Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Ancient Order of the Bearded Knights was refusing to yield under the sharp edge of public pressure.

This group of Lewis and Clark High School boys had resolved not to shave for the remainder of the school year. However, the senior girls had already declared that they were boycotting the boys until they shaved. Now, Miss Flossie Dillon, the drama coach and head of the school’s department of public speaking, said she was postponing the senior class play, “Six Little Houses,” until the beards were gone.

“I couldn’t have them spoil the play by appearing in that manner,” she said. “Everybody would be laughing at them and not watching the play.”

Yet the boys of the Ancient Order still refused to strop the razor. They were determined to prove that they are “capable of growing beards.”

Some female cynics believed that they had yet to prove any such thing.

The girls said there was still some difficulty “in distinguishing between the shaven and the unshaven.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1913: Clorox had its beginnings as five entrepreneurs agreed to set up a liquid bleach factory in Oakland, Calif. … 1971: The National Public Radio program “All Things Considered” made its debut.