The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-10
A MONOMANIAC.
A Barher's Experience with n RIadmnn-The
Scared Woman In Black.

The Cincinnati Commercial relates the fol
lowing thrilling experience of barber with a
monomaniac:-Sitting near the door and
front windows of fashionable barber shop
recently in big arm chair with a large mir
ror in front of him and another at his back,
and clever barber standing at his side,
scraping lather and beard from his face with
razor that gave no unpleasant token of its
presence, the man started forward SO sud
denly that the barber, to save himself,
could not avoid cutting him an ugly cash
on the chin.
''Now, see what you have done!" STAN
mered and expostulated the barber, as he
applied wet towel to the wound, and then
piece of sticking plaster.
But tho man had nothing to say about the
cut. He was embarrassed. He had started
forward to look eagerly into the mirror in
front of him. Then he had turned to look
at the street, then he had twisted his head
around TO gaze into the glass behind him;
and at last he had sank back in his chair, and
exclaimed with an expression of weariness
and disappointment
''She's fooled me again"
The BARRIERS eyes had followed those of his
oustomer-into the mirror in front, where
was reflected over the changing panorama of
Fourth street, and reflected the reflection
from the mirror behind-into the mirror
behind which performed exactly the same
office as the mirror in front-.and finally into
the street, where we're enacted in reality the
scene of life thus truthfully mirrored. 1t was
the same old scene that met the tonsorial
artists eyes-of wealth and poverty, happi-
ness and misery, purple and fine linen and
rags, beauty and ugliness. There were carts,
wagons, buggies, and carriages, gaily dressed
ladies and beggar girls, hard-fsted, soot-be-
grimed coal beavers, dandy clerks and flashy
gamblers, and two or three elegantly dressed
lewd women.
He saw nothing remarkable in the scene;
so he went on with his work, meanwhile
curiously studying the face he manipulated.
1t was that of q man of middle age, but pre-
maturely wrinkled. The eyes were cold gray,
and had cast that gave them slightly, and
only slightly, crossed expression; and there
was q wildness about them, o piercing wild
ness, that the barber had not noticed before.
The man was well dressed in the height of
fashion really. From his appearance and re-
marks he had dropped, he was evidently q
stranger from the East Nothing further of
interest transpired with the stranger on this
occasion. He paid for his shave and walked
off. The next morning, however, he made
his appearance at the same shop, at about the
same hour. His barber of the day before
happened to be engaged when he came
in, so he seated himself and
waited for him, although ''next" was
called by two BARRIERS at some distance from
the window. Finally he seated himself for
a shave in his seat of the day BEFORE and
Immediately fixed his eyes intently on the
mirror in front of him. His barber now
noticed that he was much agitated and ner-
vous, and 80 was on his guard against repe-
tition of the accident of the day previous
It was lucky for the strange customer that he
was so considerate, for hardly had he COM
mepced operations with the razor when the
man jumped forward, caught him by the
arm, with a painfully pinching grip, and,
with eyes glaring at something in the mirror,
said, in kissing whisper, "Do you see her
Look there Don't you see her now?"
''Who?" said the startled barber, as he
looked into the glass and, saw only news
boy, horse and buggy, and policeman on
the corner.
esWhy that woman in black velvet, with
that scar on her forehead. Don't you see
There-she's gone !"
And the man fell back in his seat, pale ant
trembling, with cold sweat starting from hi
forehead, and an expression of fright and ex
haustion that was painful to look upon. Th
barber could have sworn, with perfect securit,
from the pains and penalties of perjury, tina
no woman in black velvet, with a scar on he
forehead, had passed on the street or beel
mirrowed in that glass; but fearing to fur
ther agitate the man, he simply said, "Oh
yes," and very carefully finished shaving hi
customer. In the meanwhile he made up hi
mind that he was shaving either madman o
an unfortunate victim of deL5rium tren1enS
and that he would do it no more.
But he was spared the trouble, for he neve
saw the man again. And it is likely he neve
would have known the history of the case ha
he not mentioned the occurrence last Satul
day, to a customer who had seen fit to philc
sophise upon the life scenes, disconnected
fitting; passing like dream, and gone fol
ever, that the mirrors of the shop portrayed
This gentleman, from New York, started
surprise when he heard the stranger mel
toned, and wondered that he had been Wes
and, said he-''Why, that's my poor o.
friend Harry. He's out of his head half IL
time because girl that he once loved kille
herself. She shot ball through her Torches
into her brain. She was standing in front
a mirror, and believe she had on blaC
velvet party dress at the time. Harry can
in and saw her face in the mirror just as 81
shot herself. Poor fellow he thinks he Sc
her whenever he looks into mirror -sensib
enough at other times, too-married now al
settled down. They don't have many lookin
glasses in their house, though-his wife gen
rally combs his hair for him"
Keeping a Secret.
-.