SHAVING. 279 



object being to make the masculine face as effeminate 

 as possible. Our immediate ancestors, say of the 

 reign of George II., were more logical than our- 

 selves, and not only shaved the face, but the entire 

 head, substituting an artificial covering of horsehair 

 or goat's hair, called a peruke, for the natural cover- 

 ing which they removed. 



The ancient Egyptians were still more logical, for 

 they shaved the whole body daily, from the crown of 

 the head to the sole of the foot. In like spirit we 

 cut away the natural protection of the horse's hoof, 

 and substitute an artificial protection of iron. 



Many of my readers can remember the time 

 when the British soldier was obliged to buckle round 

 his neck a stiff leathern stock, so that he could 

 hardly breathe, and men were constantly struck 

 down in the ranks with incipient apoplexy. No 

 sooner did common sense urge the abolition of the 

 stock than the old officers arose in their wrath, and 

 eulogised the leather stock to the skies. 



It saved the soldier from a sword-stroke should 

 he happen to be in personal conflict with a dragoon, 

 and the dragoon should happen to strike his neck, 

 and the blow should happen not to be parried. It 

 saved the soldier the trouble of holding his head up, 

 because the stock did it for him. In point of fact, 

 the professional eye was accustomed to the stock, 



