 Duke tobacco tiny biography. From the Dave Thomson collection |
When red-headed people are above a certain social grade their hair is
auburn. I would have loved to live in the time of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth,
the best dressed period of the world. You know I like color and flummery
and all such things--I was born red-headed--maybe that accounts for my
passion for the gorgeous and ornamental.
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The following essay is from
Hannibal Daily Journal, 5/13/1853:
Oh, She Has
Red Hair!
TURN
UP YOUR NOSE at red heads! What ignorance! I pity your lack of taste.
Why, man, red is the natural color of beauty! What is there that is really beautiful
or grand in Nature or Art, that is not tinted with this primordial color?
What gives to the bright flowers of the field-those painted by Nature's own
hand-the power to charm the eye and purify the mind of man, and raise his thoughts
to heaven, but the softening touches of the all-admired red!
Unless the delicate blushes of the rose mingle upon the cheek of youth-though
the features be perfect in form and proportion, and the eye beam with celestial
sweetness, no one will pronounce their possessor beautiful.
And the flag under which the proud sons of American sires find protection in
every nation under heaven, is rendered more conspicuous and beautiful by the
red which mingles in its sacred "stars and stripes."
The Falls of Niagara are never seen to advantage, unless embellished with the
rainbow's hues. The midnight storm may howl, and the thunders loud may roar;
but how are its grandeur and beauty heightened by the lightning's vivid flash?
Most animals are fond of red-and all children, before their tastes are corrupted,
and their judgments peverted, are fond of red.
The Romans anciently regarded red hair as necessary to a beautiful lady!
Thomas Jefferson's hair was red-and Jesus Christ, our Savior- "The chief
among ten thousand, and altogether lovely," is said to have had "auburn"
or red hair-and, although it is not stated in so many words, I have but little
doubt that Adam's hair was red-for he was made of "red earth" (as
his name indicates), and as the name "Adam" was given to him after
he was made, it is pretty clear he must have had red hair! And the great probability
is that Eve's hair was red also, she being made of a 'rib' from Adam, who was
made of a lump of "red earth."
Now, Adam and Eve before they sinned, are generally supposed to have been the
most lovely and beautiful of creation, and they, in all probability were both
"red headed." But you, O ye deteriorated black headed descendants
of an illustrious stock! have no more taste than to glory in the evidence of
your departure from original beauty! I'm ashamed of you; I don't know but you'll
repudiate your ancestry, and deny you are descended from Adam next.
A SON OF ADAM.
- Hannibal Daily Journal, 5/13/1853
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