Legenda fratrum, pars XXII
Okay, this time you must be acquainted with old American advertisements to fully appreciate this story.
From the founding of our Order in the 1500's until 1968, every member was required to wear a beard, which were supposed to indicate that we were "manly, natural and austere". By the 1940's, however, many American brothers were anxious to send their beard down the drain. When an American brother from Milwaukee was elected as head of the Order in 1946, many American brothers thought he would do away with the requirement. Unfortunately for them, he did not abolish the rule. In fact, not only did he keep his beard for his entire term of office, he actually let it grow longer and bushier, or shall we say, more "natural".
Piqued by this development—or lack thereof—, an American brother dubbed it, "the beard that made Milwaukee famous".
From the founding of our Order in the 1500's until 1968, every member was required to wear a beard, which were supposed to indicate that we were "manly, natural and austere". By the 1940's, however, many American brothers were anxious to send their beard down the drain. When an American brother from Milwaukee was elected as head of the Order in 1946, many American brothers thought he would do away with the requirement. Unfortunately for them, he did not abolish the rule. In fact, not only did he keep his beard for his entire term of office, he actually let it grow longer and bushier, or shall we say, more "natural".
Piqued by this development—or lack thereof—, an American brother dubbed it, "the beard that made Milwaukee famous".
posted by BroLo | 6/19/2010 12:59:00 AM
2 Comments:
That's funny! I wonder if the Smith Brothers of cough drop fame were members of your order, too.
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