The sun., 1913-11-02

United States and, indeed,
throughout the greater part OF
the civilized world. To such an extent
has the custom grown Of wearing no
hair whatever on the face that those
who appear with either mustache or
beard are largely in the minority. The
reason usually given for clean shaving
is that it is more sanitary, but in the
majority Of cases the object perhaps Is
q desire to appear more attractive.
Unfortunately there are no data at
hand to prove that Adam did or did not
wear a beard or mustachc So that
he might appear the more attractive to
Eve. but further along in history there
Is plenty Of evidence to establish the
fact that in very early Biblical days
men at one period wore heavy boards
and mustaches or short boards and
some hair on the upper lip, while some
years later they or their immediate de-
scendants appeared with faces entirely
devoid Of hair. there being cycles in
which first one and then the other
fashion prevailed.
a
taches were worn by hundreds Of thou
sands Of men in New York and in other
cities throughout the United States To-
day many of the same men give visible
proof of their preference to be smooth
shaven.
The extent to which the latter GUS
tom prevails at present is nowhere more
noticeable than when large crowds as
semble in New York, noticeably in the
case Of the thousands Of men gathered
in front of THE SvN office for the
purpose Of watching the baseball scores.
The "sea Of upturned faces" makes 1t
easy to note how few of the spectators
wear hair on their faces.
Another illustration of the same thing
is found in the case Of members OF the
Police and Fire departments. Commits
sioner Of Police Waldo sets an example
TO his men in this respect. On the
other hand, Chief Kenlon Of the Fire
Department wears mustache.
In the case Of the Police Department
It is chiefly the old timers who cling to
the custom Of wearing hair on chin, lip
or cheeks. There have been many SUI
perintendents Of police who wore
boards, among them Supt. Walling
whose growth of whiskers set the fash
ION for many other policemen OF his
day Until a few years ago heavy
mustache. often dyed a deep black. was
as characteristic Of the average police
man as were his thick soled shoes and
staggering air To-day the number OF
men In the Police Department who wear
boards Is very small.
With the passing Of old methods In
the Police Department has gone the
beard or mustache wearing custom. The
coming Of new ideas Of discipline and
administration and a greater regard for
smartness Of appearance Of policemen
Of all grades have brought about
changes in facial adornment as we'll as
other matters. There are no more po-
dcemen to be seen Of the big mus
tache" type. The "cop" who made this
particular type famous was long men,
ber Of the Broadway squad, and when
the traffic squad was formed to take its
place ne had an important post at one
Of the principal Broadway crossings.
This mans mustache was so long
that 1t was often swept over his shoul-
ders when the wind was In the right di-
rection. while when the air was calm
and the rush Of traffic allowed him
leisure he proudly and fondly caressed
his remarkable hirsute growth to the
quiet amusement of those New Workers
who knew this mans idiosyncrasy.
"Big Mustache" was honorably retired
several years ago. The young giant Of
the traffic squad who now holds sway
At the street crossing where "Bg Mus
tache" once stood Is as clean shaven as
It Is possible for a razor to make his
face. Like thousands Of other young
men who have become members OF the
Police Department in recent years he
stands as a forcibe illustration Of the
shave all over custom.
Among business and professional men
also smooth shaven faces are the rule,
although among professional men the
tendency TO wear either IA short beard
or a mustache still prevails to an ex-
tent. perhaps ewing to the belief, held
principally by physicians, that a short
beard or imperial gives greater dignity
to the appearance. In hospitals hair
on the face OF a surgeon or a physician
II regarded as u,sanitary and not In
accord with modern ideas. Working
men as we'll as those who belong to the
professions or are engaged in business