Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-21
SHAVED BY A M
Two Lady BARRIERS" From Boston at
Work in a Church Street Shop

New York SUM-
A circular headed "A New Depar
ture " announces that the UNDER
signed would respectfully inform his
friends and the public in general that
he has added to his corps of artists
two lady BARRIERS, who are prepared to
do shaving and hair dressing in first
class style, at his saloon, 81 Church
street," On the north side of the
stairway leading to an airy basement,
at the address mentioned, hangs a
picture which turns the heads of most
Of those who pass northward along
the sidewalk. In an easy chair sits a
very commonplace young man, with
his feet on a stool and his arms hid
den by a towel which is spread over
him. Behind him stands a delightful
young woman, with red skirt, blue
waist, and yellow hair. There are
round red spots in her cheeks, and she
is engaged in tucking the ends of the
towel in the neck of the young man.
Would the picture prove delusive I?
As tho door at the foot of the stairs
was pushed open there was a rustic of
dresses. Two young women arose and
stood in waiting beside two luxurious
chairs. One was a brunette, while
the other had bright brown hair and
hazel eyes. Both wore neatly fitting
black cashmere suits and white aprons.
That Of the brunette was trimmed
with bead fringe, aud that of the other
with velvet, The hair of the bru-
nette was arranged in a large braid,
with finger puffs. 1t was crimpcd on
top and banged at the forehead. She
has a small, shapely nose, large blue
black eyes, a pure complexion and a
smiling mouth, Neither she nor her
companion is more than twenty three
years of age. After an embarrassing
minute of indecision the customer
took the chair presided over by the
brunette, because it was a few feet
the nearer to where he stood. Amid
smiles the customer sat down.
The brunette stepped and adjusted
the head-rest to a nicely, and then she
dipped a soft brush into a basin of
warm water and rubbed it about in
the soap-cup. The lather was gently
and accurately applied. Neither the
ears nor the hair in front of the ears
were daubed. Two delicate fingers
lifted the ends of the mustache out of
the way. After the soap and water
had thus been spread, she rested the
left hand on the top of the head, while
with her bare right hand she gently
rubbed the beard to soften it. She
talked pleasantly Of the weather and
Of the news of the day. She likes the
Sun, and thinks that Miss Anderson
accomplished a wonderful feat in
Brooklyn. She doesn't care anything
about the billiard tournament. She
wears no bracelets because it would
interfere with her work. Her rounded.
white arm was lost in the folds of an
elegant flowing lace undersleeve.
When the beard had been properly
softened by long rubbing, an ivory
handled razor was selected and stroked
with a free, lissome movement back
and forth against a hanging strap.
which gave forth a series Of pleasant
lisps. 1t was a hollow-ground razor.
With a frank smile that inspired only
confidence, she turned upon her GUS
toner with the instrument in her
hand. Holding the head pressed over
to the left with the tips of two fingers
and a thumb, she drew the keen edge
down the right cheek with the hand
Of a master. A few more smooth
strokes finished the right side. Then
she r%elathered the left side, and, put
ting the head over toward her, she
leaned over the chair to shave the left
side. A few short, firm upward
strokes removed the beard, but. not
content with this, she moistened the
skin again with a sponge, and made
the razor follow the fingers of her left
hand over the surface. The pressure
Of the fingers was to draw the skin
tight. This was all done SO smoothly
and successfully that lift had not been
for the novelty of the situation, the
customer might have fallen asleen.
During that part of the operation
she was so intent upon her work that
she forgot to talk, Her lips were
compressed and her deN touches were
made with a sure and firm hand A
handsome brooch Of gold and mother
of-pearl glistencd at her throat. and a
fragrant rosebud was pinned on her
bosom. Then came the shaving of tho
chin and under lin The latter was
pinched successfully into little ner-
pendicular rolls, the SUBMITS of which
were shaved with single rapid upward
strokes. After the chin and I'm had
been moistened with a sponge and
gone over again to produce a close
shave, the customer was again able 10
talk, The operator said that she had
learned her trade only a year apo. and
that she had taken to it naturally.
She had learned it, she said, by nrao.
tlcing on her friends, and then her
lips shaped themselves into a smile as
she added, Fad on some customers,
too, She finds it harder to shave
men with coarse, heavy boards than
those with light boards, but Is never
afraid to accept any customer who
may seat himself in her chair. Ia
tho question whether she was not
sometimes siekened by breaths laden
with tobacco and alcoholic odors. She
replied with a blush that She nave,
got close enough to such customers Il
hayethe breath make muck difference
After the shRyiRg operation proper
was complese she applied bay rum t
the face, and when the rum had evan.
Grated she dabbed the lower part q
the face all over with a powder puE
Then she combed the hair, giviRs \
an elegant finish, She parted Il =,
little nearer IA the middle thar IN,
customer had hoen uaed N onJ ~: