The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-21

patent In the matter Of foliage; and then
he took his good axe Of flint and began
to chop and clear away. Vistas and
aisles were opened. The original jungle
was no more. Separate trees with their
foliage stood out from what had been
cluttered and indiscriminate mass. ms
was the origin of side whiskers. They
do not represent cascades or cataracts
or patches of moss or lichens, as some
fantastic theorists have imagined. They
are an imitation by man of the improved
forest, just as the original forest was an
imitation of the foliage of man.
We should love to trace the story
of side whiskers from the greenwood
glades to modern times, to linger over the
days when they were the badge Of re-
spectability just as the mustache was
the ensign of the navy of maritime Bo-
hemia. Into such details we may not
enter. Are side whiskers consonant with
true greatness that is the question.
And here question on questions head
accumulates. What is real 'or" true
greatness? question not to be an
swered satisfactorily until some standard
is provided or Government Bureau OF
True Greatness is established. There was
time when Mr. LoNGFELLow, whom we
remember as bard with antique beard,
was adorned as to either cheek with
side whsker, Of sandy, not to
say rufous, temperament. Prof. OSCAR
LOWELL TRIGGs and other wise young
judges are sure that Mr.. LoNGFEL-
Low was not truly great; and 30 the
case falls. If we Gull and examine con-
crete instances, the fog Of uncertainty
would choke us almost every time. The
only indisputable e1emplars of great
ness true beyond denial are certain for
mer Commanders of the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company. Strictly
speaking, however, their side whiskers
wore them.
As to the effect of true rhythmical side
whskers upon the mind or OF the mind
upon them. what can be said? 1t is
enough distinction to produce a set Of
illustrious side whiskers. The man who
has done that has done something,
shown his opus to the world, worn his
heart upon his face. As there are no two
faces alike, so no two sets Of magnificent
side whiskers are alike. Each set is a
creation, a separate work of genius, a
flower incomparable; and we pity the
man who pretends to admire sunset or
the gloomy forest deeps and yet turns
up his nose at a pair Of Gothic tracery
or early-pointed or old Flemish tapestry
side whiskers A man can do no more
than his best; and the man who has
walked blamelesslv through life, cherish
ing single purpose, his eye wide open to
one conception, diligently adding to his
side whiskers year by year, has played
his part truly and deserves applause.
Where is the line to be drawn between
temperate, moderate or Puritanical side
whiskers and the genuine, full, flowing,
voluptuous sort described by our CORE
spondent? 1t is our impression that the
side-pieces of Mr., HERBERT SPENCER are
only kept by constant pruning from pass
ing into the famboyant or ford order.
Let lis drive dogmatism far from us and
not believe that side whiskers necessarily
sap the intellect In some or in many
cases they may be by-products of it.
Doubtless many a man has been kept
from idleness or crime by having such
glorious object in life as the cultivation of
pair of" siders." Do you blame the stag
for his antlers? Why should the women
have all or most of the stock of beauty?
One word more and we have done. A
sociologist of eminence assures us that
all successful men may be detected in
their infancy by mark. They are born
with little white side whiskers. These
fade away, but the presage is always
fulfilled.