Stump the German

[RJNorton]

Robert Fulton (of steamboat fame)?

[Gene C]

Steamboat Bill Jr (Buster Keaton) ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmyNiMjXMUw

You won't believe the special effects from this 1928 preview.

[RJNorton]

That video is hilarious, Gene!

[Eva Elisabeth]

I knew this one wouldn't challenge y'all - I didn't know that much:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fulton
...about Fulton before the street sign and picture made me curious.
   
Roger and Gene, you win tickets for:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0szHqIXQ2R8
Steam heat!

[Gene C]

That was great!

[J. Beckert]

Excuse me. Is this thing on?????

[Eva Elisabeth]

Right now this is on:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...e-179.html

[Eva Elisabeth]

I post it here as it is not a Lincoln question, but such a fun trivia of the day and at least sharing a Lincoln "feature" (and hope Roger will graciously bend the rules...)
Today is an anniversary of a weird legislative "introduction" (not in the US) that would have concerned President Lincoln in the respective time and place.
What was it?

[RJNorton]

(09-05-2018 03:09 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I post it here as it is not a Lincoln question, but such a fun trivia of the day and at least sharing a Lincoln "feature" (and hope Roger will graciously bend the rules...)

No problem! (But I am mentally empty regarding the answer.)

[Eva Elisabeth]

It applies to a frequently discussed PRESIDENT Lincoln feature. (Little prior to, too.)

[L Verge]

Does it pertain to Germany?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Nope, further east. The gentleman who issued the law on the feature was taller than Lincoln and his daughter actually died in Kiel where I live as she was a royal of the region.
The law that had anniversary yesterday, introduced in a quite radical way"was on an essential President Lincoln feature. He would have suffered had he been the gentleman's guest on that day.
Now what is first of all the feature the law was about?

[AussieMick]

The Beard!!! Peter the Great put a tax on beards (except for the serfs ... I just read that bit through google).

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sorry for delay - kudos Mick, a beard tax was levied by Tsar Peter I of Russia on 5th September, 1698, in one of the most unusual pieces of taxation ever.

In 1698, Tsar Peter’s Grand Tour of Europe had exposed to him the customs, cultures and societies of western Europe, and he became convinced that technologically, culturally and politically Russia had fallen behind, encumbered by its predominantly agrarian economy and lifestyle. Upon returning from his Grand Tour of Western Europe, Peter was greeted by a reception of the country’s nobles. Accounts claim that after embracing each one, Peter took out a pair of scissors and began to cut the beard off of the commander in chief of the Russian army. In stunned silence the gathered crowds watched as Peter moved on to the next dignitary, shaving each one personally. On the very day, September 5th, he also issued a tax on facial hair meaning that anyone who wished to keep a beard had to pay the government. Once their money had been deposited the bearded individual received a small, copper token as proof the tax had been paid. An impoverished beggar could pay for his beard with just two kopeks, whereas the wealthiest members of society had to pay over a hundred roubles. The police were given powers to shave on sight those who didn’t pay or comply.
       

Mick, you win this Grand Pas des Deux from Petipa's "Bluebeard", performed by the prestigious Petersburg State Ballet:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8z_sOBRS0

[Eva Elisabeth]

Without resenting to the omniscient Google -
1. Who painted this?
2. What is depicted?
   
(You sure may guess on one of the questions only!)