>A Prussian spy later sent to keep tabs on him reported with a mixture of awe and anxiety: “His hair and beard are quite black. The latter he does not shave.”
How does the statement convey either awe or anxiety? How else would you describe a black haired man with a beard?
"Other cultures (while not officially mandating it), view a beard as central to a man's virility, exemplifying such virtues as wisdom, strength, sexual prowess and high social status. However, in cultures where facial hair is uncommon (or currently out of fashion), beards may be associated with poor hygiene or a "savage," uncivilized, or even dangerous demeanor."[1]
Basically, beards are coming back in fashion.
More interestingly, it might be because of sexual selection. When facial hair is rare, people rate facial hair as more attractive. When it is common, then clean shaven is more attractive.
"When shown men's faces, men and women study participants consistently rated the faces with beards or stubble as more attractive than clean-shaven faces. But beards were most alluring when facial hair was rare, whereas clean-shaven faces gained in popularity when hairy faces were the norm."[2]
If this is true, then beards, when unhindered by religious beliefs, will follow a sort of sinusoid function. As they become more prevalent, they will fall out of fashion because clean-shaven will look sexier. When they're less prevalent, they will start growing in popularity again because they're sexy. As soon as majority is reached, the pattern changes.
I see more than before but it is not that common, here in north EU at least, yet. I went to two clubs last week and I was 1 of 2-3 bearded guys which indeed aided in attracting female attention (as it always has in my experience). I do not mind if this is the peak ;)
I can't speak for everyone, but whenever my facial hair gets long enough it's just a burlap sack on my face, full of itching and regret. It actually seems weird to me to do this to yourself just to be fashionable.
That's a stage early in the growth of your beard. The itchiness can be "treated" (conditioning goes a long way) and, regardless, goes away relatively quickly—for me it's around the fourth week.
In your case, if you ever do grow a beard again, I recommend keeping your mustache trimmed. An untrimmed mustache is a substantially greater exercise in patience. You have to train the hairs to not creep into your mouth and, even then, there is a months-long period of time when the hairs aren't long enough to stay out of the way and eating anything wider than your mouth ends with you playing the "am I chewing on food or whiskers" game.
As for me, I grow a beard because 1) I can (thanks, genes plus work environment!) and 2) it keeps my face warm during northeast winters.
That goes away and growing/shaving for a few years it never itches again. I grow because I find shaving a waste of time as do most my friends. It is a good time as in the 80s/90s you could not do this in most company settings: suit, tie and shave! Now it is fine: I did not shave then either and never wore a suit as I find both uncomfortable and it did me good: like metal guys have more chance of picking up girls at normal clubs, it is all about niche. Accidental or not.
How does the statement convey either awe or anxiety? How else would you describe a black haired man with a beard?