The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-18
SOLDIERS must
GUT HAIR SHORT,
NEW U.S.. ORDER
Down at Washington Barracks
the Latest Ruling Causes
CONSERVATION.

The click Of q flock Of brutal shears.
mingled with the groans Of the vic
tins and the jeers Of the bystanders.
In marking the conversion Of some
first-class American soldiers. stationed
at the Washington barracks. into Q
bunch Of apparent convicts.
"The members Of the detachment
will wear their hair 30 short that II
cannot be grasped in the hand" reads
an order posted in the barracks re-
Gently.
This means a pretty close clipping
all over the dome, which looms UP like
the rock upon which the Pilgrims set
foot, or the dome Of the Capitol after
the first shot Of home brew. upon con-
clusion Of the BARRIERS sad rites.
No Explanation Given.
No explanation for the reason of the
order, which II signed by Lieut.. F.. L.
Parks, barracks detachment command
or. has % far been given. Whether It
l. through fear Of coolies or fear that
some rude enemy might grab the sol.
der by the hair and amputate his ton
sils, has not developed. The men
swear. however, that the order was
posted to cut some of them out with
their best girls.
The order further reads:
so long as this II complied with
the work may be done anywhere, but
in case hair II found too long the de-
tachment commander viii conduct
the men to the barber shop. supervise
the work. and charge them with the
price.
Officers Exempt.
Attention IL invited to the fact that
the post barber goes on his vacation
next Monday and will not return for
two weeks; therefore. those desiring to
use canteen checks should have the
work done this week"
The orders do not state whether the
commanding officer will lead balky
men to the barber shop by the ear.
Authorities who should be acquainted
with procedure in cases of this sort,
agree that this viii hardly be likely.
The orders likewise fail TO state
whether the commanding officer him
self will have his fair locks cropped.
He almost certainly will not. the same
authorities declare. However. IN case
he did. being q lieutenant, would II be
fair to call him "shavetail'?
One Of the men, according to Dame
not "Damn"--Rumor. having Q lus-
trous head Of hair. which was the
pride Of his girls heart, attempted to
forestail operation Of the dread order.
He appeared in the office Of the c.
o. the morning after the posting Of
the notice. leading a bosom friend by
the front Of the shirt.
Lieutenant" he chortled hopeful.
ly. do have to have my hair cut?
Fee, my friend here can't grasp my
hair. Try 1t, Pete"
80 Pete tried manfully and failed.
He had no arms.
The private with the lustrous hair
was accordingly led forth in tears by
the wrathful c. o., according to the
tale. continued.
Had Head Shaved.
Here. shave this mans head" the
barber was ordered.
Today, where this girls pride bios
somed in valiant PROPULSION now shows
not single spris. The dome IL barren
as any desert. That boy wears his hat
in the house when he visits civilian
All the boys on the post, though per
mitted to do 90 by recent orders, are
loath to don civilian clothes when off
duty.
They may be soldiers. but who is
going to believe that, they argue. No
one ever offers to argue back. The
boys also steer wide of shirts with
wide black stripes for the same rea-
son.
In ancient days warriors cut off
their boards and hair before going
into battle 90 that the enemy could
not hold them and inflict the death
blow.
In the world war the already beard.
less soldier had their hair cropped
close so that friend cootie might find
no concealment while en- route to bet |
ter feeding grounds
But the war IL over. These are the
piping times Of peace. Especially for
the barber.