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time also, Marshal Bassonipierre Laving been released from
a long imprisonment, declared the chief alteration he
found was, " that the men had lost their Beards and the
horses their tails."
Under our first Charles,*- the sides of the face were often
shaven, and the Beard reduced to the moustache, and a
long chin-tuft, as in the portrait of that monarch, retaining
however still some of its former gracefulness. As the
contest grew hotter between Cavalier and Roundhead,
doubtless some of the latter cropped chin as well as head;
though others are said to have been so careful of their
Beards, as to provide them with pasteboard night-caps to
prevent the hairs being rumpled.
In one instance it was worn long for a sign, as we see
by the following verse—
" This worthy knight was one that swore
He would not cut his Beard,
'Till tins ungodly nation was
From kings and bishops cleared:
* D'Israeli quotes an author of this reign, who in his " Elements
of Education" says, "I have a favourable opinion of that young
gentleman who is curious in fine moustachios. The time he employs
in adjusting, dressing and curling them, is no lost time; for the
more lie contemplates his moustachios, the more his mind will cherish
and be animated by masculine and courageous notions."
D'Israeli also states, that the grandfather of Mrs. Thomas, the
" Oorinna of Dryden," was very nice in the mode of that age, his
valet being some hours every morning in starchi?ig his Beard and
curling his whiskers, during which time he was always read to.
