Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-19
Victor Hugo and the Barber.

tiOn.-Den1OreSt' MONTHLY.
Victor Hugo and the Barber.
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen, in IAN arti-
Gle on Victor Hugo in Scribner's
Monthly, tells the following anecdote of
the French poet: In the year 1913 Vic
tor Hugo lived in the Palace Royale,
and was in the habit of patronizing a
barber named Brassier, who had his
shop in the vicinity. One morning a
gentleman, whom for convenience sake
shall name H, entered the bar
ber's shop, seated himself in chair,
and elevated his chin to the proper
angle, while Brassier stood sharpening
his razor.
"Well, Brassler, how is business?"
Excellent, sir, excellent! should
say it is even too good, for I don't see
how and my boys are to get through
with all the engagements which we have
to-day. Balls and parties everywhere!
We have to dress the hair for no less
than thirty ladies for tonight. Look,
here is the list of thoir addresses
A few days later Mr.. H was again
seated in Brassier's chair.
SHOW about your thirty ladies, Bras
sier?''
"Don't speak of it, sir. I didn't get
round to more than half of them. And
in the end shall loose dozen or more
good customers, and it is all the fault
of M. Victor Hugo
" How the fault of M. Victor Hugo?
VIII at has he to do with your clientsP p
1t is just as [ say, sir, and you will
easily comprehend it. A few moments
after you left, M. Victor Hugo entered
and seated himself in this very chair. I
put the napkin around his neck, seized
a shaving brush, and was about to ap-
proach him, when he cried: wait
He pulled pencil from his pocket, and
began to tumble impatiently in his coat
tails and in his breast-pocket without
finding what he sought. At last he dis
covered piece of paper on that stand,
seized it, and began to write. Although
1 was hard-pressed for time, waited
until he should have finished. But he
why he paid no more attention than if
had never existed, but scrubbed away,
and only stopped occasionally to bite
his pencil. well, go on, scribble
away said to myself. IF you can
read it yourself you are lucky Such
terrible scrawl! And people call him a
fine writer! IF you are at liberty, STRIP
/ said. 'One moment and / shall have
done,' he answered. But the moment
passed, and 1 was still standing there
with my soap-dish in my hand, and my
brush full of lather, and Tuning with i'm
patience. He still kept on as before,
scribbling away, stopping, and raising
his eyes to the ceiling. Par
don me, SIR ventured to
say, Il am very much pressed
sAh, you are in a hurry he replied {;
6 so am l. and then he made for the
door, and went. Your hat, SIR
cried after him. you are right, he
answered, smiling, Il did not think of
that And off he went, without even
allowing HE 10 shave I'LL. NohCio-
men, you have not moment to lose,' l
shouted to my assistants. You will
each 90 to the address which shall give
YOU Here is the list-well, where is
the list? Wait a minute! 1 declare
where is that list? What have you done
with the list, you rascals?' Sir, it was
there on that stand little while ago.
There! Are you sure of thatp' In
deed I am, sir Heavenly graces!
only that was wanting. 1t was on my
list that NJ. Victor Hugo had just been
writing. 1t was my list, sir, that he
had carried away with him, after having
covered it all over with his scrawl. Do
you understand now how he made me
lose my customers?''
"Compose yourself, my dear Bras
sier,n said Mr. H. eff this scrap
of paper had not been found to receive
the inspiration of the poet, French
literature would have lostsome very fine
verses. You have been the collabora-
teur of Victor Hugo, and that is no
small honor.''
THERE is one woman it seems who
has secured her rights. This is Miss