The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-07-19
Shaving a Millionaire.


the means by which he attained his riches
the effect they have upon him, his disposition
of them, or his sayings, pecularities and &c
centrIcltles.
Astor Girard, and Billy Gray, have fur
nished illustrations for many sketcher.-
We heard clever anecdote the other day OF
Billy Gibbons, a New Jersey millionaire, one
of which we will give our readers.
1t seems that Billy, while in a country vii
lage in which he owned some property, step
ped into BARRIERS shop to get shaved. The
shop was full of customers, and the old gen
tleman quiety waited his turn.
A customer who was under the BARRIERS
hands when the Old man came in, asked the
knight of the razor, in an under tone, if he
knew who that was, and on receiving a neg
ative reply, he informed him in whisper, it
was Old Billy Gibbons, the richest man in
the State
Cad said the barber, Ill charge him for
his shave.
Accordingly, after the old man had had
that operation performed, he was somewhat
surprised, upon asking the price, to be told -
'Seventy-tive cents
'Seventy-tive cents. said he quietly, isn't
that rather a nigh price,?
Its my price, said he of the lather-brush
independently, and as this is the ONLY bar
bers snop in the place, them as comes INTO it
must pay what ask
10 the old man this was evidently a knock
down argument, for he drew three quarters
OF dollar from his pocket. paid them over
to the barber, and left the shop.
y short time after he was in cl lse conver-
Satlon with the landlord Of tavern hard bv.
and the topic Of conyersation,-' BARRIERS
shops.
why is it, said he, there's only one bar
ber's shop in town? there seems to be nearly
enough work for two.
We'll. there used to be two said the land
lord, Till last winter VIXEN this new man
came up from the city and opened a new
shop, folks sort OF deserted BIZ. II ,rr;nston's 5
shop, which had been going for nigh fourteen
Years
But didn't this B.II do good work ? didn't
he shave well, and-cheap :?
Well, as for that SAID the landlord. 'Bill
did his work well enough aud cheap enough.
bat his shop want on the Nam stree, I.Ae
the new one, and DIDN'T have 50 many pic
tures and handsome curtains. and folks got
IN the way of thinking the new shop was
more scientific ,4d brought more cit, fashions
with Inn, tn ugh. to tell the truth sad tn
landlord. stroA.ns chin sown with Dear.
resembling screen wire, i never want d ,ht-
tr touch, or ketner razor, than B.i i.ar-
rinstoAs.'
City fashions-eh?' srowiru the old man.
80 the rev mans city fashions shut up the
other BARRIERS snop9'
We'll, not exactly said the landlord.
though things never did seem to 90 well
with B!ll after the new shop opc.el first
one of his little children died OF a fever, then
MS wife was sick long time, and B..l mad a
large account 10 pay al the Doctors. then as
last misfortune his shop burned down one
night, tools, furniture and all, and no insur-
ance
WELL SAID the Old man, pet,;shly. why
don't he start again .
Start again said the communicative land
lord, why, bless your soul, lie hasn't got any
thing 10 start with.
'H-m-m Where does this man live? ;
asked the old man.
He was dir,ctcd, and ere long was in con-
versatlon with the unfortunate tonsor, who
corrooorated the landlords story.
w ny don't YOU take new snop? sail tie
Old man, there's a new one III the block right
opposite the other BARRIERS shop
What said the other, YOU must be cra-
zy. Why, tnat block belongs to old BIZ,
Gibbons; he'd never let one of these stores
Tor BARRIERS shop; they are a mighty sight
TOO good, besides that haven't got twenty
dollars IN the world to tit it up with
y ou don't know old Billy Gibbons as we'll
as | do, sad tne other. Now listen to me-
If YOU can have that shop all fitted up, rent
free, what will you work in it tor by the
month? what is the least you can live on p
Inls proposition somewhat startled the un-
fortunate halr dresser, who finally found
words to stammer out that perhaps twelve or
fifteen dollars a month would be about
enough.
'Pshaw. said the old man, that won't do.
now listen to mel! give you that store,
rent tree, one year, and engage Your services
six months, all on these conditions. You are
to shave and cut hair for every BODY that ap-
plies to you, and take no pay just charge it
all to me, and for your services Iii pay you
twenty dollars month, payable III advance
pay to commence now, continued he, plac-
ing two ten dollar notes on the table before
the astonlshed barber,-Who it is almost un-
necessary to state, accepted the proposition,
and who was still more surprised to learn
that 1t was Billy Gibbons himself who had
hired MIN.
In few days the inhabitants of that vii
lage were aston.shed by the appearance of a
! splendid new BARRIERS shop, far surpassiny
the other IN elegance of appointments, and in
wmch, with new mugs, soaps, razorS and per
fumes stood barber and assistant ready TO
DO duty on the heads and boards of the peo-
pie. Over the door was inscribed VIM. Har-
rington, Shariny and Hair DRESSING Saioou.
The people We're not long in ascertaininy
or Slow IN avallng themselves of the privilege
OF this establishment, and it is not to be Won
dered at that l: was crowded and the other
deserted. The other held out some weeks,
snspectng this free shaving for Bill kept
MS secret well-was but dodge to en,ice
customers away, who would soon be charged
as usual ; but, at the end of six weeks, finding
Billy working away as usual, charging not
cent for his labor and having money to spend
INTO the bargain. he came to the conclusion
that he must have drawn prize in the lot
terry, Or stumbled upon gold mine, and was
keeping a barber shop for fun, so he closed
his shop in despair and lett the place.
Meantime Bill Harrington kept on busy
as bee, and one fine morning his employer
stepped in and, without word, sat down and
was shaved; ; on rising from his chair he ask
ed to see the score for the six months past
The barber exhibited it, and after careful
examination the man said: