SOME FREAK SOCIETIES.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 50, 3 August 1908, Page 2

SOME FREAK SOCIETIES.

THE POINTED BEARDS IN PARIS

—TO DEFEND CAUSE OF FAT MEN.

"Pointed beards only need apply.” This is the law of the latest Parisian society of freaks—the "Sphenopogones,” as they call themselves.

It members, who are compelled by the rules of the society to wear pointed beards and moustaches, have banded themselves together for the avowed purpose of promoting perennial joviality. It is a secret society. Its 'delibera l lions are secret, its , dinners are secret, its happy evenings are secret, and the. nanies of its members can be seen only in the society’s secret books k

The Sphenopogones comprise leading politicians, literary men and artists Hiving in various parts of France, Each member must' be elected unanimously and must, under pain of severe penalties, promise to wehr a beard which tapers symmetrically to a point and a moustache also pointed at each end. Once a month the, members dine together. The date and place of- meeting are arranged by the “gonfalonier," as the treasurer 'is called, and the proceedings are kept strictly private, no one being admitted except duly enrolled members.

If any member has between one "dinner and another distinguished himself by writing a successful play or a book, or by painting a picture af exceptional merit, or by doing anything to earn public praise, he is greeted with uproarious applause. After dinner the possessors of the pointed beards give themselves up to conviviality in accordance with the terms of their secret charter. England, too, can boast of her fieak societies. There is, for instance, the Appendicitis Society, a fa.e’.iionable and select circle, the members of which must give proof that they have undergone an operation for appendicitis. The Society for Putting Woman in Her Proper place was formed in London a few months ago with the object of combating ,the movement for woman’s suffrage. There is also a society of bald heat’s and two or three societies of bachelors and a few run in the interests of old maids.

In Germany not long ago was formed a Society for the Encouragement of Adipose Tissue, an organisation which stoutly defended the cause of fat men.—“ Manchester Chronicle.”