The Coconino sun., 1925-06-12
THEY LOOK WILD, BUT
ARE TAME; PULL THEIR
WHISKERS AND PROVE IT

Boston has its beans. New Orleans
its Mardi Gras. France its Paris, but
Flagstaff has its whiskers.
To the residents of Flagstaff who
have lived within its boundaries for
the past six weeks this statement IS
sufficient; but to the outsider, he
whose eye viii be thrilled with the
sight of the "Days of 40" celebration,
let it be known that never, since the
period when Kit Carson and Buffalo
Bill tracked the willy Indian and made
havoc among the early bison herds,
has such an aggregation of whiskers
been seen any place ON earth.
Whiskers of all sizes, shapes and
colors are common necessary
adornment to the residents of Flag
staff and will be until the final cur
tain is rung down on the widest and
most be-whiskered celebration ever
held in the southwest.
Whskers here, whiskers there,
whiskers every place, is the rule in
Flagstaff Patriotism in Coconino
county during the past weeks and for
the period Of the big show, is viewed
with suspicion unless it is accompan-
led by beard.
The boards in Flagstaff mean
boards! Not the scrawny, straggly,
ill-nourished mustache of the modern
drugstore cowboy, but real, honest
to-goodness 3'he-man" whiskers.
Every shade and color of the rain
bow, nearly, is represented in the vast
array Of whiskers which daily throng
the streets and nightly alarm the visi-
tor in our midst. Tints range from
blackest midnight, through the var
ious shade of browns, reds and yell
lows to the faintest of strawberry
blondes"
From the ears down, the whiskers
resemble more closely than anything
else a composition of Jesse James, the
hermit Of the dells, and Brigham
Young. While the type of whiskers
and boards varies with the Individual
choice OF members, the condition is
general and omnipresent It's diff
cult for friend to recognize old friends
except at close range. The foltitude
of wives and sweethearts during the
trying period of GROWN 'en" is con-
sidered nothing less than wonderful
The greatest crime in Flagstaff has
been the objectionable offense of "re-
neging" on the whisker program and
fines of $25 each have been assessed
on every member who, unmindful of
his trust, has dared to violate the
general mandate and remove his facial
adornment. The judgments of the
kangaroo" tribunal have been en-
forced without fear or favor in every
case
The whisker- growing club includes
every business and professional man
in the city, as well as employees OF
every concern, and others appear
everywhere clad in whiskers and
smiles
Not a little CONSERVATION has been
caused to strangers in the city. A
tinid traveller VINO stopped at
leading hotel last week took one look
at the proprietor, excused himself and
hied his way to the chief of police to
inquire whether or not it would be
safe to leave his valuables in the
care of the ''tough-looking egg" behind
the counter of the hostelry.
On another occasion a travelling
man who made flying trip through
Flagstaff, stopped later in Winslow
and confided to resident there that
the LATEST people in the world made up
the rank and tile of Flagstaff citizens.
When pressed for an explanation he
explained that in passing through the
town he observed the pedestrians and
shopkeepers ito man. were too lazy
to shave. Il never saw so many whis-
kers in my Efe," he said.
"A '49 show without whiskers and
plenty OF EN-" Director Clyde Zerby
asserted, would be like holding a
bathing beauty contest with overcoats
on the girls"