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Evening Star, Issue 19271, 9 June 1926, Page 12

The Greek dictator has been W.s fortunete «s a nder of fa'b/on than was Peter the Great of Russia, who forbade Irs subjects to wear beards—or, rather, inflicted an annual tax on those who cho-e to retain their “ face fungus,” as Richardson used to call it. Those who oould not afford the- tax did not argue with a man who .would as soon petrove their heads their he->rd.-—thev shaved. Wealthier subjects receb nd a small copper token as a tax receipt. On one gf<j e it. showed a heavily-bearded face, and on the other the year for which the receipt was valid. Fverv t’lrw the owner o' e heard passed through a city, cate he had to s*»w his token pass to the pua;d, a,nd wo? betide him if he had left his “Reason" at home. He promptly went to prison.