Etiquette of Wartime Beards

Twenty-five years ago, the fashion of shaving was so tyrannical and bigoted that the Englishman who wore a beard was looked upon as revolutionary in politics and heretical in faith. Archbishop Tait, a most liberal prelate, when Bishop of London, forbade a clergyman of the highest character to read prayers in his own church on the occasion of a confirmation, because he let the hair grow on his upper lip. – Above, an 1891 patent for a mustache spoon. These types of spoons supposedly helped keep soups off of the popular Gilded Age beards, too.

It is reported that a recent order allows the British soldier to do as he pleases about shaving. He can now suffer a natural growth to conceal the least shapely part of his face and protect important organs of life. The permission marks the highest reach of the beard movement in England.

Yet twenty-five years ago, the fashion of shaving was so tyrannical and bigoted that the Englishman who wore a beard was looked upon as revolutionary in politics and heretical in faith. Archbishop Tait, a most liberal prelate, when Bishop of London, forbade a clergyman of the highest character to read prayers in his own church on the occasion of a confirmation, because he let the hair grow on his upper lip.

Lord Chief Justice Bruce refused to hear a bearded young lawyer, who attempted to address him. Merchants forbade beards to their clerks. A London bank issued an edict that “Gentlemen were not to wear beards or mustaches during office-hours.” Congregations refused to hear the sermons of ministers who appeared as, doubtless, the Master did, with their faces. unshorn of their natural growth of hair.

Even in the United States, the beard-movement encountered fierce and foolish opposition. The late Dr. Hopkins, of Vermont, was one of the few clergymen who dared to go unshorn. When he was elected a Bishop of the Episcopal Church, many hints were given him that he should shave and thus show proper respect for the sacred office. He declined to follow the suggestion, and now a score of members of the House of Bishops wear their beards.

Men may not match women in the extravagance of their devotion to fashion, but, certainly, no brother has the right to cast a stone at his sister, seeing that the history of the beard records so many illustrations of male folly. She may be guilty of tight-lacing and thereby suffer from ill-health and a disfigured form. But he, if he shaves, exposes himself to throat diseases and possibly the weakest and most unsightly part of his face to public view, and that, too, against the efforts of nature to protect and hide it. — Daily Telegraph, 1914

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Etiquette of Allies and “Guests”

Military etiquette, for example, demands that when a party of British officers are saluted by a British private, only the senior officer acknowledges the salute. When, however the salute is given by a French private, the acknowledgement is made by all the officers. – photo source, Pinterest

British Headquarters, (France) July 12.—One of the first considerations of the British army officials is the avoidance of all friction with the inhabitants of the occupied districts of France and the maintenance of most cordial relations with the French soldiers. A principal factor in keeping on good terms with the allied army has been the steadfast insistance on the courtesies of discipline. Military etiquette, for example, demands that when a party of British officers are saluted by a British private, only the senior officer acknowledges the salute. When, however the salute is given by a French private, the acknowledgement is made by all the officers. “The idea is,’’ a staff officer explained, “that by this act of courtesy, we daily show to the French, our consciousness that if we are their allies, we are also guests in their country. And where the officers give the lead, the men are quick to follow.” – Morning Union,1915

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

British Military Etiquette Concerns

New recruits being fitted for their uniforms: WWI military etiquette did not permit officers and privates being seen together in public — even brothers taking their mum to a theater!

British

 Mother's Etiquette Problem

Wholesale enlistment in England is responsible for some Gilbertian situations. For instance, a woman writes to a newspaper to know what is the proper thing to do under the following curious circumstances: She has two sons in Lord Kitchener's army— one an officer, the other a private. On one occasion she wanted them to take her to a theater, but military etiquette does not permit officers and privates being seen together in public. 

Again, the brothers cannot meet their mother's guests at the dinner table for the same reason. Socially, when in mufti (civilian attire or "civies"), they rank alike, but nowadays uniforms are obligatory on all occasions. Hence the tangle. – Mariposa Gazette, 1915

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia