Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-07-30
HE RAISED A BEARD
Entailed Much Suffering, but Mr.
Dolby Triumphed.
That unkind World Endeavored to
Turn Him From His Purpose
Awaited NothIne-Now He 10
Proud Of Achievement.

vi all n evil lays OF his life. Mr..
Dolby will probably have the most
vivid remembrance OF the day when
he decided to grow a beard.
Il won't shave again." said Mr..
Dolby to himself. Il wonder how a
full beard will look7-
At dinner Dolby told his wife that
he was going to let a beard grow.
She was delighted.
said.
That vas the beginning. While Mr..
Dolby could not be really offended at
her innocent remark, II did not sit ex-
actly right with him. Dolby had been
shaving every other morning. and
when the usual time came. habit was
so strong that he had the glass ar
ranged and was stropping the razor.
Mrs. Dolby entered the room in time
to stop him
Why. dear she said. Il thought
you we're going to let your beard
grow"
so I was" Dolby replied.
And aren't you? Now. ~please?"
For several years Dolby had been
fighting against that please and
with such poor success that he put
the razor away and went to business
unshaven.
"Out last night" said the clerk
who works next TO Dolby in the
store.
No. said be crustily.
That's all right" persisted the
other clerk. Il had a pretty fair
time myself. thanks"
What are you going to do with
themf" Dolby was asked so times.
and so times he painfully waded
through the explanation that he was
about to satisfy the natural masculine
curiosity to see how he would look
In q beard The senior member of
the firm was the only person who
gave him any encouragement
4 think a beard will help you out"
he remarked critically. after a general
survey of Dolby's frame.
The more Dolby thought OF this re
mark the less he liked IT. The next
day he had to be out around town.
His experience. Of which he kept a
record, owing to his weakness for
statistics. was az follows:
Times asked about beard. .l21
Times offered Is cents. ......... 81
Number OF uncomplimentary re-
marks 81
sTimes congratulated ............ 4
'By frank old gentlemen who said
Dolby's long neck would be better
protected.
Dolby told his wife about his trou-
BILE that night and expressed an In
tention to surrender.
BE a mani" she exclaimed. IF
were you"
But you are mott" he protested.
And you don't know what 1t Is to
start a beard"
Il know that I'd have grit enough
to do II II I were a man." she said.
III you have your beard shaver on
you needn't come home tonight"
But"
There are no butts about 1t. !
mean what ! say"
She need not have added the last.
Dolby had not lived with her five
years without knowing that look on
her face. He went to the glass and
examined his face carefully.
He could not doubt that the patches
Of hair did resemble. as he had been
often told, certain pictures Of his sa-
tanic majesty which were popular dur.
Ing the opera season. There were
spots here and there like GASES in a
desert There was no esprit de corps
about his beard. each particular hair
being bent on running its own way
On Sunday. Dolby refused to 30 to
church That afternoon he sneaked
out Of the house for . walk The
wind was blowing q gale. but he
bravely paced down the street for sew
eral blocks. At q corner several ur.
chins were playing some game.
Say. mister n Of them yelled az
he passed.
Wen, my little man, what Ii tt?'
said Dolby kindly.
Amt you afraid to take your whis-
kers out In this here wind!" the boy
shouted.
Dolby returned home and locked the
door. The next day he dragged him.
self to work 1t seemed as II sur.
render was inevitable. On wednes-
day the loorwalker, whose magnin-
cent beard is one OF the choicest
things in that store. stopped at Dol
by's counter and looked at him
You r doing better he said.
You'll make It."
Make what?" said Dolby. trying to
appear unconscious Of his meaning.
You'll have q real beard after q
while; but for heavens sake have II
trimmed"
Dolby had not thought Of that Az
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