Question of Kropotkin

[UndergroundConnexion]

fact unknown to many regards Kropotkin's beard, which was grown initially to act as a disguise when he became a fugitive in 1876. His trademark facial hair went on to become one the most defining features of Kropotkin, aside his ideological beliefs. Some historians have indeed argued that the beard may not have been his own at all.


What is meant with the "not his own at all " ... do these historians mean that it wasnt a real beard and that he sticked it on every morning? Or was it initialy a wig ? Could somebody please explain more on Kropotkin's beard?

[Raúl Duke]

Some historians have indeed argued that the beard may not have been his own at all.

They were so amazed by his beard and found it impossible that a man, especially an anarchist, could have such a beard! :P

I really wouldn't know...I bet th information about his beard is so obscure that maybe nobody on these forums know the truth of his beard.

[bezdomni]

:lol:

Kropotkin's beard is theft!

[Montagnard]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2007 09:20 pm
fact unknown to many regards Kropotkin's beard, which was grown initially to act as a disguise when he became a fugitive in 1876. His trademark facial hair went on to become one the most defining features of Kropotkin, aside his ideological beliefs. Some historians have indeed argued that the beard may not have been his own at all.


What is meant with the "not his own at all " ... do these historians mean that it wasnt a real beard and that he sticked it on every morning? Or was it initialy a wig ? Could somebody please explain more on Kropotkin's beard?

Everybody had a beard:

http://www.selvesandothers.org/IMG/cache-200x268/dostoyevsky-200x268.jpg
Dostoyevsky

http://www.edinformatics.com/great_thinkers/LeoTolstoy.jpg


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Nikolay_Chernyshevsky.jpg
Chernyshevsky

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Alexander_Herzen.jpg/180px-Alexander_Herzen.jpg
Herzen

https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/citd/RussianHeritage/7.GR/SCMEDIA/7.%20pl.242.gif
Russian Peasants

Kropotkin's was sizable but Tolstoy coulda been in ZZTop.

[Kropotkin Has a Posse]

Did many urban workers have big beards in that era? I ask this because you'd associate them with being anarchists more readily than a bearded Russian nobleman.

[Janus]

What is meant with the "not his own at all " ... do these historians mean that it wasnt a real beard and that he sticked it on every morning?
Yes, I believe that is what the article is claiming: that Kropotkin wore a false beard as a disguise. Personally, I don't see why Kropotkin would've had difficulty growing a natural beard unless of course he periodically shaved it in order to confuse officials.

[Never Give In]

Well, that'd be avoiding the tax on getting a haircut. An Anti-Capitalist beard, perhaps? :P

[Tower of Bebel]

There's nothing special about facial hair when it comes to disguises. F.e. Lenin shaved his beard in 1917 as a disguise and used a wig (in order to flee to Finland).

http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/photo/1895-1917/1917-01.jpg

I guess the efficient change in facial hair is less suspicious then wearing a mask?

[Never Give In]

That's actually a very good idea. Disguising yourself with a beard (upon entry to any action you would not stand out like you would with,say, a ski-mask) and upon fleeing shave it off.

[Aleksandrov]

In those days it would have been effective since the police would just use a photograph to see if you are one of their wanted. Growing/Shaving off a beard would have been suitable from a far distance.

Nowadays it's a lot harder.

[Never Give In]

Originally posted by [email protected] 08, 2007 03:48 pm
In those days it would have been effective since the police would just use a photograph to see if you are one of their wanted. Growing/Shaving off a beard would have been suitable from a far distance.

Nowadays it's a lot harder.
That is true. They look into many more features. Back then they just ahd a very, very basic description that you could avoid fitting into easily.

[EwokUtopia]

Originally posted by Never Give [email protected] 08, 2007 07:20 pm
That's actually a very good idea. Disguising yourself with a beard (upon entry to any action you would not stand out like you would with,say, a ski-mask) and upon fleeing shave it off.
Well, its how I got beer when I was 18.



But whats next? Stalins mustache was a fake, attached to his pipe?

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Never Give [email protected] 09, 2007 05:20 am
That's actually a very good idea. Disguising yourself with a beard (upon entry to any action you would not stand out like you would with,say, a ski-mask) and upon fleeing shave it off.
It'd have to be a really big beard, otherwise I can't imagine it making much of a difference.