Page:The philosophy of beards (electronic resource) - a lecture - physiological, artistic & historical (IA b20425272).pdf/52

 The Ronan Philosophers, like the Greek, cherished a long Beard as the emblem of wisdom. The following anecdote shews that it was sometimes in fallacious sign. One of the Emperors being pestered by a man in a long robe and Beard, asked him what he was. "Do you not see that I am a philosopher?" was the reply. "The cloak I see, and the Beard I see," said the Emperor, "but the philosopher, where is he?"

I must not conclude this notice of Roman customs without mentioning the instructive fact, that the slaves of the early Romans were shaved as a mark of servitude, and not allowed to wear the distinctive sign of a free man until emancipated. At a later period the slaves, as the most manly, wore the Beard, and only shaved when entitled to be put on level with their debased and vicious masters!