Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-09-05
Shaving a Millionaire.

1t seems thal billy, Nnllc III u country
village in which he owned some property,
stepped into n BARRIERS shop to get shaved
The shop was full of customers, and the
old man quietly waited for his turn,
A customer who was under the BARRIERS
hands when the old man came in, asked
the ''kniTht of the razor in an under
tone, if he knew who that was, and on
receiving negative reply he informed
him in whisper it was billy Gibbons,
the richest man in the State"
Cad" said the barber, 'lll charge him
Tor his shave"
Accordingly, after the old man had
that operation performed, he was some
what surprised, upon asking the price, to
be told, "Seventyfve cents
Seventy five cents!' said he quietly,
'Isn't that rather high priCe?"
cts my price" said he of the lather
brush, Independently, land as this is the
only barber shop in the place, them as
come into it must pay what | ask
To the old man it was evidently a
knock-dOwn argument for he drew three
quarters of dollar from his pocket, paid
them over to the barber and left the shop.
A short time after he was in close con
versation with the landlord of the tavern
hard by, and the topic of conversation
was arher-shOps"
"Why is it," said he, there is only one
barber shop in the town. There seems
to be nearly enough work for two
"Well, there used to be two, said the
landlord, "tll last winter, when this new
man came up from the city, and opened a
new shop, and as everything in it was
fresh and new; folks sort of deserted Bill
Iarrington's shop, which had been going
for nigh fourteen years"
but didn't this Bill DO good work
Didn't he shave well, and-cheap?'
"Well, as for that said the landlord
''Bll did his work well enough, but his
shop wasn't on the main street like the
new one, and didn't have so many pic,
lures and handsome curtains, and folks
got in the way of thinking the new chap
was more scientific and brought more city
fashions with him, though, to tell the
truth ~ said the landlord, striking chin
sown with beard resembling screen wire,
IL never want lightcrtoGch or keener
razor than Bill IIarrngton's
City tashiOns-eh ~ growed the old
man, 80 the new mans city fashions
shut M the other barber shop ~
We'll, not exactly" said the land,
lord, though things never did seem to 20
well with Bill after the new shop was
opened first one of his little children
died Of fever; then his wife was sick a
long time, and Bin had a big bill to pay
at the doctOr's then, as u last misfortune
his shop burned down one night, tools,
brushes, furniture and all, and no insur-
ance'
"Well,' said the old man, "why don't
he start again2'
Start agaiu" said the communicative
landlord; why bless your soul, he hasn't
anything to start with
"H-m--m! Where does this man live?"
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long he was
n conversation with the unfortunate
sonsor, who corrOborated the landlords
tory.
why don't you take new shop ?"
said the old man; there's new one
in the block right opposite the other bar
ber-shOp'
'tWhat" said the other "you must he
crazy. Why, that block belongs to Billy
Gibbons he'd never let one of these
stores for a barber,shop; they are Almighty
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
well as do, said the other Now lis.
ten to me. If you can have that shop
lifted up, rent free, what will you work
in it for by the month what is the least
you can live on ~
This proposition somewhat startled the
unfortunate hair dresser, who finally
found words to stammer out that perhaps
twelve or fifteen dollars month would
be about enough.
Pshaw y said the old man, ''that won't
do. Now listen to me-pll give you that
store, rent free, one year, and engage
your services six months, all 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 me
and for your services I'll pay you twenty
dollars month payable in adyance-pay
10 commence now continued he, pac.
ing two ten dollar notes on the table be-
fore the aStOniShed barber who, it is al
most nnnc ccssary to state, accepted the
proposition, and who was still more sur
prised to learn that il was Billy Glib
bons himself who had hired him
In few days the inhabitants of the
village were astonished by the appearance
OF a splendid new barbershop far sur.
passing the other in elegance Of appoint
ments, and in which, with new mugs,
soaps rahors and perfumes stood barber
anu assistant ready to do duty on the
neaus and boards Of the people, over
me door WAS inscribed, William Har.
TthEl"h, shaving and Hair Dressing
saloon
Inc people were not long in ascertain.
ing or slow IN availing themselves Of the
privileges OF TINS establishment. and il is
not 10 he wondered that it was crowded
and the other deserted The other held
out some weeks, suspectlng mia free
shaying-for Bill kept his secret we'll
was but do lGe to entice customers
away. who would soon he CHARGED ss
usual, but when at the end Of six wark :
he found Billy working away As usual
charging not a cent for his labor
and having money to spend into the
bargain, he came to the conclusion he
must have drawn prize in a lottery, or
s'nmbIed on a gold mine, and WAS keep
lnt barber. shop for fun, So he closed
hls shop in despair and left the place
Meantime Billy Harrington kept on
o4'F as b-e, and one fine morning his
eu.Pi,oyer stepped in, and without word.
sA' a""n and was shaved; on rising from
NJ ,ha'r be asked ~ see the score for the
-" iH1A'hs past The barber exhibited il
ana ailer a careful examination the old
man said.
enty Of customers ehqp
LOIS OF EN- said the barber: "neyer
uId such business in nv lifefo
- w ell ~ rar,liaA