The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-28

business They must not be consounded one with
the other, however, for assure our readers that
there is great difference existing. between them,
and especially between the ladies' hsirdressers and
the BARRIERS, who have nothing whate Ter in commUn
with each other. In reading this account, thcre-
sere, they must be careful to note those nice dis
tiactions.
THE BARRIERS AND THEIR BUSINESS.
The BARRIERS OF New York are a peculiar class of
men, different in their habits and Character from
any ether class of tradesmen. We do not know that
heir business can properly be ranked amcng the
trades although, general thing, they serve re-
gular apprenticeship teit The shaving of aboard
does not, one might naturally suppose require much
mechanical skill or ingenuity for there are thousands
in New York who perform the operation upon them
selves daily; but there are other things connected
with the business, knowledge of which cannot be
obtained by intuition. The curling and cutting Of
hair must be acquired both by close observation and
constant practice, and thu art of dyeing whiskers,
mustacbios, imperials, and sometimes eyebrows can
not be learned in few lessons Then there are DIFF
ferent styles in which the whiskers must be worn,
to suit the taste Of individual or in compliance
with the requirements of fashion. There are at least
twenty different forms Of goatees the heavy and tho
light the close cut and the bushy the pointed and the
fat &C., while the musachios numerous and a.
varied. Then the imperial upon which so much time II
expended and which is considered by some the crown
ing facial establishment cannot be too tendery or
cautiously treated by barbers slip of the razor
may cut off two hairs, and so injure its fair
proportions as to render its amputation necessary,
Now, with some persons, the loss of the imperial is
calamity, and the barber through whom it comes
he Of OUQc Tn
cutting the hair they also considerable risk and
the chances are ten to against them even after
they have expended all their ingenuity. The hair
is either too long too short too closely trimmed in
one place, or uneveny cut at the Sides These ara
but few of the difficulties and trials to which bar
bers subject in the practice of their business and
which they must submit to with resignation. After
all however these trials, well as their work. are
light; and as BARRIERS of quiet, easy and rather
phlegmatic temperament their patience is not readi-
ly exhausted They must be sociabe, and be able to
adapt themselves to the humor Of their custom.
ers; they must laugh with the merry, be
ocular with the witty, speculative with the poliu.
clan grave with the gloomy, tell anecdotes ad in6n-
num, be thoroughly conversant wi h the politics Of
the day. posted up on all the accidents and last but
not least they must be observant and learned upon.
the weather barber who keeps shop must
comply with all these requirements, if he would be.
popular increase his Gust I'M: and it is really
astonishing with what facility the Germans learn
these pecuartes 1t certainly indicates the pos
session Of no ordinary perception their part, and
shows, Also that BARRIERS must naturally be Of philo
sophical turn of mind. They have certainly moro
time for meditation and study than the majority Of
tradesnen; but believe there are few instances ON
pr THAR bav ric IN ounin
ton, except in their own business. The only one
whom we are aware of an exception, was the bar
ber Of Louis X of France, who ruled the State du-
ring the greater part Of the reign of that weak
minded monarch. Binette, the great barber Of the
court Of Louis XIV, was during his day. one Of the
most important personages in Paris, and lived in q
style of masnifcence hardly inferior to the grand
monarch himself.
The BARRIERS of New York occupya a higher position
in the social scale than the BARRIERS Of London, or
any other English city. Here they take the biggest
merchants by the nose; but in England such fami-
larity in the way Of business is permitted only BY
tradesmen, for there gentlemen-cr those who are
called so-shave themselves; consequently, there
no first class BARRIERS shops like those we have
here, and the business is not conducted on such an
extensive scale. We do not, of course speak of hair
dressers in this connection, for we must certainly
admit the English to equality with us in the art
of hair dressing, and from what we can learn, we
should consider them superior.
The number Of BARRIERS in New York is estimated
at fifteen hundred, which is about three to each
shop. Their average wages is seven dollars week,
some receiving eleven, while others do not earn more
than five. There is no standard rate of wages, the
amount depending upon the skill Of the journey.
man, II we count the apprentices, the whole num-
Der employed in shaving, excluding the Wall street
shavers, of course, is two thousand. The yearly
amount paid in wages to the fifteen hundred jour
neymen exceeds halG million Of dollars. We have
made an estimate Of the number of persons who are
shaved daily, to make up this sum, and allow be-
sides, fair proportion Of profits to the employers,
and find that they must amount to forty thousand.
This includes hair cutting, curling, shampooing and
dyeing, rs well as shaving But there is another
source Of revenue which we should not 0mit-the
honeing of razors, and the sale of hair oil, and
other articles which are generally sold in barbeu'
shops.
II may be said with truth of BARRIERS that they are
very economical in their habits. Their highest am
bon appears to be the possession Of shop Of their
own; and to achieve this great object many Of them
will deny themselves not only the uxuries but some
of the necessaries of life The Germans form about
twothirds of the BARRIERS in New York, and own tho
largest number Of shops. The history Of some them
show what can be done on the most limited means,
and by a rigid system Of economy. We know
one who was hardly three years out Of his appreu.
ticeship when he had saved from six dollars week.
sufficient to establish shop and ft it up with all
the necessary appurtenances. on the shop was .
little bedroom, In which he slept and lived. In tho
course of year or two he had saved enough to en-
large bis shop by taking down the partition between
it and his sleeping apartment, added two or three
chairs, introduced the Croton water, and made many
other improvements. Now he Is doing fourishin9
business, and employs three or four assistants.
The BARRIERS are made up Of natives Of Germany.
Italy, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, and .
few but they are very few indeed natives Of tho