Opening of the Fréjus Rail Tunnel: a group of soldiers with false moustaches and beards stand with swords, a mace and a furled flag. Wood engraving by C.J.B. (?) after R. Linklater, 1871.

The Mont Cenis tunnel, also called the Fréjus Rail Tunnel, opened in 1871, joining Bardonecchia in Italy with Modane in France. The committee organizing the inauguration had voted that the sapeurs-pompiers (fire brigades) of the relevant towns should be present at the event. One of them claimed that firemen were without exception "bearded men of might", and that the clean-shaven recruits drafted in to add to their number should be provided with false beards: "on Sunday morning the guard of honour shone at the Fourneaux station in all the lustre of their borrowed plumes; exciting the laughter and ironical cheers of the assembled French engineers. Poor fellows! most acutely did they appear to feel the ridicule of their position, and this, of course, increased their natural awkwardness. ..."--The graphic, loc. cit.