Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-04

q stroll, not caring whittier / went nor
feeling any apprehension as to the prob
able whereabouts of its termination. My
journey for some time was down one of
the principal boulevards, where the usual
scene of fashion and pleasure met my
eye on every side. felt keen delight
in my perfect isolation from the world.
Here l was in a large city, knowing but a
few persons, and very little probability Of
my meeting any of them in so crowded a
thoroughfare.
$50, perfectly lost within myself, wan
dered on for about an hour, until at last
began to tire of the never-fagging hustle
and noise which beset me on every side
and without thinking for moment
turned off into side street, leading /
knew not whittier. But was in for it,
and determined to explore it to the end
AT first the shops on either side presented
a brilliant appearance, with their taste
| fully arranged show-windows and dazzling
mirrors, but as my footsteps advanced,
these signs of refinement end splendor
began to diminish, and the further l went
the more dingy and tumble-down appear
ance did everything present. A bright
| idea struck me; it would be great thing
to lose myself; and, utterly needless, /
turned corner after corner, until / was
lost to my entire satisfaction.
"The sun had now gone down, and here
and there the street lamps were being
| lighted, which, if anything, added more
somber and lonely appearance to every
! thing around me.
"But few persons were stirring on the
| street, and they seemed to be very much
| absorbed in the all-important matter of
| getting home.
"Now and then / passed a wine-shop,
within which | supposed few of their
| regular customers were congregated, but
| as it was then quite early, none of them
| had vet drank sufficient to make them
particularly hilarious. Still on and on
went noticing but little, and apparently
observed by no one.
$50 completely had become absorbed
| in my own thoughts, that did not notice
gutter which rap across the sidewalk
and as a very probable consequence, stun
| bled, and was only saved from falling by
the friendly intervention of a lamp-post.
/ Immediately recovered myself, and was
about moving on when was accosted by
| man standing in barber-shop:
"'Ah! good evening, sir; you have
nearly met with an accident
YES / returned; but it will teach
me to be more careful, for tonight, at any
rate
"'Ah you are an Englishman,' said he !;
| you are very much out of your latitude.
Cannot do something for your he con-
| tinued, with significant scrape with his
hand over his cheek and knowing wink
"'You have the honor, then, of conduct
ing this establishments" inquired
eyes said he; walk in
nppSi1nrp6 q runmonf and then ron
cluded to go in, as / must confess that
had to some extent neglected my personal
appearance for some days. The shop was
very neatly, if not elegantly fitted up, a
fact which | noticed particularly and it
was located in what seemed to me a very
obscure neighborhood.
"'Give me your coat said he; take a
seat here. All, mon Dieu you must have
walked very far-you are perspiring. We
| will wait few minutes; here is a fan.
| What in the world could have brought
| YOU here? You must be on the lookout
| for adventure; not more likely place in
| Paris, assure you, for this is the home of
| beautiful women--enchanting deliciousp
and his eyes wandered heavenward, or
ceilngward, as if vision of fairies had
| then and there transixed him.
40, no., replied you have entirely
mistaken my object
excuse me; you cannot repress the
curiosity of a Frenchman. Albert said
| he, calling to some one in the next room,
ARE you therc%
"'All right was the answer, which
came in mufiied tone through the parti-
| ton.
"tNow, we are ready; just little high
| err, if you please-there, that is just
right
"He now occupied himself for some
| time in spreading the soap over my face,
talking all the time. and apparently in the
merriest mood When this part of the
labor was finished, he fell TO strapping the
razor over his hand at fearfully rapid
rate; could not help but shudder at his
| seeming indifference to the proximity OF
such dangerous instrument, and ven
| tured to suggest that he was probably en-
dangering himself.
"tNo, no. he replied, mot in the least
| at the same time sweeping it from right
to left with a dazzling speed. Finally,
| with one lightning stroke, quick touch
| on its edge and admiring poise in the air,
he exclaimed, 1T is all rightp and ad.
vanced upon me after the most approved
| manner of Italian banditti.
1.-THE first touch of the razor was gentle
and reassuring, but he kept up such an in
cessant talking that in spite of all my eff
forts, could not help feeling quite un-
easy.
cat last he finished one side, passed his
hand over It, expressed his satisfaction,
and, with one spasmodic movement, jerk
| ed my head into the proper position for
shaving the other.
81 looked up with the intention OF re-
| monstrating. What a glare there was in
his eyes. Instinctively l shudder-
| ed, but could not speak word. He held
| the razor in his right hand, with the edge
toward me, as in the act of striking. His
gaze was riveted upon me with almost
| fiendish intensity. Great heavens!
thought, if the man be insane, what pos
| sibility is there OF my escape? could
not move; it seemed as if were fascina-
| ted by his penetrating stare. In an instant
| the terrible effect OF a razor in an enraged
| mans hand flashed through my mind. or
all weapons in the world, what could be
more dangerous. How powerless would
human flesh be if opposed to It's keen,
merciless edge.
4 - H. k OF