The Republican journal., 1872-10-10
Shaving a Millionaire.

Everybody who lives in New Jersey
will recollcct Billy Gibbons, the million
nire He was an eccentric man, and
numerous stories told of his freaks
Here is one of them:
Ii seems that Billy, while in country
village, III which he owned some property,
stepped into n barber shop to get shaved
rhe shop was lull of customers and the
Old gentleman quietly waited for his turn
4 customer who was under the BARRIERS
hands when t. e old gentleman came in,
asked the man OF the razor, in an UNDER
tone, il he knew who that was, on receiv-
Ing negative reply he informed him IN Il
whisper it was 'Old Billy Gibbons, the
richest man IN the State"
'Gad,n said the barber III charge him
for his shave"
Accordingly, aite, the old man had the
operation performed, he was somewhat
surprised upon asking the price, 10 be told
seventy five cents.
''sevenly-live cents" said he, quietly,
ISN'T that rather a high price ?"
It's my price, said he Of the lathcr
brush, Independently. and as this is the
only barber shop in the place, them MS
comes into ii must pay what ask
To the old gentleman this was rather a
knock down argument, for he drew three
quarters of a dollar from his pocket paid
them over 10 the barber, and left the shop.
A short time after this he was in close
conversation with the landlord of II tavern
hard by, and the topic of the conversation
was barber shops
"Why, is it," said he there's only one
barber shop in Town? There seems to be
nearly enough work for two"
We'll, there used to be two,' said the
landlord, ''iill last winter, when this new
man came up from the city and opened a
shop, and as everything in 1t was fresl
and new, folks sort of deserted Bill Har-
rington's shop, which has been going or
for nigh fourteen years"
But didn't this Bill do good work
Didn't he shave wei .and-cheap?"
well AS for that said the landlord
Bill did his work well enough, but hi,
shop wasn't on the main street like tn,
new one, and didn't have SO many picture
and handsome curtains. and folks cot il
the way OF thinking the new chap wa:
more scientific and brought more cit,
fashions with him, though, to tell th'
truth" said the landlord, stroking chil
sown with II beard resembling screel
wire, II never want a lighter touch or
keener razor than Bill Harrington's."
.'City fashions ell ?'' growied the ol
man.
$50 the new mans city fashions shu
up the other barber shop?'
"WelI, not exactly" said the landlord
'thoueh things never did seem to go we
with Bill after the new shop opened first
one of his little children died of fever
then his wife was sick Il long time, IN
Bill had a big bill to pay at the doctors
then. as a last misfortune, his shop wa
burned down one night, brushes, tool
furniture and all, and no insurance"
well" said the old man pettishl,
why don't he start again ?"
''Start again. said the communicative
landlord, ''why bless your soul, he hash
got anything to start with
''H-m !-Where does this man live
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was
conversation with the unfortunate tonst
who corroborated the landlords story.
''Why don't you take the new shop
said the old man; ''there's a new one
the block right opposite the other barb,
shop"
"What," said the other, ''you must |
crazy. Why, that block belongs to O
Billy Gibbons; he'd never let one of the,
stores for 4 barber shop; they are
mighty sight too good; besides that,
haven't got twenty dollars in the world
fit up with"
You don't know old Billy Gibbons
we'll as do" said the other No