Year: 1879

A correspondent of the Detroit Post
and Tribune writes from Adrian, Mich,
of certain Edwin Smith, who is the
pOssessor of a remarkable beard. The
correspondent says:


- Ordinarily Mr.. Smith and his beard
would not attract especial attention. He
does not let it sway at its own sweet win
at all times, but keeps it tied in a com
pact bunch under his chin, holding it
fast with thread and hair-pins. When
thus done up it does not appear To be
of unusual length unless the observation
is close. So while it has come to be
generally known in the vicinity of Mr..
Smiths residence that his beard is unu-
sually long, but few people have seen it
in all its enormous length except as
hereinafter stated. He Is A years of
age. He is about six feet high and
weighs 145 pounds. His hair and beard
are sandy and tinged with gray He has
| pale face, blue eyes, high forehead,
and an intelligent and pleasant appear
ance. At Is years of age he began to
raise n beard, and while yet young
school-bOy was possessed of n light silk
en- covering to face and neck, rivaling
in length that of many of his seniors.
But he became tired of this, and shaved
almost daily for several years, keeping
his face smooth and beardless. He con-
tinued to attend school in what used to
be known as the Sherman district, Hu-
ron County. The growth of his beard
was not, however, sufficiently rapid to
attract any special notice. In 1858 he
came to Michigan, where he married.
His health from boyhoOd has not been
of the best, bilious and lung troubles be-
ing most common. In 1861 his health
failed, and he went to California in the
hope of regaining it.


1t was the fashion among miners of
those days to allow their boards to grow.
1t was agreed among several of them,
Mr.. Smith among the number, that they
would allow their boards to grow for six
months, and see which could at the end
of that time boast of the longest. Mr..
Smith outstripped all rivals, and allowed
his beard to grow from then on. The
nature of the miners work made il con-
yenient to tie or fasten the beard under
the chin. In this way Mr.. Smith first
became accustomed to wearing it long,
with the superfluOus length tied up out


of the way. And now, said he, you


see what il has grown to- And rs your
correspondent looked from the smiling
face of the man, and then turned to 90


on a search for the other end of the
| beard, ne thought OF the story OF the
steeple which was so tall that you had
1 to look twice TO see the top of it. There
could be no mistake about it. Each in
| dividual hair stretched its silky, wavy
| length from face TO floor. Now / will


show you how long it is said Mr.. Smith,


and ne stepped upon a chair and stood
erect. Still its length was so great that
the foot could be placed on the ends,


which touched the floor. The beard has
been carefully trimmed, so that it is of
even weight and size to the very end.
/ Unrolling a little paper which was laid
away in "A drawer, he said: That's its
/ length last winter and unwound Il
/ seemingly endless hair. When measured
/ it was found to be feet inches long
/ Now we viii measure the beard as it is
/ to-day said he, and looked for the
/ yard-stick. Seven feet six inches and "a
/ half was the length"