The Great 'Doos of History, Part 1

Harry Smeltzer and Dimitri Rotov have both commented on the often outrageous hair "creations" of Senator James H. Lane of Kansas. Dimitri opines that Sen. Lane is looking satisfied in this photograph because the Grim Chieftain "has achieved a personal best." Harry, however, points out that John Edwards and other 21st century politicos wouldn't be caught dead with their hair in such a mess. Yet in their own way, their 19th century counterparts were just as concerned with physical impressions. Regarding this, here is a passage from The Habits of Good Society, 1859:


It was at one time the fashion to affect a certain negligence, which was called poetic, and supposed to be the result of genius. An ill-tied, if not positively untied cravat was a sure sign of an unbridled imagination; and a waistcoat was held together by one button only, as if the swelling soul in the wearer's bosom had burst all the rest. If in addition to this the hair was unbrushed and curly, you were certain of passing for a "man of soul". I should not recommend any young gentleman to adopt this style, unless he can mouth a great deal, and has a good stock of quotations of the poets. It is of no use to show me the clouds, unless I can see you in them, and no amount of negligence in your dress and person will convince me you are a genius, unless you can produce an octavo volume of poems published by yourself .

I would venture to suggest that Lane was trying to convey an image of a hard-working congressman, more concerned with freeing the slaves than controlling his locks.