The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-01-29


Let any man become Immediately
wealthy by his own exertou, aud strai ght
way you shall hear numerous anecdotes
Illustrating the means by which he at.
tanned his riches, the effect they have up
Oh him, lis disposition Of them, or his
savings, his peculiarlties, and eccen;rlci.
ties.
Astor, Girard, and Billy Gray, have
furnished illustrations for many a clever
sketcher. We heard few clever auec
dotes the other day of Billy Gibbons, a
New Jersey millionaire, one of which we
give to our readers
1t seems tat Billy, while in country
village in which he owned some property,
stepped into barber shop to get shaved
The shop was full of customers, and tho
old gentleman quietly waited for his turn
\ customer who was under the barber
hands when the old gentleman came in,
asked the knight of the razor" IN an
underione, if ;ie knew who he was, and
on receiving a negative reply, he inform
ed him in whisper, it was ''old Billy
Gibbons, the richest man in the State"
"Good,' said the barber, "Pil charge
him for his shave"
Accordingly, after the old man had that
operation performed, he was somewhat
surprised, upon asking the price, to be
told-"Seventy five cents"
"Ssveuty.fve cents" said he quietly,
lis not that rather high price 2"
"lt's my price" said he of the lather
brush independently, land as this is the
only barber shop in the place, them as
comes into it must pay what | ask
To the old gentleman this was evident
ly knock down argument, for he drew
three quarters froa. his pocket, paid them
over to the barber and left the shop.
\ short time after he was in close con.
versation with the landlord of a tavern
hard by, and the topic of their conversa-
tion-"barbers' shops"
why is it ?" said he, "there's only
ore barber's shop in town? there seems
to be nearly enough work for two"
We'll, there used to be two," said the
landlord, "till last winter when this man
came up from the city and opened new
shop, aud as everything in it was fresh
and new, folks sort Of deserted Bill! Har.
ringlou's shop, which had beeu going for
nigh fourteen years"
But didn't this Bill do good work !?
did he not shave well and cheap?"
We'll, as for that" said the landlord.
bill did his work we'll enough and cheap
enough, but his shop wasn't on the main
stree; like the new one, and didn't have
so many pictures, and handsome curtains,
and f,Iks got il the way of thinking that
the new chap was more scientific aud
brought the most city fashions with him.
though, to tel! the truth" stroking his
chin down with beard resembling screen
wire, 81 never want lighter touch, or
keener razor, than Bill Harriugton's.
City fashions -eh - growled the old
man, $50 the new man 5 city fashions shut
up the other BARRIERS shop"
"Well, no: exactly" SAID the landlord,
though things never did seem 10 90 we'll
with Bill after tie new shop opened
first. one of his children died of a fever,
then his wife was sick for a long time,
aud Bill had big bill to pay the Doctor.
then. as last misfortune, has shop burned
down one night, tools, brushes, furniture
and all, and no Insurance"
We'll" said 'he old man pettishly,
"why doI't he start again p
Start again y said the communicative
landlord, why bless your soul, he hasn't
TO start with
"H-m-m where does this man
live 2" asked the old man.
He vas directed and ere long was in
with the unfortunate tonsur.
Who corroborated the landlords story.