BEARDED MEN’S RIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 12

BEARDED MEN’S RIGHTS

TEST CASE IN SWISS COURT A Geneva eccentric who says he believes, aomng other things, that men have has much right to grow their hair long as women have to cut theirs short has vindicated the honour of all hairy beings by creating a valuable precedent in Swiss law. Charged with causing a grave scandal by wearing a beard some 18in. long with hair to match, and thus contravening Article 233 b, paragraph 3, of the regulations for the control of locomotives and the maintenance of public security, the man concerned defended himself with vigour before the Bench, who discharged him without a stain on his character. Undeterred by the dictates of fashion and the jeers of his neighbours, the old man has for years cultivated a magnificent flowing growth. Not satisfied with the full effect of this, he took to wearing a voluminous blue blouse, Wellington boots, and a sweeping black sombrero. The ensemble was so startling that when the wearer took a stroll to the railway station recently he was surrounded by a large crowd consisting largely of unbearded youths. Not the slightest bit worried, the old gentleman continued his dignified way, but officialdom in the form of an overzealous stationmaster intervened. “You are causing a scandal within the meaning of the Act, and thus menacing the security of my trains.” declared the official, “and I order you to leave the station premises.” But the hirsute gentleman was a believer in personal as well as civic rights. “The station is state property, and I have just as much right to be here as you,” the man retorted with considerable dignity. “What is more. I have a perfect right to grow my hair as I like, and in any case it is not hurting your railway.” So the stationmaster called a policeman and the “king of beavers” was arrested. Whether it was because they admired the defendant’s beard or his courage, or whether it was because he had committed no offence against the Swiss State railways, the magistrate acquitted the old gentleman, and he left the court amid the cheers of the assembled populace, a justifiably proud upholder of the rights of man.