The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-10

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paront would take us every four or six weeks Il
ono of these establishments, usually presided ovel
by loquncious but agreeable knight of tho tong,
and puff, to have the hair Of our litte head either
cut or trimmed, it always afforded us the greatest
delight. Their shops al that time were mucI
moro tho resort of nowsmongers and paper read
ers than at present. and to us, Mt tho age wo were
tho items OF news and othor matters that were in,
terchangod betweon tho talking visitors and Gus.
toners wore peculiarly interesting. Barbers them
Selves from their associations, generally intel
ligcnt men, usually witty, and always urbane and
have been 30 since tho polished days OF Athens,
when they were regarded with respect, and their
| shops were meeting places for all who wore anx-
ious to know the general news of tho day, and
there are several anecdotes of amusing descrip-
tion on record, roativo to mombers of tho profess
sion Of that period. The great ALEXANDER had
one Of the worthy fraternity in his household,
whom he treated with great regard, and the ambi-
tious CESAR had his life saved on ono occasion by
| tonsorial servant in his employment who over
heard plot for killing his master, and gave I'M
mediate information A writer, in mentioning this
circumstance seys that the SUCCESSORS of this bar
ber are to this day equally rs inqusitvo, and not
less faithful to their employers-a romark which
wo bnicvc to have great deal Of truth in it.
But what we started to say vas not so much
about tho barbcrs as their shops, and to mention
how attractive they were to childish mind and
how pleasant they seemed to all tho older heads
who patronized them. But tho cause Of delight to
us as we'll as to them has long since departed and
gone, and tho walls of thor establishments that
were once decorated with beautiful cngravings
amusing caricaturcs and funny drawings now ex-
hibit nothing but base whitowash occasionally fes-
tooned with garlands Of cobwebs. The impression
nade on our mind OF that susceptible period of
boyhood BY many OF the pictures it was our oy to
gaze at, arc as vivid as they wcre years ago. and
has bcen the cause of many an agreeable and cn-
tsrtainng reflection on numerous occasions, whom
our thoughts have wandered back to childhood's
hours.
Aswo grew up to manhood and our budding
beard made us moro frequent visitor to those
establishments that once gave us go much satis-
faction we were struck with the Dir of loneliness
that pervaded thom and tho quictness which reign
ed, Tor although tho loquacity Of tho proprietors
was as great as ever, there was restraint upon
their speech, for there was hardly response from
the few customers sitting around whilo wo were
being operated upon and any attempt at wit on
their part was only received with sickly smile
from some one OF them who had evidently como
there to be shaved On credit The radiant counte-
hearty laugh-tho. pleasant chatting
and the disseminating of news that characterized
the barber shops Of former days had oil disappear
Cd, andit seemod that those places whore enjoy
ment once predominated to great degree were to
possess it no more. To crown all, we discovered
that our acquaintance and friends began to wear
their boards, and some of them even to suffer the
hair oftheir heads to hang upon their shoulders
thereby decreasing the patronage of these deserr-
ing artists, who rs patterns OF industry, wero apt
to fall into habits of idienoss, and to make their
abiding places tho rendezvous OF oafcrs instead of
a resort for gentemen.
Those facts, naturally suggestive to o reflective
mind, has made us indulge in meditation free"
On the subject, and after nm immense deal of docp
thought upon the matter we have come to tho
conclusion that the fashion Of cultiyating whiskers
Ind moustachios among gontlomon, and tho con-
sequent decline Of the custom to their shops. wero
,aused by the barbors themselves, when they
made the tremendous innovation in their estal,-
and tore from their walls those attrac-
vo and amusing pictures and drawings, that af- |
orded so much pleasure to their customers and |
5ratifed thom at every visit; and believing, with
hundreds OF others, that O barber shop is not ]
'nrber shop without being adorned abundantly9
With Autographs and engravings, wo hero solemnly
'otition somo ono Of tho profession, whose we'll |
o"n 'as'e iuhy ailo" MN 10 lead IN this great |
oform, to surround himself with drawings and |
'ketchinSs Of nu kinds, to bo chung up for monu-
nents" of his determination to embellish his |
temple Of fashion" with works Of art aftor tho /
nannor OF former timos, thoreby not only incroas-
ng his store and custom, but perhaps introducing
nc" style by which tho hirsuto appearance of q !
'ontloman may bo greatly curtailed and improved,
and he DO no longor compelled to cry
"The ago that treats us thus,
When most un-barbered, ia most barberous"