The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-02-12
An Inside Bar barian.

A strange town to me; all the people
we're strangers, and l was so far from
home that | doubted if man woman or
child III that locality had ever seen me
before.
The barber smiled tenderlv as he
pointed to the chair, and then led right
off as familiarlv as if he had shaved me
.very dav for month past. While
mixing the lather he remarked on the
weather. the crops, the panic, and other
matters; and although did not pretend
To hear him, he was not to be beaten.
Il hope you'll do well here, he said,
rs he pushed my head over and daubed
the lather on the right cheek, commenc-
ING at the butt of the ear.
Silence on my part
This town needs another dry goods
store" he continued after moment,
and l shouldn't wonder if you just coin
money
Long silence.
perhaps it was the silence which con-
yinced the barber that he had made a
mistake, but he was not discouraged.
As he lathercd the left cheek he sud
denly said:
"'ihere are three or four lawyers here
now. but, as Christopher Columbus said,
There's room at the top of the heap,
and think you'll y full OF business all
the time.
He was looking right down into my
face. and through the foam OF lather he
might have detected faint smile, "a frown,
or some other expression which hurt his
conceit. He instantly suspected that he
had made another mistake. l was look
NC into the glass on the wall, and | saw
his countenance change. Some BARRIERS
would not have pursued the subject
further. but he was the only barber IN
she village, and he felt that he had GER
tain rights which was bound to respect.
He might have reasoned that was mulish
and obstinate, and needed coaXing and
fattering, or perhaps he theorized that
| was tmid and hesitating, and wanted
encouraging. At any rate he soon at
lacked me again, saying:
This is u nice village, but l never
saw so much sickness in my life as we
have had this year. Our doctors don't
seem to know enough to manage the
diseases. and Tn glad you IRE going to
open an Office. am pretty healthy rs
general thing. but if get sick I'll give
YOU my custom III preference to any one
else
Still watching the glass, saw self
satisfied smile ripple across his face.
For about half a minute he was dead
sure in his own mind that he had boxed
me ND. Then shade of suspicion
crossed his face. Silence sometimes
yives consent, but in this case, after
4.rutinizing my face sharply for an in
slant he interpreted it to mean that he
had Numbered again. He was vexed. L
had no right to sit there and treat his
round -the-corner queries with such con-
temptuous silence. He would pay me
for such conduct. l saw the spirit OF
resolve creep into his face. us he said
Il was saying the other day that this
town was able to support another black
smith shop. Old jones is good hearted,
but he knows no more about shoeing q
horse than coon does about sailing Il
canal boat"
His ewes glistened and he took no
pains to keep down the chuckle OF salts
faction bubbling up into his throat. He
REGARDED ii as fine shot-a crusher-and
il he hadn't been shaving my chin at that
siue he would have been unable to sup
press Il laugh.
His razor crossed the chin, scraped
az and down. and skipped round to the
iurular vein before the barber smile
saded. He had been Watching me to
catch "a start of surprise or II look OF dis
pleasure. or something to guide his
opiuion; and us he had been unsuccess-
l.f 10 fnf
,heek and sighed drcarily. | hoped he
vas man of determination. and trusted
THAT he would not give up. Fearing
that he would. ] was about to speak,
qhen he smiled blandly, and remarked:
Il can tell II school-teachcr the minute
! sol eyes on INN.
Iather and silence.
md il 5 funny. too he continued,
sthnt | have shaved every professor in
the Normal School here the very first
morning of his arrival. and have told
each and every one that he was IL pro-
iossor before he had said Il word to me.
Silence and shave.
We'll ! suppose teaching is good
paving business, he went ON, as he
lnn.,cl ny face over to see If he had
Ski ed +; spot, land I'm willing to help
YOU all | can. haven't amy children
alu not married but if ever | get mar
licd and have children. TIL send them
10 school to YOU.
His persistence and hattcry deserved
encouragement, but ! was determined
To hold out to the las. ditch. He shut
up his razor with quick, vexed motion.
.l,ssed it on the stand regardless of dam
,pes. and he smiled maliciously as he
got down his bottle OF unadulterated
Sav rum. l knew it would bite like Il
serpent and sting like an adder. but
could | show less stoicism than he had