The weekly Butte record., 1861-11-23
Shaving a Millionaire.

/ his own eXertions, and straightway you shall
hear numerous anecdotes Illustrating the means
by which he attained his riches, the effect they
have upon him, his disposition of them or his
sayings, peculiarities, or eccentricities.
Astor, Girard and Billy Gray have furnish
ed Illustrations for many clever sketch. We
overheard a good anecdoe the other day of
Billy Gibbons, New Jersey millionaire,
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 gentle
man quietly waited for 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 mega
tive reply, he informed him, in a whisper, that
it was Old Billy Gibbons the richest man
in the State.
"Whew y said the barber, "I'll charge
him for his shave"
Accordingly, after the old man had had that
operation performed he was somewhat surpri>
sed, on asking the price, to be told" Seventy
five cents"
Seventy-fve cents!" said he quietly, is
not that a rather high price ?"
4" It's my price, said he of the lather brush,
independently, Z" and as this is the only barber
shop in the place, them as comes into it must
pay what l ask"
To the old man this was evidently knock
down argument, for he drew three quarters Of
dollar from his pocket, and paid them over
to the barber, and left the shop.
A short time after he was in close conversa-
ton with tavern-keeper hard by, and the
topic of coversation was BARRIERS shops
Why is it." said be, there's only one
barber's shop in town? There seems to be
nearly work enough for two"
"Well, there used to be two" said the land
lord g" till last winter when this man came up
from the city and opened a new shop, and, as
everything was fresh and new, folks sort of de-
serted Bill Harringtons shop which had been
going nigh fourteen years"
But didn't this Bill do good work Did
he not shave well, and-cheap?"
"Well, as for that said the landlord, Bill
did his work well enough, and cheap enough,
but his shop wasn't on the main street, like
the new one, and didn't have so many pictures
and handsome curtains and folks got in the
way of thinking that the new chap was more
scientific and brought more city fashions with
him, though, to tell the truth" said the land
lord, stroking chin sown with beard resem
bling a screen wire, never want a lighter
touch or a keener razor than Bill Harring-
tons"
" City fashions, eh ~ growled the old man.
$50 the new mans city fashions shut up
the other mans shop?'
Well, not exactly said the landlord );
though things never did seem to 90 well
with Bill after the new shop was opened
First, one of bis little children died of fever
then his wife was sick long time, and Bill
had big bill to pay at the doctors then, as
last misfortune, his shop burned down one
night, tools, brushes, furniture and ALL and no
insurance"
"Well, said the old man, pettshly, why
don't he start up again p
"Start again = said the communicative
landlord, "why, bless your soul, he hasn't got
anything to start with !"
"H-m-ml Where does this man live p
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was in con-
versation with the unfortunate tonsor, who
corroborated the landlords story.
"Why don't you take new shop? asked
the old man there is new one in the block
right opposite the other BARRIERS shop"
What ~ said the other; you must be
crazy. Why, that block belongs to Billy
Gibbons he'd never let one of these stores for
BARRIERS shop; they're mighty sight too
good besides, haven't got twenty dollars in
the world to fit it up with
." You don't know Old Billy Gibbons as
we'll as l do said the other. "Now, listen
to me- If 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 rather startled the unfortu-
nate hair dresser, who finally found words to
stammer out that, perhaps twelve or fifteen
dollars month would be enough.
"Pshaw p said the old man that won't
do. Now listen to me. I'll give you that
store, rent free, for one year, and engage yonr
services for six months, on these conditions =
You are to shave and cut hair for everybody
that applies to you, and take no pay just
charge it all to NE, and for your services I'll
pay you twenty dollars a month, payable 10
advauce-pay to commence now," continued be,
placing two ten dollar notes on the table be-
fore the astonished barber, who, it is almost
unnecessary to state, accepted the proposition,
and who was still more surprised 10 learn that
it was Billy Gibbons himself who had hired