The Longest Beard in the World.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 29, 2 December 1879, Page 4

The Longest Beard in the World.

-V -nond-.w. of the Detroit “ Post nd Tr >aae ” wri;es from Adrian, Mich.,

o; a certain Edwin Smith, who is the possessor of a remarkable beard. The correspondent says: Ordinarily Mr. Snath and his beard would .not attract especial attention. Ho does not let it sway at its own free will at all times, but keeps it tied in a compact bunch under his chin, holding it fast with thread and hairpin*. When thus “ done up ”it does not appear to be of unusual length.* unless the observation is close. So while it has come to be generally known in the vicinity of Mr. Smith's residence that his beard is unusually long, but few people liave seen . it in all its enormous length except as hereinafter stated. He is 47 3’ ears of age. He is about six feet high, and weighs 145 pounds. His hair and beard are sandy and tinged with grey. He has a pale face, blue eyes, high forehead, and an intelligent and pleasant appearance. At 13 years of age he begari ’tcrraise a beard, and while yet a young school-boy was possessed of a light silken covering to face' and neck, rivalling in length that" of many of his seniors. Bnt he became tired of this, and shaved almost daily for. several years, keeping his face smooth and beardless. He continued to attend school in what is known as the Sherman district, Huron country. The growth of his beard was not, however, sufficiently rapid to attract any especial notice. In 1858 he came to Michigan, where . he married. His. health from boyhood . has not been of the best, bilious, and lung troubles being most common. In 1861 his health faded, and he went to: California in the hope of regaining it. It waa the fashion among miners of those..days to allow their beards to grow. It was agreed among several of them,Mr. Smith among the number, that they would allow their beardsto growfot six months, and see which could, at the end of that time, boast of the longest. Mr. : Smith out- , stripped all rivals, and allowed hia beafd . t<> grow from than on. The natpre of.the miner’s work made it Convenient to tie or fasten the beard under the ehifai . In this ’ way Mr. Smith becaind accustomed to wearing it long, with the superfluous length tied up out of the way. “ .And now,” said he, “ you see wbat it! has . grown to.” And as your correspondent looked from,the smiling dace of the man, and then turned to go oil a search for the other end of the beard, he thought of the story of the steeple which was so tall that you had to look twice to see the top of it. There could be no mistake about it. ; Each individual hair stretched its silken, wavy, length from face to floor. “Now 1 will show you how long it is,” said Mr. Smith, and he stepped upon a chair and stood erect. Still its length .was so great that foot could be placed on the ends, which touched on the floor. The beard has been carefully trimmed, so that it is <of even, weight and size to the very end. Unrolling a little paper which was laid away in. a drawer, he said,' “Thais its length'last winter. ” and unwound a seemingly endless hair. When measursd-ltfc-'is .found to be seven feet four inches long, 'hjfowwe will measure the beard as it ierto day ,he said, and looked for the tftick, Seven feet six inches and a half was the length.