About Manuscripts Profiles Maps Map Gallery Credits

Travels in Some Parts of North America, in the Years 1804, 1805, & 1806, by Robert Sutcliff

SW_Sutcliff_Page_175

12th Month, 25th. I came this day to T. L.'s, at Maiden Creek. Afterwards, at the house where I lodged, I met with a venerable looking man, whose countenance was almost lost in a large bushy beard, which extended a considerable way down his breast. On conversing with him, it ap-peared he was of the religious society called Dunkers. I enquired of him the reason why the men of their society were so tenacious of their beards, and expected to have heard some motive assigned that had at least the appearance of weight; but in this I was disappointed; for he either could not, or would not assign any other than this: That as they believed the practice of shaving originated from a desire in the men to make themselves agreeable to the women, it was unbecoming the gravity of a religious character to act from such motives. 12th Month, 26th. I came this day to Beth- lehem, a town inhabited almost entirely by Moravians. They have here a well-conducted boarding-school for girls, where children of all persuasions are taught every branch of learning that is deemed necessary for females; and, for this purpose, the best masters and mistresses are pro- cured from different parts of Europe and America. The inn is large and commodious, and conducted with a good deal of order and regularity; and is