Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-19
miscellaneous &eadima.
SHAVING A MILLIONAIRE.


recolect Billy Gibbons, the millionaire. He
was an eccentric man, and numerous stories
are told of his freaks. Here is one of them /:
1t tseems that Billy, while in country vii
lage, in which he owned some property,
stepped into BARRIERS shop to get shaved.
The shop was full of customers, and the old
gentleman quietly waited for his turn.
A customer who was under the BARRIERS
hands when the old gentleman came in, asked
the "knight of the razor" in an undertone, if
he knew who that was and, on receiving a
negative answer, he informed him in whis-
per- it was "Old Billy Gibbons the richest
man in the State"
"Gad," said the barber, "I'll charge him
for his shave"
Accordingly, after the old man had the op-
Grafton performed, he was somewhat surprised
upon asking the price, to be told "seventy-6ve
! cents"
"Seventy.fve cents" said he, quietly; "isn't
that rather high price,"
"Its my price," said he of the lather brush,
independently, "and as this is the only bar
bers shop in the place, them as come into it,
must pay what ask"
To the old man this was evidently knock
down argument, so he drew three quarters of
dollar from his pocket, paid them over to
the barber, and left the shop.
A short time after this he was in close con-
versation with the landlord of tavern hard
by, and the topic of the conversation was
"barber shops
"Why is it," said he, "there's only one bar
ber's shop in town? There seems to be near
| 1,,o ,rb Co. f1po
"Well, there used to be two, said the land
lord, "till 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 Harlington's shop,
which had been going on for nigh fourteen
years"
"But did this Bill do good work? Didn't
he shave we'll, and-cheap."
"Well as for that" said the landlord. "Bill
did his work we'll enough, but his shop wasn't
on the main street like the new one, and didn't
have so many pictures and handsome curtains
and folks got in the way of thinking the new
chap was more scientific and brought more
city fashion with him, though to tell the
truth, said the landlord, striking chin sown
with beard resembling screen wire, 81 never
want lighter touch or keener razor than
Bill Harlingtons."
"City fashions-eh ?" growled the old man.
$50 the new mans city fashions shut up the
other BARRIERS shop?"
"Well, not exactly" said the landlord,
Though thingsnever did seem to 60 we'll with
Bill after the new shop opened first, one of
his little children died offever then his wife
was sick a long time, and Bill had big bill to
pay at the doctors then as last misfortune
his shop was burned down one night, tools,
brushes, furniture and all, and no insurance" !"
"Well," said the old man, pettishly, "why
don't he start again ?"
artagain!" said the communicative land
lord "why bless your soul, he hasn't got any
thing to start with"
"H-m-m! Where does this man live?"
asked the old man.
He was directed, and ere long was in con-
versation with the unfortunate tonsor, who
corroborated the landlords story.
"Why, don't you take a new shop2" said
the old man there's new one in the block
right opposite the other BARRIERS shop"
"What," said the other, "you must be crazy.
Why, that block belongs to old Billy Glib
bons he'd never let one of those stores for a
barber shop; they are mighty sight too good !;
besides that, I haven't got twenty dollars in
the world to fit it up with"
You don't know old Billy Gibbons as we'll
as do," said the other. "Now listen. If
you can have that shop all fitted up, rent free
what will you work in it for by the month
What is the least you can live on?"
The proposition somewhat startled the un-
fortunate hair-dresser, who finally found words
to stammer out that twelve or fifteen dollars
per month would be about enough.
"Pshaw" said the old man, "that won't do.
Now listen to me-Tll 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 ap-
plies 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 advance
pay to commence now" continued he placing
two ten dollar notes OH the table before the as
tonished barber, who, it is almost unnecessary
to state, accepted the proposition, and who
was still more surprised to learn that it was
Billy Gibbons himself that had hired him.
In few days the inhabitants Of that vii
lage were astonished by the appearance of a
splendid new barber's shop, far surprising the
other in elegance of appointments, and in
which, with new mugs, soaps, razors and per-
fumes, stood barber and assistant ready to
do duty on the heads and boards Of the people.
Over the door was inscribed, civilian
HARRINGTON, Shaving and Hair Dres-
sing Saloon"
The people were not long in ascertaining or
slow in availng themselves of the privileges of
this establishment, and it is not to be wonder.
ed that it was crowded and the other deserted.
The other held out some weeks suspecting
this free shaving-for Bill kept his secret
well-was but a dodge to entice customers
away, who would soon be charged as usual,
but when at the end of six weeks he found
Billy working away as usual, charging not a
cent for his labor, and having money to spend,
in the bargain, he came to the conclusion that
he must have drawn prize in the lottery, or
stumbled upon gold mine, and was keeping
BARRIERS shop for fun, so he closed the shop in
despair and left the place.
Meanwhile, "Bll Harrington" kept on busy
as bee, and one fine morning his employer
stepped in, and without word sat down and
was shaved on rising from his seat he asked
to see the score for the six months past
The barber exhibited it, and after a careful
calculation the old man said:
"Plenty of customers, eh?"
"Lot's of 'em" said the barber; "never did
such a business in my lfe?"
"Well, replied Money Bags, "you have kept
the account well. I see I've paid you one
hundred and twenty dollars for yourservces-
all right-and there are three hundred and
thirty CHARGED for shaving all that annlied ::