Beards

I sat in on Steve, Mee-Ae and Jeff's Civ lectures last week and one of the things that stuck out the most to me was Jeff's statement (in slight jest) that one of the biggest changes in the post-WWI world was the shortening of beards. There was a huge difference between the short, clipped beards of the post-war and the massive, impressive long beards of the 19th century.

So let's take a look at some doozies... Here are my top 5 for craziest beards in the 1800s.

Not technically a beard but impressive nonetheless. Also, I think it's funny that Ambrose BURNSIDE had the most magnificent SIDEBURNS (get it...) ever! Chester A. Arthur holds a close second.

The All-American Prophet's second-hand man Brigham Young had a pretty impressive amount of facial hair as well. It seems awkward and a little uncomfortable without a mustache...

Does that beard come from natural selection too, Mr. Darwin? Or just your lack of razors?

Representing my hometown, Ezra Cornell sports an impressive, yet somewhat unkempt beard. Understandable, winters on the shores of Lake Cayuga in Ithaca are effing cold!

I'm not sure what is more impressive, the theory that changed the world or the dark mustache and like beard. You feel free to decide and let Karl know.