-
Articles/Ads
Article RISE AND FALL OF BEARDS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rise And Fall Of Beards.
to be never separated from these dear locks , gave orders that they should be placed with them in their coffins . " Example , more powerful than authority , produced in Spain what it had not been able to bring about in Russia without great difficulty . Philip V . ascended the throne with a shaved chin . The courtiers imitated the prince ; and the people , in turn , the courtiers . Howeverthough this revolution was brought about without violenceand
, , by degrees , it caused much lamentation and murmuring ; the gravity of the Spaniards lost much by the change . The favourite custom of a nation can never be altered without incurring displeasure . They have this old saying in Spain : ' Desde que no bay barba no hay mas alma . ' ' Since we have lost our beards , we have lost our souls . ' Among the European nations that have been most curious in beards
and whiskers , we must distinguish Spain . This grave romantic nation has always regarded the beard as the ornament most to be prized ; and the Spaniards have often made the loss of honour consist in that of their whiskers . Tlie Portuguese , whose national character is " much the same , are not the least behind them in that respect . In the reign of CatherineQueen of Portugalthe brave John de Custro
, , had just taken in India the castle of Diu : victorious , but in want of every thing , he found himself obliged to ask the inhabitants of Goa to lend him a thousand pistoles for the maintenance of his fleet ; and , as a security for that sum , he sent them one of his whiskers , telling them , ' All the gold in the world cannot equal the value of this
natural ornament of my valour ; and I deposit it in your hands as a security for the money . ' The whole town was penetrated with this heroism , and every one interested himself about this invaluable whisker : ' even the women were desirous to give marks of their zeal for so brave a man : several sold their bracelets to increase the sum asked for ; and the inhabitants of Gc-a sent him immediately both the money and his whiskerA number of other les of this kind miht be produced
. examp g , which do as much honour to whiskers as to the good faith of those ¦ days . In Louis Xlllth's reign , whiskers attained the highest degree of ¦ favour , at the expence of the expiring beards . In those days of gallantry , not yet empoisoned by wit , they became the favourite occupation of lovers . A fine black whiskerelegantly turned upwas a .
, , very powerful mark of dignity with the fair sex . Whiskers were still in fashion in the beginning of Louis the XlVth's reign . This king , and all the great men of his reign , took a pride in wearing them . They were the ornament of Turenne , Conde , Colbert , Corneilie , Moliere , 8 rc . It was then no uncommon thing for a favourite lover to have his whiskers turned upcombedand pomatumedby his
, , , mistress ; and , for this purpose , a man of fashion took care to be always provided with every necessary article , especially whisker-wax . It was highly flattering to a lady to have it in her power to praise the beauty of her lover ' s whiskers ; which , far from being disgusting , gave his person an air of vivacity : several even thought them an incitement to love . It saems the levity of the French made them un-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Rise And Fall Of Beards.
to be never separated from these dear locks , gave orders that they should be placed with them in their coffins . " Example , more powerful than authority , produced in Spain what it had not been able to bring about in Russia without great difficulty . Philip V . ascended the throne with a shaved chin . The courtiers imitated the prince ; and the people , in turn , the courtiers . Howeverthough this revolution was brought about without violenceand
, , by degrees , it caused much lamentation and murmuring ; the gravity of the Spaniards lost much by the change . The favourite custom of a nation can never be altered without incurring displeasure . They have this old saying in Spain : ' Desde que no bay barba no hay mas alma . ' ' Since we have lost our beards , we have lost our souls . ' Among the European nations that have been most curious in beards
and whiskers , we must distinguish Spain . This grave romantic nation has always regarded the beard as the ornament most to be prized ; and the Spaniards have often made the loss of honour consist in that of their whiskers . Tlie Portuguese , whose national character is " much the same , are not the least behind them in that respect . In the reign of CatherineQueen of Portugalthe brave John de Custro
, , had just taken in India the castle of Diu : victorious , but in want of every thing , he found himself obliged to ask the inhabitants of Goa to lend him a thousand pistoles for the maintenance of his fleet ; and , as a security for that sum , he sent them one of his whiskers , telling them , ' All the gold in the world cannot equal the value of this
natural ornament of my valour ; and I deposit it in your hands as a security for the money . ' The whole town was penetrated with this heroism , and every one interested himself about this invaluable whisker : ' even the women were desirous to give marks of their zeal for so brave a man : several sold their bracelets to increase the sum asked for ; and the inhabitants of Gc-a sent him immediately both the money and his whiskerA number of other les of this kind miht be produced
. examp g , which do as much honour to whiskers as to the good faith of those ¦ days . In Louis Xlllth's reign , whiskers attained the highest degree of ¦ favour , at the expence of the expiring beards . In those days of gallantry , not yet empoisoned by wit , they became the favourite occupation of lovers . A fine black whiskerelegantly turned upwas a .
, , very powerful mark of dignity with the fair sex . Whiskers were still in fashion in the beginning of Louis the XlVth's reign . This king , and all the great men of his reign , took a pride in wearing them . They were the ornament of Turenne , Conde , Colbert , Corneilie , Moliere , 8 rc . It was then no uncommon thing for a favourite lover to have his whiskers turned upcombedand pomatumedby his
, , , mistress ; and , for this purpose , a man of fashion took care to be always provided with every necessary article , especially whisker-wax . It was highly flattering to a lady to have it in her power to praise the beauty of her lover ' s whiskers ; which , far from being disgusting , gave his person an air of vivacity : several even thought them an incitement to love . It saems the levity of the French made them un-