Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-07
THE BARBER OF NUREMBERG.
From the FreI


University, after scraping the chins of a dozen
students, was preparing 10 retire to rest, when
suuuenIy the door OF his shop opened. and n
man OF short stature, but robust frame quickly
stepped towards him. The appearance and
language of this parsonage, whom the barber
never remembered 10 have seen before in his
shop, indicated jOvial fellow and man free
rom all care, His costume was rather singular
lie wore brOad-brimmed hat, an old fashioned
coat, and gray breeches IA tened with copper
buckles His hair, curling, and black as the
raven s wing. fell upon his shoulders; his NOUS
taches were long and thick, and his beard had
at least hye days growth. He bowed in free
and familiar manner upon entering the shop,
aud uneeremOnOusly seated himself in the arm
chair that received the BARRIERS customers
The barber gazed with astonishment upon the
stranger, and could not recover from his sur
PRISE at such familiarity. The other, without
noticing IN the slightest the aStOnishment Of
the barber, passed and repassed his hand over
his heavy beard. At lcngth he said:
Can You shave mel'
. Sir said the barber with as much assu-
rance rs if he had not understood him.
- ask you il you can shave me-" replied
the other, In a loud voice. O. Have | come for
anything else but that And again he CON-
menccd strOking his beard complacently.
The barber was tall, spare man, furnished
with legs somewhat resembling spindles; he
might have been about fifty years of age, and
courage, even in his youth, had never been the
most brilliant trait in his character. Still he
had too much personal dignity-he. the barber
patronized by the professors of the University
10 allow himself to be defed with impunity by
n stranger in his own house His anger was
stronger than the sensation of fear he expert
enced, and he listened to the question of his in
sOlent visitor with an assurance unusual TO him
You ask me. sir, if l can shave you" said
he, continuing to whet n razor which he was
holding in his hand when the stranger entered
" do not see any obstacle why | should not
notwithstanding the late hour of the evening
can, continued he, jestingly, - shave any
man who has never had any beard on his chin
You would not be more difficult to shave than
any other person, although your beard has
some resemblance to the hair of hedgehog
or any other animal Of that kind"
Ah, very we'll You will shave me then ~
replied the other, seating himself comfortably
In the armchair, unfastening his eravat and
extending his large limbs. placed himself in
the position Of man who is to be shaved and
rubbed and stroked his beard and chin with
evident satisfaction.
The barber placed his spectacles upon his
long nose, and gazed upon the stranger with
malicious and irOnical air. Finally be broke
the silence:
e say, sir, that can shave everybody
but
:" But WHAT said the other, discontentedly
But You L will not, replied the barber
And he began to wbet his razor as before with
out paying more attention to the new conner
whs appeared perfectly astonished at the lam
guGge, and regarded the barber with surprise
mingled with curiosity.
But curiosity soon gave way to anger which
was evident by the distentiOn OF his breast and
nostrils, and by the passion which suddenly
burned IN his countenance. By degrees his
cheeks swelied out until they had almost ae-
quired the size aad roundness of an enormous
pumpkin.
. Not shave NE ? said he, suddenly eiecting
from bis lungs and cheeks the quantity OF air
which filled them. This explosion Of wind was
terrible The barber trembed like leaf and
had not strength to utter a single word. - Not
shave me" cried the stranger and silence
continued to reign. mot shave me-" re-
Peated the little man a third time, louder still
sPringlng from his seat with an extraordinary
bound, considering his corpulsnce.
The barber was alarmed. not without rea-
son; for the other placed himself before him.
with arms akimbO and flashing eyes in the
strop and razor upon the mantel-piece, hardly
knowing what be did
" Dou you wish to insult me in my own
house murmured he, with all the courage
be could call TO his aid.
- Blood and thunder! Who smoke ef insult-
ing you L wish to be shaved What is there
In that so uncommon 2''
do not shave after ten o'clock" replied
the barber; "besldes, work only for the pro-
iesSors and students OF the university. have
been strictly forbidden by the Reverend Doc
tor Heligen Anhelat and the acadenical senate
10 exercise my ingenuity upon the face or head
of all others )"
g Doctor Heiligen Anhelat." repeated the
other, with smile of contempt land what
Ounce can be be 2'
= He is the provost of the university, and
the professor Of moral philosophy" :" replied the
barber, greatly shocked to hear the learned
doctor spoken of in such a term
-" What Is 1t this vulgar pedant Anhelat
who gives such orders? 1 have not tine to
pass the whole night here, aud have but one
thing TO say to you. 1t is, that if you do not
shave me, L will shave YOU and in the right
manner, too So think well of it; YOU now
see what you have TO do" And suiting the
action to the word, he extended his arm seized
the barber by the nose, and forcibly held him
upon the chair which he himself had quilted
The other was u moment abashed by the ra-
PIdIty Ot this movement. He looked with
mixture OF surprise and rage upon the author
OF tins audaoiOus action and il was only when
feeling upon his face the cold and wet impress
oi the Iather-brush, that he was recalled to
his present situation. lie tried to rise, but
was Kept IN his place by the vigorous aud in
nexlbIe arm OF the little man. He had no other
resource than to turn bis head from left to
night to avoid the fatal brush but his efforts
were useless
His forehead his nose, his cheeks, and his
ears were daubed with the soapy matter
when he attempted to cry out, his efforts were
not more successful: the indefatigable little
man FILED his mouth with lather and continued
with more energy than ever With one hand
he held him by the throat; with the other, fur
nIshed- with the brush, he pursued his opera
flon, laughing heartily, and enjoy ing with the
most clamorOus mirth the scene before his eyes
AT length the barber succeeded in pronounc-
IL
his might. promising 20 shave his oppressor mt
all times whenever be wished it. notwithstapd-
ing the orders Of Heiligen Auhelat and the
academical senate. This declaration gave him
some respite. lie tremblingIy arose His FIRST
care Was to remove the lather, which attested
." his humiliation, while the little man cooIIy
seated himself in the chair, nearly bursting
with laughter.
The stupehed barber prepared his nstru-
mcnts for the operation which he was 10 per-