Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-08-02
Mistfllaneuus.
Shaving A Millionaire.

Dy MS own eXcTtlOnS, ana StralSntWay
you shall hear numerous anecdotes illus
trsting the means by which he attained
his riches, the effect they have upon him,
his disposition Of them, or his sayings,pe-
culiarities, and eccentricities
Astor, Girard and Billy Gray have fur
nished illustrations for many clever
sketcher. We heard few clever anec-
dotes the other day of Billy Gibbons, a
New Jersey millionaire, one Of which We
will give our readers.
1t seems that Billy, while in country
village in which he owned some property,
stepped into a BARRIERS shop to get shaved.
The shop was full of customers, and the
old gentleman quietly waited for his turn.
\ 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 re-
cciving negative 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 some
what surprised, upon asking the price, to
be told" Seventy-ive cents"
Seventy-fve cents ~ said he quietly,
g isn't that rather high price,"
It's my price," said he Of the lather
brush independently, "and as this is the
only barber's shop in the place, them as
comes into it must pay what | ask"
To the old man this was evidently
knock.down argument, for he drew three
quarters of dollar from his pocket, paid
them over to the barber, and left the
shop.
A short time after he was in close con-
versation with the landlord of a tavern
hard by and the topic Of conversation
" barber shops.
Why is it," said he "there's only
one BARRIERS shop in town? there seems
to be nearly enough work for two"
"Well, there used to be two," said the
landlord, " till last winter, when this new
man came up from the city and opened
new shop, aud as everything in it was
fresh and new, folks sort of deserted Bill
IIarringtou's shop, which had been going
for nigh fourteen years
But didn't this Bill do good work
didn't he shave we'll and-cheap ?"
Well, as for that" said the landlord,
" Bill did his work well enough h and cheap
enough, but his shop wasn't on the Main
street like the new one, and didn't have
50 many pictures and handsome curtains,
and folks got in the way Of thinking the
new chap was more scientific and brought
more city fashions with him, though, to
tell the truth, said the landlord, stroking
i chin sown with beard resembling
screen wire, q never want a lighter
touch, or kecncr razor than Bill llar-
rington
"City flshions--ch :" said the old man
$50 the new mans city fashions Shut up
the other barber shop
well, not exactly, said the landlord,
though things never did seem to 60 well
with Bill after the new shop opened =
first one Of his little children died Of a
fever, then his wife was sick long time,
and Bill had big bill to pay at the Doe
tors, then as last misfortune his shop
burned down one night, tools, brushes, fur.
niture and all, and no insurance.
Well" said the old man pettishly,
why don't he start again2'
Start again - said the communicative
landlord, why, bless your soul, he hasn't
got anything to start with
Hmm Where does this man
live? asked the old man.
lie was directed, and ere long was in
conversation with the unfortunate tonsor
who corroborated the landlords story,
Why don't you take a new shop
said the old man, i" there's new one In
the block right opposite the other barber
shop"
What ," said the other, you must
be crazy. Why, that block belongs to
old Billy Gibbons he'd never let one of
these stores for BARRIERS shop; they are
a miu,n,,;; sieht too good, besides that |
haven't got twenty dollars in the world to
fit it up with"
You don't know old Billy Gibbons az
well as | do said the other. Now lis
ten to me. Ii you can have that shop all
fitted up, rent free, what will you work
in it for by the month what is the least
you can live on"
This proposition somewhat startled the
unfortunate hair 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 NELL give
you that store rent free, one year, and
engage your services six months, all on
these conditions You are to shave and
cut hair for everybody that applies to
you. and take no pay; just charge 1t all
to me. and for your services Ill pay you
twenty dollars month, payable in ad.
yance-pay to commence now" continued
he, placing two ten dollar notes on the ta'
Bile before the astonished barber,-who 1t
is almost unnecessary to state, accepted
the proposition, and who was still more
surprised to learn that it was Billy Glib
bons himself who had hired him.
In few days the inhabitants of that
village were astonished by the appearance
of splendid new BARRIERS shop, far sur
passing the other in elegance of appoint
ments, and in which, with new mugs, soaps,
razors and perfumes, stood barber and
assistant ready to do duty on the heads
and boards of the people. Over the door
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