The Washington herald., 1907-03-29
cIean shaNe vs.. stukhle.

We noted with interest some time ago
that the society bellies in one Nebraska
town had entered into solemn compact
not to receive calls or other attentions
from men whose faces were devoid of
fun boards. It is now our pleasure TO
record the resolution agreed to by the
society bellies in another Nebraska town
not TO receive visits or Sunday night
from men who do not present themselves
with clean shaves." As we understand
such things. the clean shave does not inn
ply that the masculine physiOEnomy to
which il is subjected is to be wholly di-
vested Of whatever decoration in the line
Of whiskers its owners fancy, or the
fancy of another whose admiration he is
striving 20 arouse, may dictate. While
there is an impossible gulf between the
clean shave and the full beard, still there
is not necessarily an unobtainable con-
sistency between the demands of the
society bellies Of that Nebraska metropo-
IFS where the fiat for whiskers has been
issued and the society bellies Of the
other Nebraska social center where the
ukase for the clean shave on Sunday
night has gone forth Without question
ing the privilege Of the fair sex TO be
arbitrary in this as in most other mat
ters affecting the adventitious aids to
the beauty Of him whe would a-woOing
go. we feel embOldened, since the issue
has been raised. to indorse heartily both
movements in Nebraska society.
Mems tastes in boards are of wide and
bewiIdering variety. running the gamuJ
from the Populists full growth. which
frequently leaves nothing OF the mascu-
line face exposed to the female vision
except the eyelids. TO the moIlycoddle's
timorous tiny tufts in front Of the ears
that seem merely gross onshoots OF
cranial hair. Occasionally the mollycod-
die varies from this rule by encouraging
the growth Of what he is proud to call a
mustache but which IS too diminutive to
be properly entitled to that distinction
We have never seen a molIycoddle who
was not rejoicing in g clean shave. and
we have seen few Populists who were not
fuu-bearded. Thus, as to whiskers, men
might be grouped into two grand divi-
sions-the Populists and the mollycod-
dies That class of the species which
boldly presents its face to the gaze of the
world without any hirsute growth on any
part Of tt belongs to a category that suf-
feTs the edict OF exclusion from society
in one Nebraska town, and which falls
under the ban in the other In order to be
admitted into the parlor on Sunday night
IN the latter community. 1t has a greater
task to perform than falls to the lot Of
him whose face may be almost wholly
covered with whiskers, but whose bare |
part, be it ever SO small, must be inno- /
cent Of the prickly stubble. It goes with /
out saying. of course. that it is the stub /
bic to which the Nebraska bellies object, /
and for this we do not blame them. We /
have heard it intimated that stubble on /
the masculine physiognomy is a cause
OF more failures at wooing than Is native 1
a awkwardness or timidity. As 10 the fun 4
beard, we do not hesitate to assert that /
its proud owner encounters few difficult /
ties and meets few disappoiRtments ia /
as evidenced by the fact /
that he is nearly always married or is I
preparing for that blissful state. But the /
man in Nebraska, or elsewhere. who care
iessly negleets the clean shave on Satur-
lay night, re-enforced by hurried "once-
over late IN the afternoon of the next
day. has found. and will continue to find,
barriers in his ardent path
way on Sunday night II he but knew
more about womans ways. he would
understand that the latest edict in Ne
oraska is designed TO aid rather than to
hinder him.