Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-28
Governor COrnell's Barber.

| UUNcTuUf SOTutll . DuTucIs
Charles Lamb, who wrote on so many
familiar subjects which other people
never touched, failed to write, as be
undoubtedly could have written, on
"The Talking Of BARRIERS" This de-
6ciency has been in q measure supplied
by &C. L. Rancour," signing himself
"Governor Cornell's Barber" who, in
a recent communication, requests the
press of the whole country that has
been SO willing to copy witty slurs en-
talkative BARRIERS" to extend his view
of the subject. This proposition is in
itself so eminently fair and just that so
| far as we are concerned it shall be com
piled with, without any prejudice either
| for or against him and his opinions, on
account of his intimate and confiden-
tial relations with Governor Cornell.
He admits that excessive talking is
far from commendable, for "' CAB
binders good work in barber as in
any other workman" and "why some
BARRIERS will be such everlasting talk
ers 1t is hard to tell and, on the other
hand, why all BARRIERS should be con-
sidered as such, 1t is equally hard to
tell" But, after confessing this much,
Governor Cornells barber proceeds to
show that he does not think it hard to
tell a.. all; and goes on to tell it. His
argument is briefly as follows:
BARRIERS are acquainted VITA the
news-whether it be SANDER, murder,
suicide, failure or new scandal, either
in high or low society. But BARRIERS,
as general thing, travel" neither in
the high circles nor the low circles Of
society what news they receive must
be brought to them. Who brings it :?
Well, the truth is" says Governor
Cornell's barber, "their patrons bring
to BARRIERS anything new just US natu-
rally as duck takes to water" Then
they in turn pump" the barber to
find out what new thing he knows.
Then the same persons go away and tell
how much news and gossip they heard
in the BARRIERS shop. THIS state Of
affairs, says Mr.. Rancour, is often an
noying to him as no doubt it is to 9th
ers of his profession. But what is he
to do? eff" he says, " We should re-
fuse to be communicative we should
often give offense, or if we should re-
buke men for profanity, or for telling
the dirty jokes and stories SO many
think they have right to retail in
BARRIERS shop" Aud BARRIERS, knowing
how much they are relished by 50 many
men, are tempted to repeat them.
" Many times when it would be more
agreeable to barber to remain quiet
or commune with his own thoughts,
he is obliged to talk or TO listen to PEG
pie or things uncongenial to him."
Governor Cornell's barber is opposed
to the practice, which he says, is disap'
pearing, of recommending hair re-
storers, but thinks BARRIERS have right
to advise shampooing and the cutting
of the hair. But it seems he avoids
even obtrusive remarks on this subject,
and once month sends. at their own
request, to merchants, lawyers, clergy
men and doctors, who are too absorbed
in other matters to attend to such
things, a postal card reminding them
to come and have their hair cut and re-
ceive shampoo. Finally, he says, if
the public wish to get rid of loquacious
BARRIERS, let the public set the example !;
and it really seems as if there might be
something in it. In the words of the
late Mr.. Greeley, "Men and brethren,
let us think on these things !" and SO
shall Governor Cornell's barber" be
more useful in the world than the Off
cial behind whose name and fame he
so humbly takes refuge.
Seeing he has treated one branch of
the subject so discreetly. the public
would be pleased to learn his advice for
curing those BARRIERS who, instead of
talking to their customers, talk to each
other about the number of chickens
Sam lost the other night" and the
grand bounce Mr.. Johnsing got for
mixing up de iggahs while calm off at
de ball" With this amendment the
morals and manners of the barber
might be safely left to the code sug-
gested by Governor Cornells barber
Detroit Press,