Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-08-05
Waiting fOr IL Shave.

Getting shaved is Of the annOyanctS oil the pan
aoon freshly razOrcd face is exceedingly pleas
ant, to be sure and never feels better an when
just ushered from barber shop with renovated head
The annoyance docs not consist in the act OF being
shaved in the daub Of lather nose and mouh, in
the scrapngs Of the razOr active mani uia0ns OF
the barber. The trouble is in the delay 1t is habit
of the tonsoral profession (a fashionable BARRIERS are
now prOssors) to keep their customers in waiting by
employing less force than is requisite to obey the calls
of those who ratronize them. This is especially the
case Saturday nights, when in most barrier shops one
must wait at least half an hour before his rough face
could feel the touch Of the BARRIERS keen and shining
instruments.
While crowds are thus waiting their turns amusing
incidents often transpre. First come, first served
is the nvariabe rule, and every must wait his turn,
no matter how urgent bis Not long ago. easy
gC-ong auctOnCcr, who did not whether he was
shaved before after dinner found himself in II crowd
OF impatient patrons Of the barber shop he was n
Combining speculation with amusement the auctioncc,
offered to dispose OF his " turn at auction to the high
est bidder. There instantaneous rpSpoEsr he
riOuntCd chair and auciomccrrcd Hs toiloWS
"Gntlcmo0. my turns next John is now soaping
the head of that gentleman and as soon as he's through
tie clair IS mlMc. Several of you III hurry and
am not Im ready to do one Of you good office by
selling nay turn knock down to the highest bidder
50 pitch in Who bids and what's bid?'
"Thrcc cents, sang out merchant from the post Office
"Ihree it i8-whO advances? o.
Five" responded three or four.
Five is offered by dozen. Who goes higher
Be quick gentlemen for time is short"
Ten" shouted livery stable keeper.
"Tweve' the lando OF restaurant.
"FiitGen,' q merchant who had not received hi.
letters.
Fifteen for the first shave, EffGff, going at fifteen
gentlemen, and the time nearly up, ana going going
90"
Eighteen" bid the stable keeper
| "Twenty,'' the saloon keeper
twenty-five" the merchant.
The barber just then topping off the customer in
the chair, and but a moment more was to spare.
q go thirty" responded the stable man.
Forty shouted the merchant.
Five to that, eXcitedly exclaimed the saloon keep
er and LII have it if it costs days receipts
Soil l-fiity' promptly responded the stable keep
err more excited than the rival bidder
| The two merchants withdrew from the contest and
the auctOneer proceeded in strictly business
to urge on the remaining bidders He used all the cu
ming and ingenuity OF man OF the hammer The two
bidders became much excited and bid against each other
rapidly. The stable bid $l05 wher the barber
shouted
| Next-who neXt?'
Going, going" the response of the auctioneer
| &" GOng, going, and-"
One ten," shouted the saloon keeper.
"Just in time, and going at one ten -"
"One fifteen,' said the stable keeper.
And gone at one dollar and fifteen " closed the auc
| TONER.
hearty shout of laughter arose from the crowd in
the barber shop, all OF whom had become or less
interested in the rival bidding for the first shave The
stable keeper promptly paid the dollar and fifteen
cents to the auctoneer, remarking as he did So
"Its dear shave, gentlemen, but would have gone
double, rather than be beat"
Pluck-cal again next week, was the response oil
the auctoneer he pocketed the clear receipts. Light
ing cigar and spreading himself out two chairs, he
laziIy awaited his deferred turn for shayes