proceeded to shave
their chins as soon as. ever they re-
turned home.
The English Government is not the
only one that attaches importance to
this question OF boards and mustaches.
It was but the other day that Emperor
William, finding that number OF
naval officers were aping him by wear
ing nothing but mustaches, fiercely
twisted upward, cavalry fashion, Is.
sued a circular forbidding mustaches
to be worn in the navy, except in con-
junction with a beard, and expressing
a preference for mere side whiskers
or clean-shaven faces, pointing out
that cavalry mustaches were insult
able and out of place in the case OF
seamen.
It may not be generally known that
boards are likewise forbidden to the
secular clergy of the Roman Catholic
Church, an exception being, however,
made in favor of those who are en-
gagged in missionary labors in coun-
tries such as China. Africa, &C. The
only Cardinal whom can remember
as bearded was Mgr. Lavigerie, Arch
bishop and Metropolitan of Northern
Africa, while the late Cardinal Mertel
wore side whiskers. He was, how.
ever. not a priest, but merely a tenn
poral member of the Sacred College,
to which he had been promoted by
reason of his services to the papacy as
lawyer. Bishops or prelates OF
European sees, who wish to wear a
beard, are Obliged to obtain permits
sion to do so from the Vatican.--St.
Louis GIobe-D Democrat.