The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-10-22
WAITING FOR A SHAVE.

Getting shaved is one of the annoyances
of the pantaloon sex A freshly razored
face is exceedingly pleasant, to be sure,
and a man never feels better than when
just ushered from barber-shop with rem
ovated head. The annoyance does not
consist in the act of being shaved, in the
daub of lather over nose and mouth, in the
scrapings of the razor, nor the active man.
ipulations of the barber. The trouble is
in the delay. This is especially the case
Saturday nights, when, in most barber
shops, one must wait at least half an hour
before his rough face can feel the touch of
the BARRIERS keen and shining instrument.
While crowds are thus waiting their turns,
amusing incidents often transpire. "First
come first served" is the invariable rule,
and every one must wait his turn, no mat
ter how urgent his case. Not long ago an
easy -go-long auctioneer, who did not care
whether he was shaved before or after din
ner, found himself in crowd Of impatient
patrons of the barber-shop he was in. Com
,ining speculation with amusement, the
auctioneer offered to dispose of his "turn"
at auction to the highest bidder. There
was an instantaneous response, so he noun
ted chair, and auctioneered as follows:
Gentlemen, my turns next. John is
now soaping the head of that gentleman,
and as soon as he's through the chair is
mine. Several of you are int hurry, and
| am not. l m ready to do one of you
good Office by selling my turn. | knock
down to the highest bidder, so pitch in
Who bids, and what's bid ?"
"Three cents" sang out merchant from
the post-ofice.
"Three it is; who advances 2"
Give" responded three or four.
Five is offered by a dozen Who goes
higher Be quick, gentlemen, for time is
short"
Ten" shouted a very-stable-keeper.
Twelve" said the landlord of a res
taurant.
Fifteen" cried a merchant who had not
received his letters
Fifteen for the first shave; fffffffif,
going at fifteen, gentlemen, and the time
nearly up, and going, going, go"
Eighteen" bid the stable-keeper.
Twenty" the saloon-keeper.
twenty-five" the merchant.
The barber was just then topping OFF the
customer in the chair, and but a moment
was to spare.
Il go thirty" responded the stable
keeper.
"Forty," shouted the merchant.
Give to that" excitedly exclaimed the
saloon-keeper, "and I'll have it if it, costs
me days receipts"
o'll1-ffty," promptly responded the
stable-keeper, more excited than the rival
bidder.
The two merchants withdrew from the
contest, and the auctioneer proceeded in
strictly business manner to urge on the re-
naming bidders. He used all the cunning
and ingenuity of man of the hammer.
The two bidders became much excited, and
bid against each other rapidly. The sta
ble-man bid one dollar FIVE, when the bar
Der shouted:
"Next-who's NEXT"
"Going, going," was the response of the
auctioneer. "Going, going, and
"One ten,' shouted the saloon-keeper.
Gust in time, and going at one ten"
"One fifteen said the stable-keep
"And gone at one dollar ffteen,a closed
the auctioneer.
A hearty shout of laughter arose from
the crowd in the barber-shop, all of whom
had become more or less interested in the
rival bidding for the first shave. The Sta
ble-keeper promptly paid over the dollar
and fifteen cents to the auctioneer, remark
ing as he did So
Its dear shave, gentlemen, but 1
would have gone double rather than be
beat"
PLUCK; call again next week. was the
response Of the auctioneer, as he pocketed
the clear receipts. Lighting a cigar and
spreading himself on two chairs, he lazily
awaited his turn for a shave.