The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-10-05
Shaving a Millionaire 4

thy by his own exartions, and straightway
you will hear anecdotes illustrating the
means by which he attained his riches,
the effects they have upon him, his dispo-
| sition OF them, sayings, peculiaraities, and
eecentricities.
Astor Girard, and Billy Gray have fur
nised illustrations of many clever sketch
er. We heard a few clever anecdotes the
other day of Rilly Gibbons, New Jersey
Millionaire, one of which We give our
readers.
1t seems that Billy, while in a country
village in which he owned some property,
stepped into a barber shop to get shaved.
! The shop was full of customers, and the
old gentleman quietly waited for his own
/ turn.
A.customer who was under the barber S
hands when the old gentleman came in,
asked the knight of the razor" in an
under tone if he knew who he was, and
| on receiving negative reply, he informed
him in whisper, it was "old Billy Glib
bons,' 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
pc toid- seventy HNS cents.
'oeventy-five cents said ne quietly,
& is not that rather a high price 2?
Its my price said he of the lather
brush, independently, aud a. this j. the
only barber shop, them as comes INTO it
must pay what ] ask
To the old gentleman this was evidently
a knock down argument. for he drew
three quarters from his pocket. paid them
over to the barber and theii lett the shop.
a short time after he was in close con.
rersation with landlord of a tavern hard
by, and the topic OF Conversation" bar
bers shop
Why Is it, said he, there's only orc
BARRIERS shop in this town? there seems
10 te nearly enough of work for two
Well, there used To be two" said the
landlord, till last winter, when this man
came up from the city and opened a new
shop, aud aS every thing III ii was fresh
and new, folks sort of deserted Bill lI.r
rlnet"n shop, which had been going
nigh fourteen years.
But didn't this Rill do good work :
did he not shave well and cheap
" ell, as for that said ,le landlord
4 BIZ did his work well enough aud cheap
enough, but his shop WASH on on the
Main street Ike the new one and didn I
have so many picture, and handsome cur
tains, and folks got in the way of thinking
that the new chap was more scientific and
brought the more city fashion with him
! though II tell the truth said the landlord
s'r1llin- his chin down. with a beard re
>emb!ing screen wire, Il never want q
lighter touch, CT kee.er razor than Bill
I Harrington
city fa:hious-eh = growlcd the man
" So the new mans city fashions shut up
the other BARRIERS shop
Well, not exactly, said the landlord
though things never did seem to go well
with Bill after the new shop opened-trst
one of hi, children died Of i fever, then
his wife was sick for a long time, and Bill
had big bill to pay at the doctors, then
a. a last misfortune his shop burned down
one night, tools, brushes, furniture and all
and no insurance
Wen said the old man, pettishIy
why don't hc start again 2
Start again =? said the communicative
landlord, why bless your soul he hasn
anything to start with
lin, Where does this man live?
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was in
! conversation with the unfortunate tonsor
who corrobofatcd the landlords story
for BARRIERS -hop they're 4 mighty sight
too 200 besides hav'nt got twenty dol
/ lars in the world To lit it up with.
You don't know old Billy Gibbons as
well as do said the other =" Now lis
ten t. me. If you can have that shop all
fitted up, rent free, what will you work III
it for? What is the least you can live
on7
This proposition somewhat startled the
l unfortunate hair dresser, Who finally found
words TO stammer out that perhaps twelve
/ or fifteen dollars would be enough.
P>haw said the old man that won
: do-now listen TO me- II give that store
+ rent free, one year, and engage your servi
! ces
Why don't you take new shop :
( said the old man. there's i new one il
: the block right opposite the other barber
shop
What" said the other, you must b,
crazy Why that block belongs 10 ole
Billy Gibbons"
You are to shave and cut hair for every
body that applies to you, and take no pay
| III pay you twenty dollars a month, paya
bic in advance-pay TO commence now
continued he, placing two ten dollar note
on the table before the astoni-h.d barber
who, 1t Is almost unnecessary t. state, ac
cepted the proposition. and Who was stiI
more surprised II learn it was Billy Glib
bons himself who hired hIln.
In few days the inua6!tants f tn
| village were surprised 10y the appearance
| OF splendid lew barter shop. far SUI
| passing the other IN elegance and appoint
| ments, and In which with the new rou .e>
scalps, razors and perfumes, stood tn
barber and assistant ready to do duty oil
the heads and boards OF the people
Over the door was Inscribed,
WILLIAM HARRINGTON,
.vINt uIIp nnrSSIN6.