Note 63 — JOURNAL.
Reading edition
The razor in colonial days was an essential part of a gentleman's toilet outfit. Washington had a strong beard and was early called upon to use his razor. Long, full beards were not then in fashion in America. It is a notable fact that there is not a portrait extant of an American-born patriot or statesman of the Revolutionary period, painted with a full beard. This memorandum, although not dated, is believed to have been written in 1748. The clean shaven face was constrained by the fashion of the continent; and prevailed as the custom in England and France for a period of quite 75 years.