Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-09-02
An Expensive Shave.

Bruno Meyer, cook of = ship which
recently arrived at New York, went into
8. Joseph Pieterkowski's barber shop,
at the corner of Greenwich street and
Battery place, one Sunday afternoon.
Mr.. Pieterkowski is dapper Pole, with
beautiful whiskers, long and glossy and
curly, depending from his cheeks and
concealing them. His manner is emf
nently winning. Meyer, on the Other
hand, is a German who speaks no Eng
lish. He wears a moustache and short
imperial, and his hair radiates in all
directions from the centre of the top Of
his head like the bristles on window
brush. Meyer wanted. to be shaved,
and Mr.. Pieterkowski laid him out in q
chair and drew calico cloth about his
throat. and tucked it in on all sides.
Mr.. Pieterkowski then insinuatingly
asked if he wouldn't have. his hair cut
first. Meyer consented, and his cow
lick was trimmed down so that it stood
bolt upright in an astonishing way.
Meyer was then persuaded to have a
shampoo. He was lathered with borax
and his head was rubbed until it ached.
He complained of the ache. The afable
Mr.. Pieterkowski suggested that few
cuppings were just what Mr.. Meyer
needed for mis- headache. Meyer feebly
yielded to the suggestion, not knowing
clearly what cuppings were for. The
gracious and sollcitous barber produced
dozen and half of small glass cups
and Mr.. Meyer barred his back. PETER
kowski began. He put the heated cups
up and down Meyers back and sides
and tanks. Wherever there appeared
to be room for cup there he put one.
He put the eighteen cups on three times
each, making in all fifty-four distinct
operations. When it was all over Meyer
was little sore, but said he didn't feel
any better for the operation.
While shampooing his patient, not to
say victim, Pieterkowski assured Meyer
that his hair could be made to grow
straight and uniform in some particular
direction, and could be made rich and
luxuriant by the use OF his famous cap
pillary, a preparation which he had
never known to fail to tuln gray hair
a most beautiful and natural jet black,
as we'll as to impart to the hair a glossi-
ness much to be desired. Meyer, some.
what enfeebled by the incessant and
fascinating conversation of the barber,
felt himself altogether in his power.
He would take the capillary.
"Small bottles, 81 large bottles, 50.
Which shall I give youP
"a large bottle" said Meyer, help.
lessly.
Sand a bottle of lavender water? p
asked Pieterkowski, in kindly inter-
ested tone.
"Yes." said Meyer. without asking
the price.
Then he bought a stick of cosmetic
for his moustache and two cigars, and
with q struggle broke in on the BARRIERS
flow of language to ask how much he,
owed. Mr.. Pisterkowski added IN I'D
items glibly, and aloud: rr;.4 NE
"The cuppings, say s..
charge 25 or so cents a @ -; l usually
quarter; shampoounst; up hair cut, a
with bay rum a quarter; shave,
iilav 40: tn .sre is cents then the cap
so centsuUe lavender, $1.25; cosmetic,
- -.-oh. yes, and two cigars, 10
cceGirs-that is all; $3.50, please"
Meyer fell against the wall, aghast.
He had four Mexican dollars in his
pocket.
''Take these" he said in German,
sand keep the other things till I call
for them"
He plunged out Of the shop, and the
barber laid the capillary, lavender and
cosmetic to one side upon shelf.
Meyer went to Castle Garden yester-
day to ask if he could be compelled to
pay the balance of $3.50 in Mr.. PETER
kowski's bill against him. Superin-
tendent Jackson sent a policeman with
Meyer to call upon Pieterkowski.
Finally two of the Mexican dollars were
refunded.