The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-22
The WOrsltipful BARRIERS.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURES AND PLA1
OF A LONDON TRADE GUILD.

New York Times.l
Between the barber and the surgeon at
one time the distinction was very slight.
Tonsorial embellishments applied to the
feudal individual might have rarely been
called into requisition, because the noble
allowed beard and moustache to grow
as they pleased. Still, they wore
their hair cut square across their
foreheads, and the men were Banged
and not the women. 1t is quite prob
able, however, that for the clerical element
which abounded in early times, the shears,
the razor, and lather were quite in de-
mand. BARRIERS had then another calling.
They used the lancet and bled their clients,
and performed some slight surgical opera
tons. As everybody knows, the BARRIERS
pole, with its alternate stripes OF red and
white, is indicative Of bandaged arm.
The worshipful company of BARRIERS,
formerly barber surgeons, whose motto Is,
"Root and branch, may 1t flourish for
ever" (having no reference, Of course, to
anything capillary or the use OF hair re-
storatives,) is one OF the most celebrated OF
the London guilds, and Mr.. Charles John
Shoppee. a member OF the American NJ
mismatic and Archaeological Society, has
Just written in book form IN interesting
description Of the pictures and objects OF
interest in the hall and courts Of the wor-
shipful company.
1t is famous hall, for Pepys in his Diary
tells us that in 1923 he drank health in
grace-cup that was there, a gift OF King
Henry VIII. to the company. Writes
Pepys: "Among other observables at Chy-
rurgeon's Hall we drank the Kings health
out Of a gilt cup given by King Henry
VIII. to the Company, with bells hanging
at it which every man is to ring by shaking
after he hath drank the whole cup" The
cup with bells is something which our sill
versmiths might copy to-day when they
make loving cups. This cup has run many
a risk. In 1915 some thieves broke into the
court and stole the cup. A committee was
at once appointed to ferret out the robbery
One Thomas Lyme confessed show he wa
the ploiter for the RObbinge of the Hall
and how the plate was carried to Westm'.'
Thomas Jones and one Ffoster were mpli
Gated. The old record tells how the tire,
robbers were taken and executed in April
1916" and the minute concludes, "NON
let's pray God to blcsSe this hOwse eve
from any more OF these damages. Amen
This cup was pawned several times an(
was redeemed and has been repaired.
Before the surgeons cut loose from tn,
BARRIERS, in George II.'s time, it was tn,
habit OF the masters Of the gid to presen
silver cups to the company. Edward Ar
ris, Esq, barber, surgeon, and master il
1851, gave cups and his own portrait. a.
did Sir Charles Scarborough, who wa,
physician to Charles H., James H., anC
William III. Scarborough assisted thu
greatest man Of his age, Hervey, and sue
ceeded him rs as lecturer Of anatomy an(
surgery. 1t seems that her Grace tn,
Duchess Of Portsmouth was q heavy
feeder, aud noticing the gorging 0
this noble lady, Sir Charles sale
/ to her, with professional frankness
| "You must eat less, use more eXer
I else, take physic, or be sick" But thu
I great picture Of the company is one b.
4 Hans Holbein, representing the "Union o
/ the BARRIERS and Surgeons" an even
/. which took place in 154l, in Henry VIII,
/. reign. 1t is painted on an oak panel, ant
4 represents the King surrounded by all TIN
: illustrious BARRIERS and surgeons of tin
{ time. Walpole describes this picture, de
0 claring it to be the capital one OF Holbein'
: works. There is tablet above the King
full OF pleasing flattery, where scandalou
Harry Is represented las the great physl
clan sent by God to dispense all blessings.
What would be company OF this kin
Il without its sideboard and plate? Here ar
cups and ilagons dating back from the six
teenth century. Tankards and covers
r, loving cups, bOwls-written "boells" il
l. 1G53-sauce-boats, salt-cellers, pepper-cas
y tors, sugar castOrs, ladies, fsh-slicers, te
/. and salt spoons, soup tureens, wine-strain
a ers-all suggestive OF the banquets the bar
+ ber-surgeOns once delighted in. The bill O
4 fare OF dinner given to the ladies i'm 16S.
q shows the magnitcence of those times. Tn,
feast was "The Dinner for We Assistanc,
| and theare Wives at Berbor Sirgior
Hail." Here are some OF the dishes, anC
what they cost: "For four dishes of WesI
J falia hame and six chickings, .e3. For
boock with We sholders, $50. A Sir LOWE
OF befe and 2 Rebes, l6 shillings. For 4
| dishis OF torkis, 2 in dish, with sage, E1 A.
, -Four dishes OF Teartes, clos. For youst
OF puter, El.02. For wood and coles, II
s6illings. For Cookies and Laborers, cI rs
For oyle and Vinegar, 1 shilling. The
total OF that feast cost c23 los. 3D." Up 70
400 skeleton used TO be suspended in
The hall, but probably that gave shock to
The nerves OF the " berbors and sir
gions." One can fancy the little screech OF
the comely danes Of two hundred years or
more ago as they gazed on this pendulous
anatomy before the grand dinner. Evil
IDENTITY it smeled too much OF the shop, SO
IN 1850 IT was requested of the master " to
have the skeleton removed" and In its
place was put plaster cast OF lingo Jones.
There never can be an old company without
lbs mysterious story. Here IL one dprOpos
OF screen. The worshipful company had
the right 10 the bodies Of four maefactors
executed at Tyburn, and could dis
sect them; - condemned. adiudued. and