Gary, a new commenter on the blog, kindly sent in a photo of his great-great-grandfather:
That’s quite an amazing beard! Thanks, Gary.
How would such a beard be viewed today? Too radical? Why? Gary’s ancestor looks like quite the sophisticated gentleman and the beard is the perfect accessory.
I think that in today’s “sophisticated” society, that amazing beard would definately be considered too radical, simply because people aren’t used to seeing beards like that. Possibly, though, it may be seen as someone trying to emulate one of the wizards in the Lord of the Rings movies, simply without the moustache.
For myself, I wouldn’t mind having a chin-curtain like that (even though that’s more of a chin-tapestry). I’ve always wanted a for of facial hair; my dad having had a beard for a few years and then a moustache and finally settling with is fu man chu.
But back to the original point: People in today’s society would look at a beard like that as over the top, possibly dirty and probably unkempt. I just think the kinds of facial hair are amzing that you can find in old photographs and portraits. I don’t understand why society today doesn’t like beards like that, but I know that I do and the bearded community does and that’s really all that matters.
WHAT A COOL BEARD !
This Gentleman looks like one of Akron , Ohios Founding Fathers , Ferdinand Schumacher , He started ” The Quaker Oats Company ” in like 1870 in Akron . He was a very religious man , who neither smoke or drank and was very straight-laced . What a cool looking gentleman ! -Remenber the Smith Brothers [ Cough Drops ] or the Stanley Brothers [ Stanley Steamer Automobile ] also some real ” Cool Cats ” with their real cool chinwarmers . I would love to see these long beards make a comeback . Wouldnt you ?
I decided, when I turned 50, that I would finally have a beard and let it grow. I do not wear a moustache, just like the gentleman in the photo. I believe a moustache cuts the face in half. (I don’t mind seeing a moustache on other men, though. It is just not for me). It has been seven months since I have shaved.
I can tell you that having a long bread with no moustache in this increasingly conformist, militaristic, industrial, business-only, political climate in 2008 is a challenge, socially. That is putting it mildly.
However, this is the beard of my ancestors and I wear it with more than pride. I am not going to let some candy ass in GQ over-ride a tradition handed down to me from millenia past. I am a Celt, complete with the attitude. As far as the women who do not like it: It is better to separate the wheat from the chaff right from the beginning.