Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-15
from me New england Mag6>ine.
Me 'IrA riONS IN a BARRIERS SHOP.

from me Ne,O england WdgncMe.
Me ''IrAr IONs IN A BARBER'S SHOP.
Mr. Willis saws Of one Of this most admired
PRODUCTIONS, .s that it was written in the blank
leaf Of a BARRIERS Testament, while he WAS wait
irr to be shaved " Encouraged by SO di,tu-
guished authority, wrile my friend Lathcrum is
engaged with prior customer. will gather up
and preserve my reflections. though, as there IS
no Testament in the room. must record them
on the tablet, of my ain, 10 te after Yards trans
ferred To sheet ct common paper.
Ever since reading he Arabian Nights have
had a warming Of the heart towards barber.
and the sentiment has increased both BY su6se.
uuent reading and observation. Whenever
anne across one in bnk, depended upon get
thug many IA good laugh out OF him. and was
seldom Disappointed Authors, all over the
world, agree IN the views they take of their char
acters The, are always described as jovial.
h.h,.heartcd dogs. full To the brim Of fun and
Grolic, running over with animal spirits. their
tongues wasging the welding day, and only stop
ping long enough Ia laugh. Care makes many
a clutch at them. but they always c0ntrte. tn
sin through his filgrrs. Poverty comes IN at
their door bu, Cheertulness dacs not hv out OF
the window Old Age lays HI frosty finger up
on their browS. and rheH laugh IN the gray boards
face. A suriv, malicious, Or even reserved bar.
Der, would shock our notions OF proprety as
much as IA god -natured Saracen, nr benevolent
| Ogre grew upIn 'IIte village, and gathered
nv idtas of barber from book: he was to me
| Paton,c idea. beautiful vision. an entity,
.hadnw: and. when cane tn the city and saw
real painted pole. took 1T my hat to 1t with an
involuntary Impulse Of re,psct; and. as to the
E,Iag on which, ior Ia fr,t ,lae, was profession
ally taken by The nose, esteem it one OF the
uhitest fmy life.
The bai ber in truth, deserves all the kind treat
men, he has recelYed from the hands OF men OF
lle,irrs He "a the essence ri guodnature lie
lb,s pleasant look with his eve. and he could not
frown irhe would His wit soften sharp as his
rwn razor, bn, like that, i, never draws blood; 1t
never shew itself in gibes, taunts. and TRUSTS
PERTAINS sume crusty cid bachelor, that prides
himself with shaving with cold water every morn
,nv. NAV think this piece Of especial humbrg;
if so, we have reasons for Oui inth as plenty as
tlac kberrtes.
In tie first place. M one would choose the pro-
fes.,on that not a man ct peace, iuii OF The
milk If human ndnees. Only think OF the
Temptations hat beset him-twenty or thirty
necks AMI bare TO him every dav of ms me- win
fu,I no fn,,sinn 10 pass a sharp razor within
hairs tmca,Ith of the carotid artery-who. that
had a LACY. organ Of Destruciveness, could re-
,ne wind wa, east. or his breakfast not we'll d.
| vested? Think Of that, Master Brook
In the second place, his native goodness oi heart
| il Eostered by the circumstances IN which he Is
placed. He takes sunny views of llIe' ana sees
men m the best mond No one enters his shop
wi,nour having mellow glow OF Satisfaction steal
over his soui In summer il is conet, and 10 win
ter warmer than the street. so that the hrst sen.
sation il a highly pleasurablc one And whoeV-
er eoes to get rd Of beard, or OF an uncomforta-
BILE and uube, omng length OF hair ieels happy
IN his errand; il diIfuses smiling LOOK over ms
face, far unlike the irowning brnw and compress
lin of the poor devil that creeps to the dentist to
have tooth pulled. or TO a lawyer I" oe he'Pea
out Ut a scrape. lie takes M MS coat anu era
vat with an expression of relief at being free from
their tieht grasp. H throws himself down into
the chair with an emphasis not 20 be mistaken
and. taking a long breath, watts away with II all
his a, Xietics aud cares.
The :. ton.or,al rt,t" now approai hes--he
handles his ri.lar aud neck as tenderiy as mo-
tLrr would new born infaut:-h he begins to IA
thor him-there Is magVc ~ the touth oi oie
brusb-U thrills To the marrow Now ne sees
and feels the sharp steel pa,ing around his chm,
and every cut takes nff weight from his spirits.
1t is finished; he arises a new man-he feels
clean and s,nno:h, and pure In heart-he VIII as
sent to paradox. laugh at an old story, ana say
amen to a PRAYER for his enemies. Happy the
creditor that can catch him at this suspicious mo-
ment; he will be paid with smile
The philanthEopic artist. meanwhile, 10 the
modesty of true merit, stands apart, content with
the luxury Of his own reflections, and receives,
with a bow, the douceur, which he OF the smooth
chin sminsly deposites in his hand, hnd such
Is his daily iife-constantly making men happier
re Frnu ia
hand. more satisfied with themselves and the
world. No wonder that he himself should be
p,tient. sweet.tempered, and fair spoken; should
believe in moral sense, and be staunch Opt.
r's..;a ~ "a 49, n5
There is good matter for speculation, too, in
your barber's brain
-tie hath strange places crammed
i,f With observation, the which h. vents 60 81
In mspgiea forms. ,"