A beard is one of the distinctive signs of manhood, and was regarded as a sacred possession by ancient races.

The Jews were proud of their beards and wore them through the days of their Egyptian bondage, though the Egyptians shaved.

The Greeks and Romans of the ancient days mostly shaved, and the term barbarous (beard-wearing) was applied for a long period to people who were considered out of the pale of polite society. Still, beards were largely worn even then, and came to be associated with wisdom.

Alexander the Great prohibited beards among the soldiery, and soldiers in all countries have since been generally beardless.

Beards have been taxed occasionally, as in Russia by Peter the Great, and at an earlier date in England.

In modern times beards have been worn or unworn as a monarch or male leader has, for no particular reason, set the example.

Shaving of the beard continues to be practised in all ranks of life in this country [England], though the moustache, once despised by the English, has now been in vogue for many years.

Bearded women occur occasionally, and have sometimes been exhibited.