The habit of cutting the beard as most Europeans do, of preserving it like the Asiatics and of dressing it in different ways like the Chinese, gives a different expression to the face which characterizes the people. A masculine, vigorous physiogomy which expresses strength and energy, cannot be deprived of this external attribute without losing a part of its character. That of the Orientals exhibits an appearance which coincides with the strength of their bodies, and forms a contrast with the effeminacy of their manners. I do not know if, in consulting the history of the different people who allow their beard to grow, and that of nations who cut it, we might not be tempted to believe that muscular force is to a certain extent connected with its existence, and that this force is always diminished a little when we are constantly deprived of it. Every one knows the vigour of the ancients, that of the people with long beards, and that even of certain men who, among us, allow their beards to grow in conformity with the laws of monkish institutions. No doubt many causes may make weakness exist with a beard; but in a general view I think we can admit that there is a certain relation between it and strength. Take from a cock his comb, which is the characteristic of the male, as the beard is that of man, and he will lose strength. I am persuaded that we might take from the lion a part of his power by taking away his mane. We know the result of the experiments of Russel upon the castration of stags; their horns, after this operation have grown in an irregular manner, or have not even grown at all. This external attribute of the male in this species, appears as we know at the period of virility, when the vital forces are increased. It is the same with the human beard. This coincidence would alone prove that the use of this last is to serve for an external character to the male sex. The eunuch, whose powers are feeble, loses also oftentimes much of his beard.
Such are our prejudices in regard to the idea we form of beauty, that we ridicule what is really and absolutely so, for that is certainly so which indicates organic perfection. A peacock without his tail of emeralds, a ram or a stag without their horns, displease us; why does not man without his beard?
II. Of the Pilous System of the Trunk.
The hairs on the trunk are very variable. Some men appear as it were shaggy, whilst others are almost without hairs. There are more of them generally on the anterior than on the posterior part of the trunk. It is principally along the linea alba and upon the chest, that they are found in man. This last part is in general destitute of them in woman, who has usually very few on the trunk.
Both sexes have a very considerable quantity on the genital parts. They are there, as I have said, of the nature of the beard. Less frequently flaxen than the hair of the head, as frequently of a bright red, they are most usually black. They are, next to the beard, the longest hairs. They have generally no determinate direction; each hair almost has a different one. Few animals, like man, exhibit this excess of hair upon the genital parts. There is a great difference in individuals as to its quantity. The blackness and abundance coincide in general with strength.
III. Pilous System of the Extremities.
Man has many hairs upon the whole surface of his extremities. The proportion of number is nearly the same in all; but the length varies very much; in some, they form only a down; in others, they are a little longer; whilst in others, they are nearly of an inch in length, reach over each other, and give the extremities a shaggy appearance.
At the top of the superior extremities, there is in the hollow of the axilla a collection of hairs which are longer than the others, and are nearly of the nature of those of the genital parts. Nothing similar is seen on the inferior extremities.
The pilous system does not exist on the internal part of the arm and fore-arm in many men, in whom we see it only behind and on the sides. It is more uniform on the inferior extremities. The back of the foot and hand always have hairs. They are never seen on the sole of the one or the palm of the other; a circumstance of essential advantage to the perfection of touch.