Year: 1869

In the last Ledger, Mr.. Beecher re-
plies to a question as to the morality
of dyeing the hair, as follows:


We do not think that it lies in the
sphere of morality at all; it is a mere
matter of taste, and every man has a
right to his own liberty, whether to dye
or not to dye. But it is asked:


"Does not God make the hair black
or gray2"


God does it, to be sure; but in no
other sense than He gives the collie af-
ter cucumbers, indigestion after exces-
sive eating, constipation after seden
tary habits, rheumatism after exposure
to cold and moisture, and premature
age to men who have overtaxed them
selves. Does any body think it
wrong to take medicine, as if it were
an interference with Divine Provi-
dence? Still more pat is the question,
''Ought he not to wear it as it grows ?'
How about cutting it, then? Has he
right to meddle with natures length
of hair, but not with her cOLorF Is it
wrong to comb and part the hair ? If
nature is to be strictly followed, how
sinful the race has become by wearing
clothes! No man was ever born with
trOwers on.


There is a vast deal of nonsense
springing from incorrect notions of ma
ture. Men are born into life with
powers and faculties susceptible of in
definite development. The results to
which education brings men are as
really part of nature as are the fac
ulties themselves. An acorn is no
nearer TO nature than is the oak tree
which springs from it. A gardener
may by skill and patience produce re-
suits in vine which could never have
been reached if let alone. But no gard
ener has power to do more than to de-
velop what God has stored up in the
vine. The susceptibility to develop
ment is part of nature.


But let US get back to hair-dye. If
a man is young, and from some pecul-
iarity of constitution, or by reason of
sickness, is prematurely gray, whether
he shall dye his hair or not is matter
of his own. If he will be the happier
for it, let him do it. Ifhis wife will love
him any better, of if she will be made
any happier, in the name of love let
him dye. Family happiness is a great
blessing to purchase at so small a cost
as bottle of hair dye.


But is it seemly for an old man to
put on the appearance of youth, and
not to meet his fate braveIy? That is
question of good taste. For our
selves, we prefer gray hairs. A buck
ish old gentleman of seventy-five, re-
turning every month from his barber
with glossy brown locks, Is not our
style of manhood. But if he like it.
he might do things far worse. We
admire the bravery in woman by
which at thirty-fve, she carries her
locks full of silver. And yet, if her
happiness may be promoted by hiding
the early gray, we see no reason for
criticism.


We are in favor of bald heads and
also of wigs and toupees. We are in
favor of wearing our own hair; and
just as much of borrowing your neigh
b0r's, to exc out a scanty supply, i'll
one chooses to do it. In short let every |
one have liberty of hair.


It would however be terrible to leave
men to full liberty of dress, and not
to leave their neighbors free to poke
fun at them. But as long as we are
free to laugh, men may be safely left
to the largest liberty of costume.
Shame is a more general and active
restraint in this world than science or
reason. A laugh can do what an ar
gument cannot.


We have but entered upon this sub
iect. Dyeing the hair is not a begin
ming. Artificial teeth grin at us; and
long forms are made to look short.
Dumpy people look long. Thin and
lean people come forth plump and
eOmely. Fat folks shrink to slender
ness. In the great world of the Toll,
cite and Of the Dress, there are, to be
sure, some questions of morals, but far
more of taste. How long the dress
should be at the bottom is a question
Of taste, but how long it should be at
the top is also a question of morals.
To discuss the whole matter would re-
Iuire many articles.