Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-07-30
HE RAISED A BEARD
EstaiIed Much Suffering, but Mr..
Dolby T%rlumphed.
That unklnd World Endeavored to
Turn Him From His Purpose
AvalIed NothIns-Now He ls
Proud of Achievement.

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. II wonder how a
full beard will look?"
At dinner Dolby told his wife that
he was going to let a beard grow.
She was delighted.
You'll look more like a man." she
said.
That was the beginning. While Mr..
Dolby could not be really offended at
her innocent remark, it 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. II thought
you were going to let your beard
grow"
80 l 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 he crustily.
That's all right" persisted the
other clerk. Il had a pretty fair
time myself, thanks
What are you going to do with
them?" 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 a beard. The senior member of
the firm was the only person who
gave him any encouragement.
Il 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 as follows:
Times asked about beard. .127
T{poA1 NHpa~1l 1E no~f1 QA
Number of uncomplimentary re-
MARKS Oz
"Times congratulated ............
*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 not!" he protested
And you don't know what it Is Il
start a beard"
II know that I'd have grit enough
to do it If l were a man." she said
IF you have your beard shaven of
you needn't come home tonight"
But"
There are no butts about 1t,
mean what l say"
She need not have added the last
Dolby had not lived with her five
| years without knowing that look OF
her face. He went to the glass ant
examined his face carefully.
He could not doubt that the patches
of hair did resemble, as he had beer
often told, certain pictures of his ga
tanic majesty which were popular dur
ing the opera season. There were
spots here and there like GASES in {
desert. There was no esprit de corpi
about his beard, each particular hal
being bent on running Its own way
On Sunday, Dolby refused to go tt
church. That afternoon he sneakeC
out of the house for a walk. Tn,
wind was blowing o gale, but h,
bravely paced down the street for sew
eral blocks. At a corner several III
chins were playing some game.
Say, mister" one of them yelled a
he passed.
well, my little man, what is it.?
said Dolby kindly.
"Ain't you afraid to take your whis
kers out in this here wind?" the DO,
shouted. ~
Dolby returned home and locked tn,
door. The next day he dragged him
self to work. 1t seemed as If SUI
render was inevitable. On Wednes
day the f1oorwalker, whose magnif
cent beard is one of the choices
things in that store, stopped at Do,
by's counter and looked at him.
you are doing better" he sale
You'll make it."
Make what?" said Dolby, trying t
appear unconscious of his meaning.
You'll have a real beard after
while; but for heavens sake have
trimmed"
Dolby had not thought Of that. A
soon as he could he went straight t
a barber's shop.
"Wilk you have 1t trimmed, Pres
dent Poicare, London Dip, or Louis
ana pride?" the barber asked.
London dip" said Dolby recklessly
wondering what on earth that Nigh
be.
1t was a lucky hit. His friends agai
recognized him, his wife was the hal