Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-25
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER p, 1859.
biRBER'S SIGNS.


in the 45th year Of that city. The citizens
were 50 profoundly impressed with the useful
ness Of this vocation that they erected sta
tue to the man who devoted his talents to
the hair and beard Some connect this
grateful memorial to the men OF lather with
the peculiar signs that distinguished the
shops and BARRIERS. This is only less salts
factory than the conceit that the pole was
suggested by the word poll or head. The
minds of other antiquarians have been agt;t-
ted by this subject, and many of these stu
dents of motIl-eaten books have INDUCED
in conuctures as hugely improbable as these.
But the investigations Of others have been re-
warded with success. Since the emblematic
stripes and ball have been explained, we
wonder how these knowing scholars could
have shot 80 wide Of the mark. But our ridi
Guile is rebuked BY Columbus and we will
not allow ourselves 10 think that II was easy
10 make the egg stand on its end.
The parti-colored staff proclaimed with
all the emphasis Of paint the various servl-
ces performed by the occupant OF the shop.
The ball that surmounts the pole represents
u basin; the black spiral stripe, dccaycd teeth:
the red, blood; the white, the linen bandage
that was bound round the arm, and the
staff itself, the piece OF wood that the
patient held in his hand 10 assist the flow
Of the purple stream. These symbols have
lost their Specification, for the lancet and
the forccps have been taken from the bar
Der. But the shops before which these
pretty poles were planted were until recent
iy the resort Of sufferers from tonthachc and
Of the burlv fellows whose heads swan. and
whose temporal arteries seemed I" their cxci-
ted imagination swollen with Il dangerous
quantity Of blood. Extracting teeth and
breathing veins gave dignity and an lmpor-
lance to the vocation of Barber. aud 1t Is
plausible conjecture that nj the first they were
surgeons Of lower degree, and only added
the razor and scissors to their other instru-
ments when these branches Of their business
declined.
There is some difference Of opinion CON
corning the intention of the golden ball at
the top Of the parti-colored pole. Some Gu
rious scholars tell us it signifies money
This Interpretation is sustained BY the tact
tina. we have descriptions OF BARRIERS poles
that instead OF ball have 4 label pasted on
the end, inscribed in large letters with the
"word money" lfthis conjecture he true,
the pole was simply equivalent 10 a moder-
notice that such was invariably required;
and the beautiful sign stripped otall its EN-
henatic significance. is made rebus..-
This may have been the weak invention OF =
solitary individual, but We have the best an.
thorty for attaching i higher meaning to
this decoration.
This golden ball is Of greater antiquity
than the winding colors. Long before the
stripes cmbellished the pole, it was sur
mounted hy a basin, that all wh, needed the
skill of the rhrurgcon might he able to see
it nj Il distance, and taking heart, tottcr oil,
The propriety Of placing this symbol OF
their profession on pole. is manifest, Tor IN
those DAYS personal conflicts We're common
and swords and hard fists inflicted serious
wounds But the pewter basin was, IN course
Of time. removed and its place supplied by
the snmrs hat arbitrary symbol that now
decks the tri-colored staff
Cav, thus describes u barber shop OF olden
time:
Ills pole with pewter basins hung
Black rotten teeth in order strung,
Ranged cups that in the window stood,
Lind with red rag to look like blood;
pii well his three fold trade explain,
WI" shav'd. drew teeth. and hrrathcd 7 VEN.
The following answer is given by the
queriSt who inquiries why BARRIERS make use
OF the parti-colored pole as sign.
.In ancient Rome, when men loved lighting,
And wounds and sears too much delight n
Man-monders then had noble pay.
Which We call surgeons 10 this day.
Twas orier'd that huge long pole
With basin deck'd should grace the whole,
70 guide the wounded, who, unl"pt,
Could walk on stumps, the others h"pt:
hut when they ended i'll their wars,
Aud men grew out Of love with sears,
Their ira lie decnying to keep swimming,
They juin'd the other trade OF trimming.
Aui on their poles to publish either.
Thus twisted both their trades together.
In the DAYS when BARRIERS let blood and
dressed wounds. there were 10 newspapers,
and their shops were the tavorlte resort OF
the people who were more fond Of gathering
news than Of working And ~ this large
class Of citizens were among the Outrageous
patronS. the men Of various functions took
care 10 provide amusement for these luungers.
Musicians were employed ut certain hours,
puppat shows were exhibited to the gaping
crowd. and We may take it for granted that
the profits ofths shops were increased by the
sale Of beer.
The GENERATORS on hair and flesh We're al
WAYS brimful of news; the latest accident.
the raciest scandal could always be obtained
fresh from their willing tongues. and We can
conceive the iuv with which the itching ears
drank in the low sound ,..... proceeded from
the fluent takers WHO bowed over them, as
they sat in the chair that Shakespeare tells
us fitted the fat and lean And they "ccu-
pied these comfortable seats much longer
than gentlemen are wont to do IN these days
OF enterprise and hurry. for BARRIERS then
not only used scissors and razorS, but they
also pared the nails and picked the ears and
teeth.
An aneodote that is on record IN 4 work
published in 1907 does not convey very
high idea Of the learning Of this most useful
profession. The auther tells Us that having
been affected with catarrh, by the advice OF
his physician he was cuppcd by a barber
After the operation was over the surgeon
asked the patient if he would be Socr.Hctd.
The sick man in establishment, exclaimed,
"Smrifcs2-did the physician says must
sacrfced?' mo" answered the barber,
.but have sacrificed many who have been